Doha: HE Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah has issued a decision to amend certain provisions of Ministerial Decision No. (7) of 1989, which outlines architectural requirements and technical specifications for buildings.
According to Qatar News Agency, the amendments include over 20 updates to the regulations governing residential villas and palaces. These changes aim to enhance construction flexibility and residential expansion, catering to the needs of Qatari families while aligning with modern urban development trends. The Ministry of Municipality highlighted that the updates were introduced to address both current and future needs of citizens, offering more flexible options for home design and development while preserving family privacy, maintaining urban environment quality, and safeguarding Qatar's architectural identity.
The Ministry noted that this initiative represents one of the most comprehensive reviews of residential villa and palace requirements in recent years. It followed a thorough study of citizens' needs and the challenges associated with residential construction, contributing to enhanced family stability and optimal use of residential plots. Key updates include increasing the maximum height of residential villas to 16 meters and palace height limits to between 17 and 25 meters, depending on plot size and approved architectural elements. For the first time, the regulations allow the construction of one internal mezzanine floor in villas and palaces.
The new regulations also permit the ground floor of a villa to extend up to the neighboring property boundary, following specific controls. Additionally, first-floor extensions above the external majlis or annexes are allowed, along with the creation of an independent internal suite for a family member. The regulations now permit an increase in the height of the external majlis to between 7.5 and 10 meters, with the possibility of adding a mezzanine floor. A first floor can also be added to an external annex, with a height cap of 7.5 meters. Furthermore, the amendments allow for a separate internal service staircase for domestic workers and maintenance activities.
To maximize the efficient use of residential plots, certain architectural setback requirements have been reduced. This includes allowing the first floor of a villa to project up to 2 meters into the front setback area and reducing side and rear setbacks in line with carefully considered planning controls. Decorative architectural projections for villas and palaces are also permitted under the new regulations.
The updated regulations consider privacy and quality of life by increasing the maximum height of villa walls to 3.40 meters and palace walls to 5 meters, while allowing the installation of mail and order boxes on the exterior walls of residences according to specific technical specifications. The Ministry confirmed that the new regulations will be applied uniformly across all municipalities, ensuring standardized planning and architectural procedures nationwide. The regulations will take effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
To facilitate the implementation of these updates, the Ministry plans to organize an introductory workshop for consultants and specialized engineering firms. This session will review the new updates, explain their implementation mechanisms, and address technical inquiries, ensuring the optimal application of the regulations in support of quality of life and urban sustainability, in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030.