[Updated Oct 2020] A guide to serviced offices and office space to rent in Doha as well as general information that may be useful if you are thinking of renting office space in Doha.
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‘The Big Tree’
Doha is the capital city of Qatar and lies on the eastern edge of a peninsula that reaches out into the Persian Gulf. It was founded around 200 years ago, having somehow emerged with its current name, which translates from the Arabic into English as ‘The Big Tree’. A little confusing perhaps since there aren’t many trees around in Doha or the rest of the sand-quilted state. Nevertheless, the region as a whole has been inhabited on and off for the past six millennia.
In the early years following Doha’s establishment, it was embroiled in the politics and war-making that was going on throughout the Persian Gulf at the time, particularly among the Ottomans, local forces and subsequently the British. Qatari armies fought against the Ottomans at several junctures during the 19th century and eventually succeeded in freeing themselves from an unpopular association with the nearby island of Bahrain.
For much of its history, the areas around Doha were difficult to defend from foreign sea-bound enemies but to the extent that Qatari national identity emerged it was generally represented by the leaders of Sunni Islamic tribes. Among them was Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani, whose descendants remain the ruling family in the country.
A modern emirate
The influence and nominal control of Doha exercised by the Ottoman Empire lasted right up until just before the First World War in 1913, thereafter the country officially became a British protectorate and Doha was named its capital. The economy of the city and the peninsula had been based on its fishing and pearling trades for centuries, which was only enough to support a population numbering tens of thousands at the turn of the twentieth century.
Qatar became an independent nation in 1971 after Britain rescinded its political control over the region in 1968 and after the failure of a federation of seven neighbouring Sheikdoms. The new state was and has ever since been led by members of the House of Thani. Since independence, the development of Qatar into a modern Emirate and Doha into a globally significant city has been dramatic. There a now close to a million people living in the capital and it boasts one of the most dynamic economies in the region.
Doha’s economy
The exploitation of its oil reserves has been a Qatari priority for several generations and in more recent years it has established itself as one of the world’s leading suppliers of natural gas. Over the past few decades, there has been widespread development of modern infrastructures and business districts as natural resource revenues are used to instigate more general prosperity and economic activity in Qatar and particularly in Doha.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Qatar enjoys the highest level of gross domestic product per capita of any country in the world, and it ranks among the top five in this context in the assessment of virtually every other international assessor. The core of the Doha economy is still based around the phenomenal reserves of oil and natural gas but considerable effort has been made to establish a knowledge-led economy across the city, with the help of foreign investors and branches of some of the world’s leading education institutions.
Office space to rent in Doha
Doha boasts some of the most impressive and high-quality office space to rent in the Middle East. Its office buildings have generally been constructed in recent years and are designed to meet the needs of both domestic and international businesses. Dozens of multi-nationals from the science and technology sectors, as well as the fields of finance and banking, have set-up operations in Doha office space and there are plenty of attractive rental opportunities on offer.
From a pricing point of view, Doha’s office space could be viewed as highly enticing because the city has experienced something of an oversupply problem since the onset of the global financial crisis. While this is generally viewed negatively by developers and real estate operators in Qatar, it does mean that there is plenty of available office space to rent in Doha and some good leasehold deals to be had at present.
Culture and tourism
The culture of Qatar is primarily defined by the population’s history of adherence to the teachings of Islam, with the vast majority of people identifying themselves as Sunni. However, there is a long history of influence and integration of ideas and customs from various other parts of Arabia, as well as Africa and countries to the east, including India and Sri Lanka.
Since 1995, when the current Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani came to power there have been steps taken to promote women’s rights and youth-related causes, which has given the country a reputation as being among the most progressive states in the Arab world. Among the most high-profile developments in this context has been the founding of the Al-Jazeera news network, which is now internationally renowned and based out of offices in Doha.
Doha’s tourist industry is a fledgeling one and Qatar doesn’t see great numbers of tourists partly because of its extremely high temperatures and arid climate. However, there are some sights around the city that are well worth seeing. The centre of the city itself, with its high-rise office blocks and innovative architecture, offers a memorable view, especially from the far side of Doha Bay. The city also hosts the Museum of Islamic Art, which is arguably the leading institution of its kind in the world and is full of truly fascinating artefacts.
Transport
Congestion on the roads in and around Doha has become a serious issue for the local authorities as a result of the enormous increase in its population in a relatively short period of time. Substantial efforts to address the problems are currently under-way and others are in the planning stages.
A network of roads crosses the city and carry public buses throughout the year, while thousands of taxis operate throughout the area. Meanwhile, the Doha International Airport is currently the only way for overseas visitors of arriving in Qatar but plans are being put in place for a second airport to be established and for a metro system to run city-wide. It also seems likely that Doha’s transport infrastructure will be forever altered in the years preceding its staging of the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Sport
The awarding of the World Cup to Qatar came as a surprise to many and it will be the first time the event has been staged in the Middle East. Qatar will also be the smallest nation ever to host the competition, which is likely to see millions of football fans heading to the peninsula and getting at least a fleeting taste of Doha life. Planned stadium developments are nothing short of spectacular and it promises to be one of the most elaborate sporting showcases the world has ever seen.
Hosting the World Cup will be a huge challenge for the country but Qatar has some pedigree in terms of staging world-class sporting events, with the Asian Games having been held there with great success in 2006. Several indoor sporting venues in Doha are now counted among the best in the world and the government has been keen to promote athletic pursuits of all kinds among its population.
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