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.
Doha is the highest populated municipality in Qatar which shares its borders with Al Daayen municipality to the north, Al Rayyan to the west and Al Wakra to the south. With a population of around a million people it is home to approximately a third of Qatar's population. Al Doha gets its name from the Arabic word "Dohat" which means "roundness", and is named as such due to the rounded bays along its coastline.
The municipality is located in a central position on the east coastline of Qatar and is home to the majority of the residential areas, business districts and administrative centres of the country. Hamad International Airport, Hamad Medical City and the financial district of Al Dafna and West Bay are all located in the far east of the municipality near the coast. There are two districts namely the Industrial Area (Zone 57) and Wholesale market area (Zone 58) belonging to Doha municipality but located outside the boundaries of the municipality as two enclaves within the Al Rayyan municipality. Central Doha is home to the historic Souq Waqif and the Presidential Amiri Diwan. The beautiful Corniche Promenade runs along the east coast of Doha and serves as one of the major roads linking Doha to the northern and southern parts of Qatar.
Doha is probably most famously known for the luxurious reclaimed land development of The Pearl spanning over 4 square kilometres, an area that offers all types of homes available for rent to suit any requirement from large luxurious standalone villas with pools and private beaches to waterfront apartments by the marina in beautiful towers offering the best facilities to its residents.