Properties advertised as semi-furnished or partly furnished come with a few furnishings. In Qatar when a property is advertised as semi-furnished or partly furnished this usually means that there are some appliances in the kitchen and sometimes fitted air conditioning units or fitted wardrobes in the bedrooms. This type of home is useful for those not wishing to spend on large kitchen appliances or "white goods" as they are otherwise known. These are typically, items that are somewhat costly to buy and also may require maintenance or a warranty, so it is definitely an added convenience to have peace of mind knowing that if your kitchen appliances ever have a problem, they will be taken care of by the landlord. This convenience is factored in the monthly rental price and semi-furnished or partly furnished homes do cost more to rent, which is expected for the reasons explained.
5-bedroom properties are those that have five allocated bedrooms. They are sometimes referred to as 5 bhk, meaning 5 bedrooms, a hall and a kitchen. This type of property would suit a medium to large sized family. There are some 5-bedroom properties advertised as having a separate room for a maid/driver and some have their own attached bathroom too. Technically such properties would be considered to have 6 bedrooms. Over 85% of all 5-bedroom properties available for rent in Qatar are villas. The remaining 15% of 5-bedroom homes for rent are apartments, penthouses, townhouses or on the odd occasion a triplex with a large roof terrace: perfect for outdoor entertaining.
It is advisable to check the facilities being offered and also the layout of the property as some agents do not always list all the amenities fully. It is also best to view any properties that interest you in person as there are many aspects of the home that you can gauge better when you visit the property.
A villa is a property/house that is usually set out over two or more floors. A standalone villa is defined as a villa that has boundary walls and stands on its own private land. It is not attached to any other building so it is detached, private and literally "stands alone". Standalone villas are not commonly found in Central Doha including most of the districts within the C-Ring Road as they mainly contain residential and office blocks. However, as you travel further out of Doha and beyond the C-Ring Road it become increasingly common to find standalone villas.
The amenities offered by standalone villas vary depending on the price, size and location. It is much more common to find a standalone villa with a private swimming pool in West Bay Lagoon than it is in Al Khor. Standalone villas are good for large families wanting their own private grounds or for companies looking to house their staff. It is quite common to see standalone villas advertised as suitable for bachelor accommodation. If you are specifically looking for a standalone villa, check the details advertised with the agent as sometimes compound villas are advertised as being standalone when they are in fact not standalone but instead the agent refers to the villa being detached from its neighbouring villa as such.
West Bay is not a district in its own right contrary to popular belief, but rather the name "West Bay" refers to a comprisal of districts on the east coast of Qatar, just north of Central Doha. The area when "mapped" out actually consists of the districts of Al Dafna, Al Qassar and Onaiza and West Bay Lagoon. The area is modern with some of the tallest skyscrapers in Qatar which are home to the Business centre of the capital. The area also houses many Head Offices and administrative buildings of the State set against the clear blue backdrop of the Persian Gulf waters, forming the "Doha Skyline" that is most famously seen in imagery of Doha. The Diplomatic Area is also located within West Bay.
The area has good road links as one would expect including the Al Corniche Street, Diplomatic Street, Omar Al Mukhtar Street, Majlis Al Taawon Street and the beginning of the Lusail Expressway. West Bay has its own Metro station on the Red Line and bus route. It is a very popular location for rentals and there is a wide choice of property types and sizes available to suit all and a convenient location to rent in if one is looking to be close to the Business District and Central Doha without the congestion.