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.
A villa is a property/house that is either detached or attached to one or more other villas and commonly set out over two or three floors. A compound villa is defined as a villa that is located within a residential compound or "neighbourhood/society". Compounds vary in size and can be anything from a handful of villas to hundreds in the much larger compounds. Renting a villa or 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. Some compounds are gated and others have the convenience of a mini supermarket for groceries, a restaurant or even a mosque. There are compounds which are private and belong to companies offering their employees housing as part of their contract. Most international schools have residential compounds located near them and it is very easy to find good accommodation nearby for the convenience of families. 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.
Duhail is a district in the municipality of Doha and has been named after a large cavern "Dahal" in Arabic, which exists in the region. The district is one of the northernmost districts of Doha and also in its entirety one of the 98 zones of Qatar, Zone 30. The Doha expressway, also known as Al Shamal Road (Q1) runs along the west border of the district separating it from the Umm Salal municipality. More than half of the area of the district which spans 6.85 square kilometres is occupied by the main base of Lekhwiya, the country's Internal Security Forces.
The district is also home Abdulillah bin Khalifah Stadium, home ground for one of the top Qatar Stars League teams, Al-Duhail. Al Duhail Sports club is next to the Qatar Handball Association. There are a number of local independent schools and private nurseries in Duhail. The area has good road links, 2 bus routes that serve it every day of the week and there is also a Metro station under construction. There are many homes to rent in Duhail and a great selection of apartments and villas to rent are available either in residential compounds or otherwise.