Whether you’re looking for Restaurants for rent in Qatar or want to start your own food business, the country offers plenty of opportunities. In the past decade, Qatar’s food scene has exploded, with new restaurants popping up in every corner of the city and even smaller towns. With high-income families and tourists spending money on dining out, there’s a lot of potential for those who are willing to put in the work.
The gas-rich nation has reportedly forked out $220bn since it won the right to host the men’s World Cup more than 12 years ago, investing in new metro systems, roads, airports, neighbourhoods and entire cities. But the event – which ended on Tuesday – proved costly for many of its local businesses, with some restaurateurs reporting that they suffered major losses due to fans choosing eateries close to stadiums, hotels and fan zones over those further away.
Many restaurants in Souq Waqif, the heart of this year’s tournament, saw a boom in footfalls with some reporting double their usual turnover. But others in affluent areas of the capital reported that they were left to pick up the pieces.
One such operator, a small chain serving up Middle Eastern cuisine near the city centre, said it had lost more than 20% of its normal turnover. Another owner in Matar Qadeem, a suburb within walking distance of the old Doha airport, told MEE that his business had been “wiped out”.
He blamed the free transport provided to match-goers by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), which was charged with running this year’s tournament. While it helped fans get around Doha, he added, it prevented many from visiting venues away from the main sites that Qatari authorities and Fifa had earmarked as must-see places.
As for housing, expats can choose from a variety of options from compounds to standalone apartments and villas. On average, though, a one-bedroom apartment in central Doha costs about QR9,000. This can go up to around QR11,000 in more luxurious properties in expat-heavy neighbourhoods such as the Pearl Qatar development.
Utilities are also cheaper in Qatar than in Europe thanks to subsidized energy and water bills. On average, a western expat can expect to spend about QR250 per month on their home utilities.
For entertainment, a cinema ticket will cost you about QR40 and you’ll pay roughly the same for a pint of domestic beer in a bar as you would in a supermarket. However, if you’re shopping for designer clothes and accessories, prepare to fork out more than you would in Europe – because of high import taxes. Salaries in Qatar are generally on par with those in Europe and the lack of personal income tax means you’ll keep much more of what you earn. Restaurants for rent in Qatar
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