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.
Al Gharrafa is a district in the Al Rayyan municipality of Qatar. The word "Gharrafa" in Arabic means "to scoop up". It was named such due to the low-lying floodplain land profile that meant locals could scoop up water from the area. Al Gharrafa is known for its many large shopping malls that attract the residents of surrounding districts and namely the Q Mall, Ezdan Mall, Landmark Mall and Gulf Mall. There is plenty to do and something for everyone to enjoy as each one is buzzing with a wide selection of retailers including various boutiques, large chain stores, artisan cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and cinemas, all easily accessible from Al Shamal Road.
Al Gharrafa is home to the impressive Sidra Medical and Research Centre, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation located on Al Gharrafa Street. Other local landmarks in the district also include the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium on Al Zubar Street, Al Gharrafa Health Centre on Abu Silla Street, Fereej Al Gharrafa Stadium which is administered by the Qatar Olympic Committee on Al Argam bin Abi Al Argam Street. Al Gharrafa is a district populated with many residential compounds offering varying levels of facilities that suit all budgets. The majority of apartments and villas for rent in Al Gharrafa are found in these compounds that also offer additional benefits to their residents like 24 hr security, maintenance, children's playgrounds, clubhouse facilities, swimming pools, gyms, spa facilities, indoor and outdoor sporting facilities to name a few. This makes them an ideal choice for families especially and one can find plenty of furnished villas and apartments to make the move easier.