Holiday Homes

By Ola Diab

Are you a home or villa owner with a spare property looking for extra income? Rent it now to travellers from all over the world on one of the various platforms that offer holiday rentals.

Qatar Tourism has announced an expedited process to issue Holiday Homes licences for residential property owners in Qatar to enlist their units for short-term rentals through popular international websites such as Airbnb, booking.com, holidayhomes.com and Vrbo. The entity is receiving a growing number of enquiries on the licensing process from citizens and investors through its website, and has therefore introduced a helpline and simplified process to issue licences within a week. However, Qatar Tourism officials warned that property owners who bypass the process and rent their homes to vacationers without a licence risk receiving a prison sentence of up to two years and/or a QAR200,000 fine. According to Mohamed Al Ansari, Director of Tourism Licensing, the spirit of hospitality is a distinct feature of Qatari tradition. He said that this is a chance to showcase Qatar's true essence as they prepare to host visitors from every corner of the world for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Al Ansari said,‘Qatar Tourism invites all residential property owners to share our spirit of hospitality while generating extra income from their unused units by simply getting a Holiday Homes licence. Steps and requirements needed for the licence are available on our website.’ Online application Featured under the e-services section of the Qatar Tourism corporate website, the Holiday Homes page offers the options for homeowners to either fill in a simple form to request a call back from the Qatar Tourism agents, or follow the steps in the portal user guide to apply online. Once the application is accepted, a team inspects the unit to finalise the process. The free-of-charge Holiday Homes licence is valid for five years and can be renewed to allow property owners to generate extra income by renting out their residential units for short-term use. It also gives them the opportunity to meet people from different cultures and celebrate Qatar’s tradition of hospitality.

What are the benefits? 1. First and foremost, you’ll be able to generate income. Your empty house can be used as a money earner, and your licence is free of charge. 2. If you enjoy being a host, this is a great way to meet people from all over the world, experience their culture and introduce unparalleled Qatari hospitality. 3. Qatar Tourism can help you set up the regulations for your enlisted house. 4. Units can be used by other governmental entities to accommodate their special guests or events.

Best tourism experience To ensure that the visitors constantly get the best experience in the state, Qatar Tourism uses Sentiment Analysis Technology in the hospitality industry to access a large number of guests reviews from more than 130 global platforms. Being part of the hospitality sector, Holiday Homes should achieve a minimum score of 75% in guest satisfaction throughout the validity of the licence. Qatar Tourism will continue to monitor this score, giving the chance for those underperforming to take corrective measures. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the licence. Qatar Tourism boosts investment opportunities in the country’s growing hospitality sector, providing offerings that suit all the needs of visitors during and after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. To see all updates on the Holiday Homes licence, visit the Qatar Tourism corporate website or call 4499 7888 to directly connect with the Qatar Tourism Licensing Department. Qatar Tourism also receives applications through its single window counter 44 in Al Jasra Tower, Lusail City. Host a fan The Holiday Homes initiative is similar to Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) Host a Fan initiative, which was launched in 2021, ahead of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021™, enabling households across Qatar to volunteer to host visiting sports fans during upcoming sporting events. An expression of the Arab world’s famed hospitality, the first-of-a-kind programme links supporters travelling to Qatar for major tournaments with locals and residents. The Host a Fan initiative is part of the SC’s strategy to provide fans visiting Qatar with a variety of culturally rich accommodation options. According to Project Manager of the initiative at the SC, Khalid Al Jumaily, this unique approach will allow fans to experience Qatar’s culture through the eyes of a local. In addition, the initiative is completely free of charge. Visiting fans will not be required to pay for their accommodation, nor will hosts be paid for hosting a fan. Hosts, however, will be able to choose where fans will stay, and how long their visit will be. Most importantly, hosts will act as cultural guides, showing their guests Qatar’s most significant cultural destinations, and introducing them to local customs and traditions. Those interested in learning more about the specific requirements of the initiative can visit hostafan.qa. However, registration closed on 12 October 2021. For more upcoming events, see Events in Qatar and/or the Sports Events Calendar in the Events and Activities section. m