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.
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.
Qatar, officially known as the State of Qatar or "Dawlat Qatar" is a country occupying a small desert peninsula, spanning 11,627 square metres that extends northward from the larger Arabian Peninsula. It is precisely located on the west coast of the Persian Gulf, sometimes referred to as the "Arabian Gulf". The state is an independent emirate with the current Head of State and Government being Emir Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. Qatar has a population of approximately 3,000,000 (est. 2020) of which around 10% are local Qataris and the remainder are expatriates. Qatar has the highest GDP per capita in the world and not only is it officially recorded as the world's "Safest Country" (for low crime), but Doha the capital is ranked the second "Safest City" out of the 431 cities worldwide measured.
Only 1% of Qatar's population is rural with 99% being urban and coastal with a modern daily life. The recent leaders have sought to increase Qatar's presence worldwide and provide greater "civil liberties" and one example of such is through the establishment of one of the freest press agencies in the region. Qataris pride themselves on being a tolerant and accepting nation towards others and their beliefs, despite being a conservative and religious nation themselves. They are a welcoming nation and supportive of their large expatriate population and it is easy to see why Qatar appeals to so many.