Where can I sleep? It’s one of the most pressing problems for World Cup fans heading to tiny Qatar in the midst of a frenetic scramble for accommodations in Doha. On cruise ships, some people will rest. While others will set up tent there. Some people will fly in from Dubai and other places.
But the battle for lodging in the lead-up to the biggest athletic event in the smallest host nation is far from exclusive to visitors. Rents have skyrocketed in Qatar due to the real estate boom, forcing many long-term residents out of their houses and leaving many more without housing options.
A 30-year-old woman named Mariam stated, “Landlords are taking full advantage of the situation and there is nothing in place to support the people who already reside here.”
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British citizen whose landlord raised her rent from 5,000 Qatari riyals ($1,370) to 20,000 riyals ($5,490) after refusing to extend her annual lease in September. She was forced to move out and is currently sleeping at a friend’s apartment because she was unable to afford the increase.
Like other renters interviewed in the autocratic country, she remarked, “It’s terribly disheartening,” using only her first name out of fear of retaliation. For the same reason, some others only talked on the condition of anonymity.
Residents of the nation, where foreigners outnumber locals by a ratio of nine to one, claim that the World Cup’s increased demand and shortage of housing have given landlords the power to raise rents by over 40% in many cases without prior notice, forcing tenants to leave and face an uncertain future.
The Qatari government acknowledged the “increased demand for housing” and urged tenants who felt they had been treated unfairly to lodge a complaint with the committee in charge of handling rental disputes.
In the Gulf Arab sheikhdom, which has never before hosted an event of the magnitude of the World Cup, 1.2 million spectators are anticipated to swarm there the next month.
Local organizers have made an effort to allay concerns about a housing shortage by pointing out that Qatar has reserved 130,000 rooms, which are accessible through the official website. It’s unclear how many low-cost options there are, but the rooms, which are in hotels, resorts, specially constructed homes, and three cruise ships at the harbor, start at about $80.
80% of the rooms are subject to a price cap, the administration stated in a statement to The Associated Press. The ceiling, which is around $780 for a five-star resort room, can go higher based on the room’s features, but it did not answer to inquiries about whether and how the cap has been applied.
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Many long-term residents of hotels and apartments claim they are being evicted to make way for athletes, staff members, and spectators.
A British teacher whose landlord raised his rent by 44% remarked, “You’re committed to either staying and paying the extra or leaving and not knowing whether you’re going to have anyplace to live.” The teacher, who is terribly concerned about his future, sold all of his furniture and is currently staying at a friend’s house.
Other tenants who were renewing their leases noticed signs announcing that the buildings had been “selected by the government to host the 2022 World Cup guests and events” had appeared on their properties.
The AP obtained the notice ordering residents to leave so that the facility could be turned over for upkeep before to the competition.
Local planners have an agreement with the French hotel chain Accor to reserve about 45,000 rooms for fans.
According to Omar al-Jaber, executive director of housing at Qatar’s Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy, the government had no say in whether or not long-term renters’ leases were terminated.
He admitted, “To be honest with you, we are not in charge of what occurs in the market.”
A 48-year-old French pilates instructor claimed that her landlord made a commitment to keep her in for the World Cup when they signed their lease a year ago. But a few days before her lease was about to expire, she received tragic news: Her landlord was unable to rent the property to her due to “personal reasons.” The following day, her friend discovered a listing on Airbnb for her accommodation asking approximately $600 more per month than she had paid.
She questioned, “You’re evicting long-term inhabitants for a one-month event?” People are furious. It’s quite upsetting.
Residents who are looking for new residences in response to rent increases claim it is incredibly difficult to locate suitable properties within their price ranges. On Airbnb, the majority of the two-bedroom apartments on the Pearl, a man-made island off Doha, cost more than $1,000 per night. On the property, opulent apartments may rent for an astounding $200,000 per month.
The 32-year-old Indian resident, whose rent will increase by more than $400 the following month, said of the accommodations that were left for him: “They are not good at all.” “All of a sudden, if we can afford it, the kitchen is either missing, too far away, or split by walls. It’s quite unsettling.
Energy-rich For the first World Cup in the Arab region, Qatar has invested heavily, pledging that both locals and foreign people will benefit from a lasting legacy.
Al-Jaber declared, “This competition is for everyone who resides in Qatar.” “We want everyone to have fun at this competition,”
Some, however, assert that the close quarters prove the happy occasion has a price.
The British teacher who was forced to vacate his residence after seven years said, “It’s costing me a lot of worry and money.” I’m responsible for paying for the World Cup.
