Doha: Qatari
families can now build higher, extend further, and reshape their homes more
freely under sweeping new rules approved by the Minister of Municipality.
HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah
al-Attiyah has issued a decision overhauling the 1989 regulations on
architectural standards for buildings, introducing more than 20 changes to the
rules governing residential villas and palaces. The aim is to give citizens
more flexible options for designing and expanding their homes while protecting
family privacy and the country's architectural character.
Under the new rules, villas may now
reach 16 metres, including the rooftop structure, while palaces can stand
between 17 and 25 metres depending on plot size and design. For the first time,
owners may add a single internal mezzanine floor inside villas and palaces. A
villa's ground floor can now be extended up to the neighbouring boundary, and a
first floor may be built above the external majlis (guest reception hall) or
over annexes. Families may also create a self-contained internal suite for a
relative and a separate service staircase for domestic staff.
On privacy, villa boundary walls may
now reach 3.40 metres and palace walls five metres. Several setback rules have
been eased: a villa's first floor may now project up to two metres into the
front setback, with side and rear setbacks reduced under planning controls. The
external majlis itself can rise to between 7.5 and 10 metres, with the option
of a mezzanine.
The Qatar Society of Engineers welcomed the decision, calling it a significant step towards improving the residential environment. Board Chairperson Eng. Amna Mohammed al-Naama said the changes reflect an advanced vision of urban planning attuned to the real needs of the Qatari family, promoting quality of life and family stability. The ministry said the rules will apply uniformly across all municipalities once published in the Official Gazette.
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