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 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.
Al Rayyan municipality is the third largest in Qatar. The capital of Al Rayyan is a district of the same name: Al Rayyan City which is comprised of two districts Old Al Rayyan and New Al Rayyan. It is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Al Shahaniya and Umm Salal, to the east by Doha and to the south by Al Wakra. It comprises two main components, its capital: Al Rayyan City which is the western part of the Metropolitan Doha urban area and the extensive suburbs of Al Rayyan which collectively hold the largest total population outside of Doha. The majority of urban development and approximately 85% of the population of the municipality is concentrated within Al Rayyan City. This major urban overspill from Doha municipality has resulted in the rapid development of housing to meet the demand for homes to rent in Al Rayyan and its districts. In recent years residential compounds have been constructed to meet the housing needs of families seeking homes to rent in Qatar close to International schools, of which there are plenty to choose from in Al Rayyan.
Al Rayyan is also home to a number of mega projects in Qatar including Education City (a 12 square kilometre site and home to 9 Universities, Qatar Foundation and Qatar National Library) as well as Aspire Zone (Khalifa Stadium and Aspire Tower) and Al Waab City. Sidra Medical Centre and Research Centre in Al Gharrafa have raised the healthcare standards of the area. The municipality is also known for the first-ever specialised Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine hospital (Aspetar) in the Middle Eastern region receiving visitors from all over the globe. Aspetar was accredited as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence over 10 years ago and provides the highest possible medical treatment for sports-related injuries in a state-of-the-art facility, staffed by some of the world's leading sports medicine practitioners and researchers.