Qatar to Break Ground on One Million Apartment Units in April
JAKARTA, investortrust.id – Qatar is set to break ground on a large-scale housing project in Indonesia in April, investing in the construction of one million apartment units. The initiative is part of a broader housing program aimed at addressing Indonesia’s growing demand for affordable urban housing.
“This first project will begin in April 2025, right after Eid. Investors from Qatar are bringing capital to build one million apartment units,” said Head of the Housing Task Force Hashim Djojohadikusumo at The Westin Jakarta on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.
Hashim revealed that in 2025, he had visited China three times to attract more investors for the national housing initiative. He noted that Chinese construction firms were eager to enter the Indonesian market due to a slowdown in China’s own construction sector, which has led them to seek new growth opportunities abroad.
Qatar’s Commitment to Indonesia’s Housing Sector
Qatar’s commitment to Indonesia’s housing development extends beyond the initial one million units. According to Hashim, a total of four foreign countries have pledged investments in Indonesia’s “3 Million Homes per Year” initiative, a program aligned with President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision.
“From Turkey, investors are committing to building around 50,000 units. Singapore is bringing in 100,000 units. From Qatar, private investors have already signed agreements for one million apartments, while the Government of Qatar has officially stated its commitment to constructing between three to five million housing units,” Hashim explained.
With this commitment, Qatar’s total contribution to Indonesia’s housing sector is expected to range between four and six million housing units, specifically for low-income residents.
Investment Breakdown and Strategic Locations
The Qatari investment is estimated at $20 billion, with each apartment unit expected to cost between $16,000 and $20,000 to build.
“From Qatar, each apartment unit costs approximately $16,000 to $20,000. If we multiply that by one million units, we get an investment of around $16 billion to $20 billion, all coming from the private sector,” Hashim added.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) formalizing the agreement was signed at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Jan. 8, 2025. The MoU was signed by Indonesia’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development Maruarar Sirait and the Secretary-General of Qatar’s Royal Family Council, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Hassan Al-Thani.
The housing project will be strategically located in several key urban areas and transit hubs to support the government’s transit-oriented development (TOD) strategy.
“We have identified three prime locations for the development of low-income housing: a 24-hectare site in Kalibata, formerly owned by the National Land Agency (BPN); a 41-hectare plot in Metland, Cibitung, owned by the Ministry of Defense; and a 30-hectare site in Kemayoran, which belongs to the State Secretariat Ministry,” Hashim elaborated.
Additionally, high-rise apartments will be built near major railway stations across Indonesia’s largest cities to enhance urban connectivity and accessibility.
“This is what we call transit-oriented development (TOD), where housing is integrated with public transportation hubs,” Hashim concluded.
Qatar’s Broader Housing Commitment
Beyond the initial one million units, the Government of Qatar has pledged to build between three and five million additional homes across Indonesia, including affordable housing in rural areas priced between Rp 75 million and Rp 100 million per unit. Meanwhile, urban apartments will cost between $18,000 and $20,000.
With increasing foreign interest, Hashim remains optimistic about securing further investments from India, Singapore, and Turkey, as multiple international developers have already submitted proposals to participate in Indonesia’s ambitious housing initiative.