Where to sleep? It바카라s among the biggest questions facing fans traveling to tiny Qatar for the FIFA World Cup 2022 amid a feverish rush for rooms in Doha. Some will sleep on cruise ships. Others will camp in the desert. Others will fly in from Dubai and elsewhere. (More Football News)
But in the run-up to the world바카라s biggest sporting event in the world바카라s smallest host country, the struggle for housing is hardly limited to tourists. Qatar바카라s real estate frenzy has sent rents skyrocketing and priced long-term residents out of their own homes, leaving many in the lurch.
바카라Landlords are taking full advantage of the situation and there바카라s nothing in place to support the people who already live here,바카라 said Mariam, a 30-year-old British resident whose landlord refused to renew her annual contract in September, then quadrupled her monthly rent 바카라 from 5,000 Qatari riyals (some $1,370) to 20,000 riyals ($5,490). Unable to afford the increase, she had no choice but to move out and is now staying at a friend바카라s place.
바카라It바카라s really demoralizing,바카라 she said, giving only her first name for fear of reprisals, like other renters interviewed in the autocratic nation. Others spoke on the condition of anonymity for the same reason.
Residents in the country, where expats outnumber locals nine to one, say the surging demand and shortage of rooms ahead of the World Cup has empowered landlords to raise rents by over 40% in many cases on short notice, forcing tenants to pack up and face an uncertain future.
The Qatari government acknowledged the 바카라increased demand for accommodation바카라 and encouraged tenants who believe they have been wronged to file a complaint with the government바카라s rental disputes committee.
Some 1.2 million fans are expected to descend next month on the Gulf Arab sheikhdom, which has never before hosted an event on the scale of the World Cup.
Local organizers have sought to dispel fears of an accommodation crisis, pointing out that Qatar has set aside 130,000 rooms, available through the official website.
The rooms, which are in hotels, resorts, specially built housing, and three cruise ships at the port, start at around $80, they say, although it바카라s not clear how many low-budget options there are.
A price ceiling applies to 80% of the rooms, the government said in a statement to The Associated Press. It did not respond to questions about whether and how the cap has been implemented, and the ceiling 바카라 which is about $780 for a five-star resort room 바카라 can go higher, depending on the room's amenities.
Many long-term occupants in hotels and apartments say they바카라re being driven out to make room for players, staffers, and fans.
바카라You바카라re committed to either staying and paying the extra or leaving and not knowing whether you바카라re going to have anywhere to live,바카라 said a British teacher whose landlord hiked his rent by 44%. The teacher sold all his furniture and is now crashing at a friend바카라s place, worried sick about his future.
Other renters renewing their leases reported signs appearing on their apartments marking the buildings as 바카라chosen by the government to host the 2022 World Cup guests and events.바카라
The notice, seen by the AP, orders tenants to vacate so the building can be handed over for maintenance ahead of the tournament.
Local organizers have signed a deal with French hospitality company Accor to set aside some 45,000 rooms for fans.
Omar al-Jaber, the executive director of housing at Qatar바카라s Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy, said the government played no role in contract terminations affecting long-term tenants.
바카라To be honest with you, we are not controlling what happens in the market,바카라 he told the AP.
A 48-year-old French pilates instructor said that when she signed her lease a year ago, her landlord promised he wouldn바카라t kick her out during the World Cup.
Yet just days before her lease renewal, she got a devastating message: Her landlord couldn바카라t rent her the place for 바카라personal reasons.바카라 The next day, her friend saw her room advertised on Airbnb for nearly $600 more a month than she had paid.
바카라You바카라re kicking out long-term residents for a one-month event?바카라 she said. 바카라People are angry. It바카라s very disruptive.바카라
Residents scrambling to find new homes because of the rent hikes say it바카라s nearly impossible to find suitable places within their budgets. Most two-bedroom apartments on the Pearl, an artificial island off Doha, go for over $1,000 a night on Airbnb. Luxury apartments on the site can fetch a staggering $200,000 a month.
바카라The accommodations that are left for us are not good at all,바카라 said a 32-year-old Indian resident whose monthly rent will increase by over $400 next month. 바카라Suddenly if we can afford it, there바카라s no kitchen, it바카라s too far away or it바카라s divided by partitions. It바카라s very disturbing.바카라
Energy-rich Qatar has spared no expense in its grand plans for the first World Cup in the Arab world, promising that locals and expat residents will enjoy a lasting legacy, too.
바카라This tournament is for everyone who바카라s living in Qatar,바카라 said al-Jaber. 바카라We would like everyone to enjoy this tournament.바카라
But some say the tight squeeze shows the joyous event comes at a cost.
바카라It바카라s costing me a lot of stress and money,바카라 said the British teacher who had to leave his apartment after seven years. 바카라I바카라m having to pay for the World Cup.바카라
