Lusail to cement Qatar’s role as premier business, leisure hub

Domestic and international real estate developers stand to gain from global investment opportunities being offered by Qatari Diar, which has 50 ongoing development projects in 20 countries worldwide with a combined value of around “$35bn”, an official has said.

Khalifa al-Mana, senior manager, City Control Centre and Smart Operations at Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, made the statement during a media tour of Lusail City and several prime areas.

The media tour commemorated the development of Lusail, Qatari Diar’s flagship project – touted as the country’s “smart city of the future”, which began 20 years ago. The tour also provided participating journalists the opportunity to explore two decades’ worth of Lusail’s transformative journey and its role in cementing Qatar’s position as a premier business and leisure hub.

Local and international property developers have a wide range of investment opportunities in Huzoom, The Seef, and Lusail Boulevard, said al-Mana, who noted that Lusail is home to key attractions, such as Place Vendome, Meryal Waterpark, and Al Maha Island.

According to al-Mana, Qatar’s real estate market was valued at “$485bn” in 2024, “attracting the most foreign direct investments after the energy sector”. In the past few years, he said the real estate industry witnessed “notable growth”, driven by the following factors: an increase in demand for residential and retail spaces, robust visitor growth, and Qatar’s hosting of mega-events, as well as developments in the business and trade sector.

He said: “Qatar is paving the way for investment with new property ownership laws for foreigners and amendments to mortgage regulations, which came into effect in 2023.

“Our ambitions are to harness our resources and capabilities to provide sustainable development of high quality, careful planning and the use of innovative methods in the world of real estate.”

Lusail’s 20-year development journey represents a bold step forward in sustainable, smart urban living, al-Mana pointed out. “Known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure and forward-thinking design, Lusail offers a mix of residential, commercial, and entertainment districts... by leveraging AI technologies and interactive applications, we aim to offer superior smart city experiences that make the city more efficient and sustainable,” he explained.

Spanning 38mn sq m, representing “$45bn” worth of infrastructure investment - al-Mana noted - Lusail is “the largest real estate project in Qatar.”

The new Huzoom Lusail district, which is 15km from central Doha on Lusail’s northern edge was master-planned as a high-quality, low-density residential community, said al-Mana, who added that some of its features include 2,863 villa plots of various sizes and connectivity to city-wide public transport with easy access to the Lusail Expressway and Al Khor Coastal Road.

As Lusail’s “crown jewel”, Qetaifan Island offers unique panoramic sea views. “Privacy is an integral part of the Qetaifan Islands lifestyle. The islands offer land buyers freehold ownership and residency in Qatar,” al-Mana said.
Al-Mana noted that The Seef is Lusail’s high-profile waterfront district, home to luxury contemporary living at its finest. “The streetscapes, open spaces and waterfront promenade are linked to an efficient and sustainable transportation system – comprising the Light Rail Transit (LRT) network, pedestrian pathways, roads and cycle routes, a promenade trolley system and even water taxis,” he said.

Al Tarfa is Lusail’s hub for landmark attractions, as well as for leisure and recreation activities and venues, integrated seamlessly into a sustainable, sophisticated urban environment, al-Mana said.

Al Maha Island is the ultimate entertainment and leisure hotspot for Qatar and international tourism, located across Lusail Marina promenade and linked to the mainland via a causeway. It features Lusail Winter Wonderland with more than 50 rides for families and other fun activities and amenities, the world-renowned Nammos Beach Club, and a high-end dining district.

Spanning 1.3km, Lusail Boulevard was modelled after the Avenue des Champs-Élysées comprising a range of mixed-use, upscale retail, offices, and premium residential units, all intricately designed and built to world-class quality standards in every detail, al-Mana further explained.

Another strategic district is the location of the Lusail Stadium, which was the largest venue of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with a seating capacity of 88,966 spectators. “The stadium’s design is inspired by the interplay of light and shadow, reminiscent of traditional lanterns (the Arabic fanous). It also reflects the intricate patterns found on handcrafted bowls and vessels commonly used in Arab and Islamic culture,” he said.

On sustainability, al-Mana said: “Lusail was the first development in Qatar to endorse Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) in the region... all Lusail buildings hold a GSAS rating of at least two stars, having successfully achieved targets for energy consumption efficiency, water conservation, local material sourcing and recycling, outdoor environment quality, as well as management and operations.”

He also said: “The Lusail District Cooling System, designed and provided by Marafeq Qatar, will save 65mn tonnes of CO2 annually. Upon its completion, the system will serve about 1,000 buildings through 175km (supply and return) of underground piping from four cooling plants. The system involves chilled water in pipes that are fed to each locality via an underground tunnel in the Marina district and through an extensive network throughout Lusail City.”

Al-Mana emphasised that Lusail’s dynamic real estate market offers substantial growth potential for investors, with freehold ownership and residency in Qatar offered to buyers. “In 2020, the Qatari government introduced unprecedented property ownership reforms that mean non-Qataris are now eligible to invest in the Qatar real estate sector for the first time. These new government policies have been enacted to strengthen Qatar’s economic growth and develop the real estate sector. Eligibility falls into two categories,” he added.