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.
West Bay is not a district in its own right contrary to popular belief, but rather the name "West Bay" refers to a comprisal of districts on the east coast of Qatar, just north of Central Doha. The area when "mapped" out actually consists of the districts of Al Dafna, Al Qassar and Onaiza and West Bay Lagoon. The area is modern with some of the tallest skyscrapers in Qatar which are home to the Business centre of the capital. The area also houses many Head Offices and administrative buildings of the State set against the clear blue backdrop of the Persian Gulf waters, forming the "Doha Skyline" that is most famously seen in imagery of Doha. The Diplomatic Area is also located within West Bay.
The area has good road links as one would expect including the Al Corniche Street, Diplomatic Street, Omar Al Mukhtar Street, Majlis Al Taawon Street and the beginning of the Lusail Expressway. West Bay has its own Metro station on the Red Line and bus route. It is a very popular location for rentals and there is a wide choice of property types and sizes available to suit all and a convenient location to rent in if one is looking to be close to the Business District and Central Doha without the congestion.