Updated Regulations For Residential Villas Welcomed

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Society of Engineers has welcomed Decision No. (108) of 2026 issued by H E Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Minister of Municipality, concerning the update of planning and architectural regulations for residential villas and palaces.

The Society described the amendments as an important step toward advancing Qatar's residential urban environment and providing more flexible solutions that meet the needs of Qatari families while keeping pace with modern lifestyles.

The Society noted that the new updates, which include increasing the permissible height of residential villas, introducing mezzanine floors, enhancing annexes and external majlis buildings, reducing certain setback requirements, and allowing carefully planned residential expansions within housing plots, will contribute to maximizing the use of residential land and provide citizens with broader options for designing their homes. The amendments, it said, help achieve a balance between privacy, comfort, and the functional efficiency of residential buildings.

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In this context, Eng. Amna Mohammed Al Naama, Chairperson of the Qatar Society of Engineers, stated that the amendments reflect a progressive vision for urban planning that responds to the real needs of Qatari families. She said the changes will enhance quality of life and family stability by offering greater flexibility in residential design and future development without the need for complex or costly construction solutions.

She added that allowing the introduction of mezzanine floors, the development of annexes and majlis facilities, and the creation of independent internal family wings, together with updates related to building heights and setbacks, will enable engineers and consultancy firms to deliver more creative and efficient designs.

These measures, she noted, align with Qatar's ongoing urban development and strengthen both the functional and investment value of residential properties, in line with the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Society reaffirmed its support for all initiatives that contribute to the development of Qatar's construction and housing sector and expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the Ministry of Municipality in continuously updating regulatory requirements to keep pace with urban developments and the evolving needs of society.

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