Registering with Kahramaa

Hi Guys,

Just sharing another experience with expats who are new to Qatar.

If you are moving in to your new home then you have to register with Kahramaa for Electricity and Water Supply.

I am sure you must have noticed plates fixed to the top of your entrance door frame with three numbers mostly. Two from Kahramaa and maybe one from Qtel. The two from Kahramaa is what you require to register, one with the number in RED for Electricity and the other Blue for Water Supply.

Usually the Electricity Meters are kept in one room (on each floor for apartments) and the Water Meter on the terrace mostly next to the water tank supply your home.

The numbers of the door frame can be used to trace your Electricity and Water Supply Meter. Just pray that both the meters are working cuz otherwise this can give you a real headache.

After moving in to your new home the first thing you do it take a note of the meter readings immediately.

You can go to your nearest Kahramaa office and get an application form for new registration. Please note that new registration is done Sunday to Thursday only from 7am to 3pm.

Ensure that you have a copy of the Rental Agreement and a copy of your Qatar ID. Please do not hand over originals and also carry a credit card with you.

The application can be filled and submitted at the reception and you will be given a token number. When you are called just go to the respective counter with the copy of the Rental Agreement, copy of Qatar ID and they will do the rest.

Always carry copies of your documents cuz some Kahramaa office have provision for photocopy and some don't.

The good news is, if your meters are working fine then there is nothing to worry. But the bad news is that when one of the meters are not working they calculate an average for the household and you can land up paying more than what you use. If that is the case you have to register a complaint for replacement of the meter which can take a few days to a few weeks by Kahramaa. The second bad news is that you also land up paying the outstanding from the previous tenants if they have not settled their final bills while vacating which most of them don't.

Apart from this you have to pay QR.2000 as a Deposit with Kahramaa. You will be given a receipt with your name on it.

People working at Kahramaa are not very friendly sometimes which can ruin your day if you are a sensitive person. The procedure is however very simple and straightforward.

I believe this registration is required to apply for a Qtel broadband line (if you don't have postpaid connection). Also required if you are applying for a family visa.

I hope this helps the expats who have come to Qatar for the first time.

Good luck guys...Cheers...:)