Apartments are self-contained residential units occupying part of a larger building. They are usually set out on a single storey of a building and it is for this reason that in some regions (UK, India etc.) they are referred to as "flats". The term apartment is one that is used extensively in Europe, North America and places that use American English. The term "flat" is used in the UK, India and places that use British English. Apartments or flats have their own front door, kitchen, toilet and bathroom. In some countries a 1-bedroom apartment may be advertised as a 1bhk or 1bhk flat. The term "bhk" or "BHK" refers to bedroom, hall and kitchen. This means that the unit would have 1 bedroom, a hall (lounge/sitting room) and kitchen.
Apartments can be found in residential blocks or towers and sometimes as a part of a villa where the floors have been separated each with its own entrance etc.
Al Gharrafa is a district in the Al Rayyan municipality of Qatar. The word "Gharrafa" in Arabic means "to scoop up". It was named such due to the low-lying floodplain land profile that meant locals could scoop up water from the area. Al Gharrafa is known for its many large shopping malls that attract the residents of surrounding districts and namely the Q Mall, Ezdan Mall, Landmark Mall and Gulf Mall. There is plenty to do and something for everyone to enjoy as each one is buzzing with a wide selection of retailers including various boutiques, large chain stores, artisan cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and cinemas, all easily accessible from Al Shamal Road.
Al Gharrafa is home to the impressive Sidra Medical and Research Centre, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation located on Al Gharrafa Street. Other local landmarks in the district also include the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium on Al Zubar Street, Al Gharrafa Health Centre on Abu Silla Street, Fereej Al Gharrafa Stadium which is administered by the Qatar Olympic Committee on Al Argam bin Abi Al Argam Street. Al Gharrafa is a district populated with many residential compounds offering varying levels of facilities that suit all budgets. The majority of apartments and villas for rent in Al Gharrafa are found in these compounds that also offer additional benefits to their residents like 24 hr security, maintenance, children's playgrounds, clubhouse facilities, swimming pools, gyms, spa facilities, indoor and outdoor sporting facilities to name a few. This makes them an ideal choice for families especially and one can find plenty of furnished villas and apartments to make the move easier.