The Qatari legislator enacted Law No. (8) of 2026, amending certain provisions of Law No. (4) of 2008 on the Lease of Real Estate. The amendments address the jurisdiction of the Rental Dispute Committee, lease registration fees, the registration of certain leases involving State property, and the applicable penalty provisions.

1. Expansion of the Rental Dispute Committee's Jurisdiction

The amendment to Article (22) is among the most significant changes introduced by the legislator. Under the previous provision, the Committee’s jurisdiction was confined to the scope established by Article (2) of the Law, which excluded certain categories from the application of the Law, including State public and private property, agricultural and vacant land, industrial service land, hotel and tourist units, as well as residential units allocated by the State or companies to their employees and workers in connection with their employment.

The amendment to Article (22) extends the Committee’s jurisdiction beyond those limits, granting it exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes arising from lease relationships, irrespective of the status of the parties or the nature of the property concerned. Accordingly, the fact that a lease relationship falls outside the substantive scope of the Real Estate Lease Law no longer excludes the Committee’s jurisdiction. The amendment therefore distinguishes between the rules governing jurisdiction and the substantive law applicable to the dispute: the Committee is entrusted with determining the lease dispute, while applying the law governing the particular relationship according to its nature and subject matter, even where that law is different from the Real Estate Lease Law.

As a result, the jurisdiction of the Rental Dispute Committee now extends to disputes arising from the categories referred to above, which previously fell outside its jurisdiction. The legislator further reinforced this approach by providing that claims falling within the Committee’s jurisdiction may not be entertained by the competent courts unless they have first been submitted to and determined by the Committee, reflecting an intention to establish a single forum for lease disputes, streamline proceedings, and facilitate their prompt resolution.

2. Amendment to Lease Registration Fees

Law No. (8) of 2026 also amended the fee applicable to the registration of lease agreements. The legislator replaced Article (20)(2), under which the registration fee was calculated at 0.5% of the annual rental value, with a fixed fee of QAR 250 for each residential, commercial, or other unit specified in the building permit. The Council of Ministers retains the authority to amend the amount of this fee upon the proposal of the competent Minister.

3. Introduction of a Registration Requirement for Certain State Property Leases

Law No. (8) of 2026 also introduced a new provision by adding Article (20 bis), requiring beneficiaries of State public and private property to register lease agreements entered into with third parties where the instrument granting the right of use permits them to lease the property. Such agreements must be registered within two months from the date of their execution. In turn, the legislator exempted these agreements from the registration fee prescribed under Article (20) of the Law.

4. Expansion of Penalty Provisions and Amendment to the Settlement Regime

Finally, the amendment to Article (26 bis) expanded the scope of the penalty of a fine not exceeding QAR 10,000. While the penalty previously applied only to a breach of the obligation under the second paragraph of Article (3) concerning the registration of lease agreements, it now also applies to a breach of the newly introduced obligation under Article (20 bis) concerning the registration of lease agreements entered into by beneficiaries of State public and private property with third parties.

The legislator also revised the provisions governing the settlement of violations by reducing the amount payable for settlement from one-half of the maximum fine to one-tenth of the maximum fine, while maintaining the requirement to pay the applicable registration fee. This amendment reflects a legislative approach towards facilitating the settlement of violations and encouraging their prompt rectification, without affecting the penalties prescribed to ensure compliance with the Law.

Conclusion

The amendments introduced by Law No. (8) of 2026 to the Real Estate Lease Law reflect a legislative approach towards establishing a unified forum for disputes arising from different types of lease relationships, irrespective of their nature. They also demonstrate an increased focus on the documentation and registration of lease relationships through simplified registration requirements and reduced financial burdens, with a view to providing greater structure and stability to such relationships.

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