Properties advertised as unfurnished come with no furnishings. This differs from some other countries where unfurnished relates specifically to "furniture" only like beds, sofas, dining table etc. In Qatar when a property advert is listed as unfurnished this means that there are no appliances in the kitchen (only fitted kitchen cabinetry), or air conditioning units fixed and sometimes there are no fitted wardrobes in the bedrooms. It is important to consider this when searching for a home as these are costs that must be taken into consideration when budgeting for rental accommodation. Although the monthly rental on unfurnished properties often cheaper than properties with furnishings, once the cost of furniture is factored in, one can sometimes end up paying more overall per month. Of course, there are many things one must take into account like the duration of the tenancy, the condition of the furniture and the difference in the monthly/annual rental price.
Sometimes families prefer to buy their own furniture that meets their needs and suits their taste or when they move to Qatar, they may be moving permanently in which case they may decide to bring their furniture with them. Sometimes properties are advertised as unfurnished but for an increased monthly rental the landlord or real estate company is prepared to provide furniture. One thing to bear in mind is that if an unfurnished property is rented and furniture is bought, once the rental duration comes to an end the furniture will be an extra thing to take care of that one would not have to worry about otherwise, so this may not be the most ideal option for rentals of short or unknown duration.
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.
Qatar, officially known as the State of Qatar or "Dawlat Qatar" is a country occupying a small desert peninsula, spanning 11,627 square kilometres 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.