Doha Municipality has ramped up its campaign against illegal building partitions and unlicensed structural modifications to safeguard the city’s architectural identity and ensure resident safety. The initiative aims to preserve Doha’s urban fabric while addressing growing concerns over the misuse of residential properties, particularly in family neighbourhoods.

Director of the Technical Affairs Department, Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Harami, said the campaign is focused not only on law enforcement but also on protecting the cultural and visual character of the city. “The primary goal is to maintain the architectural cohesion of our neighbourhoods and prevent structural risks caused by unauthorised modifications. Ultimately, this effort is about ensuring people live in a safe and balanced environment,” he explained.

Assistant Director of the Inspection Department, Mohammed Sultan Al-Shahwani, highlighted that one of the key issues being tackled is the subdivision of villas and their conversion for worker housing. He noted that such practices create structural hazards and disrupt the rights of families living in residential areas. “Our inspection teams conduct thorough surveys before any campaign, documenting violations without prior notice to property owners to ensure fairness and prevent concealment of irregularities,” he said.

In its latest joint evening campaign with Kahramaa and the Ministry of Interior’s Criminal Investigation Department, the Municipality identified 10 buildings in violation of regulations. These included illegal internal partitions and unauthorised worker accommodations in family-only zones. Officials stressed that such coordinated operations will continue regularly to enforce building codes, enhance safety standards, and preserve the aesthetic and social integrity of Doha’s rapidly growing urban landscape.