The smallest size of apartment or flat is known as a studio and these are units that have one "living" space which would include a sitting area and sleeping area. The kitchen could be open plan or separate depending on the unit and it would have its own private bathroom and toilet facilities. Studios are ideal for single people or couples who don't want or need much space but prefer to have their own private facilities. Studios are considered an entry-level type of accommodation and they are the cheapest type of apartment. The alternative to a studio would be to rent a room in house/villa and have the use of shared facilities like the bathroom and kitchen and this is a cheaper option for those on a tight budget.
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 Sadd is a large district in the municipality of Doha. The origin for the district's name comes from a plant which thrives in Qatar's eastern section, particularly on the coast. It is one of the country's oldest surviving mixed-use districts which in recent years has been through massive development. The south of the district has a concentration of many businesses and retail units including the Al Asmakh Mall, also known as the Centrepoint Mall.
The Al-Sadd multi-sports centre is based in the district and where some of the 2006 Asian Games events took place. It is home to Qatar's most successful football club, the Al-Sadd Football Club and it is also the "de facto" home of Qatar's National Football Team. Major roads that run through the district are Al Sadd Street, Suhaim Bin Hamad Street, Al Amir Street and Al Rayyan Road (Q3). Al Sadd is served by one bus line which operates 7 days a week. The Rumailah Hospital and the Paediatric Emergency Centre are both part of the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and are located in Al Sadd. Housing in the area is mainly in the form of apartments to rent in residential blocks and western-style high rises. It is also possible to find some standalone villas or compound villas to rent in Al Sadd too.