QTA Minimum Building Requirements

For New Hotels

Hotel Classification for the State of Qatar

Version 1.0

www.qatartourism.gov.qa 
 
P.O. Box: 24624, Doha – Qatar Tel: +974 499 7499 Fax: +974 499 1919  
 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

Table of Content

1.0 General.................................................................................................................. 4
2.0 Safety & Security ................................................................................................. 4
3.0 Reception.............................................................................................................. 5
4.0 Food & Beverage ................................................................................................. 5
5.0 Housekeeping criteria ......................................................................................... 6
6.0 Leisure facilities ................................................................................................... 6
7.0 Other facilities ...................................................................................................... 6
8.0 Guest rooms ......................................................................................................... 7
9.0 Room facilities ..................................................................................................... 8
9.1 Electronic facilities .................................................................................... 10
10.0 Bathroom criteria ............................................................................................... 10

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 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

Methodology
The tables below indicate the minimum building criteria for respective category that must be
met by developers or investors, in order to receive a hotel license/ classification for the desired
category.

The purpose of this document is to harmonize licensing standards for hotels in the State of
Qatar. Although the QTA will carry out inspections as part of the classification process, it is
essential that the Ministry of Planning, the Municipality and other relevant public institutions is
distributing the minimum requirements of the QTA to developers and investors in an early
planning stage. The aim is to prevent planners/investors from drawing up architectural
construction plans, which are not in consistency with the QTA criteria and therefore face the
danger of not being granted the desired classification after completion of the building.

The minimum building requirements are based on the minimum criteria of the hotel & tourist
apartment classification system. Nevertheless, they represent a reduced version with a strong
focus on three guiding sections:

1. Building requirements
this section contains all minimum requirements directly concerned with the construction
of the building that can be influenced during the architectural planning, such as assigned
floor area for apartment units, reception etc.

2. Furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E) requirements

FF&E includes all fixed kitchen and laundry equipment including cold rooms and kitchen
hoods, health club equipment, computers with their associated equipment and software,
all loose furniture, decorative lighting, carpets, curtains and bed covers. It does NOT
include consumable supplies such as food, drink or paper products, wall coverings, hard
floor finishes, wall tiling, plumbing fixtures such as faucets, washbasins, baths or toilets,
built-in millwork such as the reception desk, PABX systems and handsets, or computer
cabling.

3. Other requirements
this section covers all requirements, which are deemed important but are not covered by
points 1 and 2.

It is very important to note that the minimum building requirements do not include minimum
building requirements such as fire & safety, special building requirements set forth by the
following public institutions:

Municipality: Commercial Permit

Ministry of Planning: Building & zoning; Building Permit
Department of Civil Defense: Fire Safety Permit
Ministry of Health: Health Permit
Ministry of Commerce: Registration License
Qatar Distribution Company: Liquor License

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 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

Hotels

1 Star

2 Star

3 Star

4 Star

5 Star
Type of
# Department Minimum building requirements
Criteria

Bedrooms which are located on the second floor or

Structural
above are accessible by an elevator (This criterion is
only applicable for buildings with more than 3 floors 9 9 9 9 9
including ground floor).

Structural
At least one public toilet is available per gender on the
ground or first floor. 9 9 9
1.0 General
Structural
One parking space per 5 hotel rooms is available
within the premises. 9
Structural
One parking space per 4 hotel rooms is available
within the premises. 9
Structural
One parking space per 3 hotel rooms is available
within the premises. 9
Structural Adequate illumination in all public areas. 9 9 9 9 9
Each window overlooking a common walkway or
Other situated on the ground floor is equipped with a
functional locking device.
9 9 9 9 9

2.0 Safety & Other

Emergency floor plan is available inside each hotel
room. 9 9 9 9 9
Security
Other Safe is available at the reception. 9 9 9 9 9
Other Safe is available in the hotel room. 9 9
Other First aid kit is available at the reception. 9 9 9 9 9

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 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

1 Star

2 Star

3 Star

4 Star

5 Star
Type of
# Department Minimum building requirements
Criteria

Structural Guarded storage room for baggage is available. 9 9 9 9 9

FF&E Seating group is located at the reception. 9 9 9 9 9
Other Reception is equipped with telephone and fax. 9 9 9 9 9
Other Public telephone is available at reception (at least one). 9 9 9 9 9
Structural Minimum size of reception hall/lounge is at least 20 sqm 9
3.0 Reception
Structural Minimum size of reception hall/lounge is at least 30 sqm 9
Structural Minimum size of reception hall/lounge is at least 40 sqm 9
Structural Minimum size of reception hall/lounge is at least 50 sqm 9
Structural Minimum size of reception hall/lounge is at least 60 sqm 9
Structural Lobby shop available (open 12 hours). 9
Structural
Extended breakfast offered in a designated breakfast
room. 9
Food &
Structural
One restaurant is available in the establishment offering
breakfast, lunch and dinner. 9 9 9
4.0
Beverage Structural At least two restaurants are available. 9
Structural One bar or lounge is available. 9 9

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 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

1 Star

2 Star

3 Star

4 Star

5 Star
Type of
# Department Minimum building requirements
Criteria

Housekeeping
5.0
criteria
Other Shoe polish machine is available. 9 9 9
Structural
A swimming pool with a minimum size of 40sqm is
available in the hotel. 9
Structural
A temperature controlled swimming pool with a
minimum size of 60sqm is available in the hotel. 9
Structural
Gym with a minimum size of 50sqm and equipped with
at least 10 machines. 9 9
6.0 Leisure facilities
Structural Massage, Jacuzzi and sauna are available in the hotel. 9
Structural
Showers and changing rooms for pool and gym
facilities. 9 9
Structural Lockers are available for gym facilities. 9 9
Structural
A business centre with internet access, pc's, printer, fax
and copying machine is available. 9 9
Structural
A board/function room with a minimum size of 20sqm is
available. 9
7.0 Other facilities
Structural
A board/function room with a minimum size of 40sqm is
available. 9 9
Conference equipment (telephone, internet access,
FF&E projector, video recorder, video camera, speakers desk,
flipcharts) is available on request.
9 9
Structural
Hotel shop is operated 12 hours selling international
newspapers, postcards, stamps and films. 9

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 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

1 Star

2 Star

3 Star

4 Star

5 Star
Type of
# Department Minimum building requirements
Criteria

Each room is separated from the hallway by a door

Structural which can be locked individually from the inside and
outside.
9 9 9 9 9
Structural Each hotel room has a legible room number. 9 9 9 9 9
Structural
Each hotel room has an en suite bathroom which is
separated by a door. 9 9 9 9 9
Structural
Each hotel room has a window measuring at least
50cmx70cm. 9 9 9 9 9
80% of single rooms have an minimum size of 12sqm,
Structural 80% of double rooms have a minimum size of 14sqm, 9
Other rooms have a minimum size of 10sqm.
80% of single rooms have an minimum size of 16sqm,
8.0 Guest rooms Structural 80% of double rooms have a minimum size of 18sqm, 9
Other rooms have a minimum size of 12sqm.
80% of single rooms have an minimum size of 18sqm,
80% of double rooms have a minimum size of 22sqm,
Structural
80% of junior suites have a minimum size of 35sqm, 9
Other rooms have a minimum size of 14sqm.
80% of single rooms have an minimum size of 22sqm,
80% of double rooms have a minimum size of 26sqm,
Structural 80% of junior suites have a minimum size of 45sqm, 9
80% of suites have a minimum size of 60sqm,
Other rooms have a minimum size of 17sqm.

Structural At least one suite is available. 9

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 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

1 Star

2 Star

3 Star

4 Star

5 Star
Type of
# Department Minimum building requirements
Criteria

80% of single rooms have an minimum size of 30sqm,

80% of double rooms have a minimum size of 34sqm,

Guest rooms Structural 80% of junior suites have a minimum size of 55sqm, 9
80% of suites have a minimum size of 80sqm,
- continued -
Other rooms have a minimum size of 20sqm.

Structural 5% of hotel rooms are suites. 9

Structural
Each hotel room has appropriate electrical illumination
and a light switch close to the door. 9 9 9 9 9
FF&E
Each hotel room has: bed with mattress, pillow, blanket
& linen. 9 9 9 9 9
FF&E Mini Bar is available in the room. 9 9
Structural Central light switch next to the bed. 9 9
FF&E One bedside lamp per hotel room. 9 9
9.0 Room facilities
FF&E One bedside lamp per hotel bed in the room. 9 9
Each single room has a bed size of 90cm x 190cm,
FF&E
each double room has a bed size of 140cm x 190cm. 9
Each single room has a bed size of 90cm x 190cm,
FF&E
each double room has a bed size of 150cm x 190cm. 9
Each single room has a bed size of 100cm x 200cm,
FF&E each double room has a bed size of 160cm x 200cm. 9
(Bed sizes are applicable for any other room types)

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 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

1 Star

2 Star

3 Star

4 Star

5 Star
Type of
# Department Minimum building requirements
Criteria

Each single room has a bed size of 100cm x 200cm,

FF&E each double room has a bed size of 180cm x 200cm. 9
(Bed sizes are applicable for any other room types)
Each single room has a bed size of 120cm x 200cm,
FF&E each double room has a bed size of 180cm x 200cm. 9
(Bed sizes are applicable for any other room types)
Each hotel room is equipped with an individually
Structural adjustable window air-conditioning (AC), which is able
to cool the room down to 20°C throughout the year.
9 9
Each hotel room is equipped with an individually
Structural adjustable split-level air-conditioning (AC), which is
able to cool the room down to 20°C throughout the year.
9 9
Room facilities Each hotel room is equipped with an individually
- continued - Structural adjustable central air-conditioning (AC), which is able
to cool the room down to 20°C throughout the year.
9
FF&E One bedside table with bedside lamp per bedroom. 9
FF&E One bedside table with bedside lamp per bed. 9 9 9 9
FF&E Wardrobe or clothes niche with at least 5 coat hangers. 9 9
FF&E Wardrobe with at least 5 coat hangers. 9 9 9
FF&E Hotel room is equipped with at least one seat. 9
FF&E
Hotel room is equipped with a table/desk, at least one
seat per bed and adequate illumination above the table. 9 9 9 9

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 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

1 Star

2 Star

3 Star

4 Star

5 Star
Type of
# Department Minimum building requirements
Criteria

FF&E
An armchair or a couch (one place per bed) with low
table is available. 9 9
Room facilities FF&E Luggage rack. 9 9 9
- continued - FF&E Dressing mirror. 9 9 9
FF&E Curtains are available ensuring privacy and black-out. 9 9 9 9 9
FF&E A telephone is available in each hotel room. 9
FF&E
An IDD (International Direct Dialling) telephone is
available in the hotel room. 9 9 9
FF&E
A colour TV with antenna reception is available in the
room. 9
9.1 Electronic
facilities
FF&E
A colour TV with satellite reception and remote control is
available in the room. 9
FF&E
A colour TV with cable reception and remote control is
available in the room. 9 9
FF&E
In all suites a second TV in the living / sleeping area is
available. 9 9
FF&E An internet access is available in the hotel room. 9 9
Bathroom
Other
Each bathroom has a dustbin, a mirror and adequate
electrical illumination. 9 9 9 9 9
10.0
criteria Structural
Each bathroom is equipped with hot and cold running
water for the shower, bathtub and wash-basin. 9 9 9 9 9

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 Minimum Building Requirements for Hotels

1 Star

2 Star

3 Star

4 Star

5 Star
Type of
# Department Minimum building requirements
Criteria

Structural Each bathroom has effective means of ventilation. 9 9 9 9 9

Structural
Each bathroom is equipped with a shower or bathtub
and a wash-basin. 9 9
Structural
50% of bathrooms are equipped with a shower and a
bathtub and a wash-basin. 9
Structural
Each bathroom is equipped with a shower and a
bathtub and a wash-basin. 9 9
Other
The shower has a shower curtain or other similar
means. 9 9 9 9 9
FF&E Each bathroom is equipped with a toilet and hand bidet. 9 9 9
Bathroom criteria FF&E Each bathroom is equipped with a toilet and sitting bidet. 9 9
- continued -
Other A socket close to the mirror is available. 9 9 9
FF&E The bathroom is equipped with a cosmetic mirror. 9 9
Other In the bathroom is at least one hook for clothes. 9 9 9 9 9
Other A hair dryer is available on demand. 9
Other A hair dryer is available in the room. 9 9
Other A scale is available on demand. 9
Other A scale is available in the room. 9

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