File photo used for representation only.
Braving the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, Qatar’s construction sector has started its march on the path of strong recovery. The data related to building permits issued during 2020 demonstrate that the construction sector has shrugged-off the impact of COVID-19 outbreak and it is set to move ahead in full speed in the current year.
Quarterly and monthly figures reveal that the construction sector has made a strong comeback in the last part of the year. Total 972 building permits were issued in the December, which was the highest figure in 2020.
Similarly October, November, December was the best quarter in the last year in terms of building permits issuance. Total 2,465 building permits were issued in the fourth quarter of last year, making it the best quarterly performance by the construction sector. Total 7,805 building permits were issue last year.
“The construction activity has again reached pre-pandemic level now. We have seen launch of new construction projects which has increased the demand of raw materials and workforce,” a Civil Engineer in a construction company told The Peninsula. “Construction activity had slowed down significantly during April and May. Now the confidence is back in the construction sector due to consistent decline in the number COVID-19 cases,” he added.
The data about building permits issued monthly by the Planning and Statistics Authority is a crucial indicator of performance of the construction sector. The data includes number of permits issued for residential buildings including villas and apartment buildings; and non residential buildings commercial buildings, mosques, workshops and factories. Number of permits doesn’t mean number of units or buildings. It means number of permits issued for this category. For example, a single permit might be issued for more than one villa or for a complete residential complex.
Due to the restrictions imposed to spread the outbreak of COVID-19, construction activity had reduced during the second quarter in the country. According to the Planning and Statistics data, 2018 building permits were issued in the third quarter of 2020; 1326 permits in the second quarter and 1996 permits in the first quarter.
In terms of month wise figures, September, October and November were the other notable months as higher number permits were issued in these months. In September, 757 permits were issued while 731 permits were used in October and 762 issued in November.
In order to simplify the procedures further to save time and efforts of service users, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment had upgraded electronic system for the issuance of building permits, certificates of completion of construction of building among other services.
