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.
A compound apartment can be defined as an apartment that is located within a residential compound or "neighbourhood/society". Renting an apartment in a compound offers many benefits such as security, maintenance, swimming pool, gym, clubhouse with various facilities, children"s play area and other sporting facilities to name a few. Compounds vary in size, some are gated and others have the convenience of a mini supermarket for groceries, a restaurant or even a mosque. Not all compounds offer apartments for rent as some only have villas. There is a wide variety of compounds in Qatar that suit most budgets and have all kinds of amenities. It is worth asking the agent about any adverts you have seen and checking the amenities with them if you are looking for anything in particular, as sometimes agents do not list all the available amenities in a compound.
Al Wakra is a municipality located in the southeast of Qatar. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Wakar" which roughly translates to "bird's nest" and was named as such after a hill in close proximity that flocks of birds would build their nests on. The capital of Al Wakra is Al Wakra City. It is bordered to the north by Doha and Al Rayyan which then further borders it to the west too. The area is characterised by its sand dunes and higher elevations above sea level as opposed to the north or Qatar. The Naqiyan Hill Range dominates the southern quarter of the municipality in Khawr al Udeid which is Qatar's largest nature reserve and recognised by UNESCO and may be better known by its English name of "Inland Sea".
Al Wakra is the home of Hamad Port, Qatar's main commercial seaport, replacing Doha port in December 2016 and is located near Al Mesaieed. Qatar's most important power stations and desalination plants are also located here.
Al Wakra hospital is the largest in Qatar and was established in 2012 in Al Wakra City serving the southern region of the country. The area also has several international schools and good transport links making it popular with renters looking for affordable housing outside the capital. In recent years many real estate companies have focused their efforts in developing affordable family housing in the municipality. Numerous compounds can be found offering apartments and villas for rent in Al Wakra combining both comfort and modern facilities suited to families and couples looking for cheaper rental homes in Qatar.