Cityscape Qatar 2026 doubles real estate sales to $269m

Doha, Qatar - Real estate sold at Cityscape Qatar 2026 totalled $269 million (QAR 1 billion) across the three-day exhibition, a 100% increase on the previous year’s edition, according to the organisers.

The show was staged together with the 4th Qatar Real Estate Forum at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Center (DECC) from 27 to 29 October, and the two events drew 16,000 visitors between them. The organisers said the turnout reflected the momentum and ambition behind Qatar’s real estate sector.

In their account, the show gathered Qatar’s current investment openings under one roof and set out what will guide how its neighbourhoods develop.

Two senior officials visited on the closing day: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, and Sultan bin Saad bin Sultan Al Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. The organisers said both men walked the halls and looked at the developments on show.

The Forum itself was held under the Prime Minister’s patronage, Qatar Tribune reported.

Launches and partnership deals dominated the exhibition floor. Barwa Real Estate Group revealed Barwa Bay in Lusail and signed agreements on investment advisory services and on financing for buyers.

United Development Company launched Perlita Gardens, its 150-villa community on The Pearl Island, and a time-limited offer on homes at Crystal Residence on Gewan Island. Qatari Diar and Qetaifan Projects also exhibited, presenting what the organisers called a growing range of homes and mixed-use destinations across Qatar.

Informa Tharawat and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Aqarat) ran the Forum, working with Cityscape Qatar as partner. Built around the theme ‘Stability as an Asset Class’, this fourth edition dealt with regulation, investment and how cities are developed.

On the last day, panels asked why people choose a city to live in or put money into, and what part infrastructure, healthcare, education and connectivity play as a city grows over decades.

One speaker on that theme, Helsinki’s former mayor, named Doha’s stability and the standard of its infrastructure as the city’s key strengths.

Jan Vapaavuori, Chairman of Finnvera and former Mayor of Helsinki, said: “When I was Mayor of Helsinki, we developed a new strategy for the city. Even before Covid, I predicted that a reliable, predictable and functional city might become a luxury in today’s world. I see many similarities between that vision and Doha’s approach, where stability and world-class infrastructure are clear strengths. But long-term success is not just about being attractive today, it is about creating opportunities for everyone to lead an inspiring life.”

On the Innovation Stage, the programme took the Forum’s question about what makes cities attractive to residents and investors and applied it to the homes people live in.

Eng. Ahmed Al-Sumaiti, Vice President of Qatar Society of Engineers, told a session called ‘The Future of Housing in Qatar: How Will We Build and Live?’ that homes can be improved through technology, careful use of resources and planning for upkeep over the years.

Al-Sumaiti said: “The future of housing in Qatar will depend on how effectively we integrate technology, resource efficiency and long-term performance into building design. From using solar energy and reusing greywater to applying artificial intelligence in design and smart-home systems, these solutions can help improve building efficiency and reduce operating costs. Equally important is considering maintenance from the outset to ensure homes remain efficient and sustainable over time.”

Looking back on the three days, Alexander Heuff, Group Director, Cityscape, said: “A strong real estate market isn’t built through project launches alone. It depends on whether development plans are matched by the right financing, infrastructure and an understanding of what residents and investors need. That is what stood out at Cityscape Qatar this year: the opportunity to discuss the bigger picture with the people shaping it. The real measure of success now is how those conversations inform decisions and deliver value beyond these three days.”

Now that the doors have closed, the organisers said, attention moves to what becomes of the schemes, deals and ideas brought to DECC once the exhibition is over.

Closing the Innovation Stage, Mohammed Makki, Director of Real Estate Investment at Aqarat, looked back over the market’s recent results and its rising appeal among buyers from outside Qatar.

In his view the sector remains steady and continues to win interest from investors both at home and abroad.

Makki said: “We have seen encouraging market activity, with a strong recovery in sales in the third quarter following the first half of the year, alongside sustained interest from international buyers.”

He added: “Africa has also emerged as a notable source of investor interest, reflecting the growing international reach of Qatar’s real estate market. These developments highlight the depth of the market and the opportunities it offers for long-term investment.”