Poor residents in Doha are being forced to live in trailers on the outskirts of the city because of the soaring cost of accommodation in the Qatari capital.
The practice was almost unheard of until a few years ago, but as rents continue to spiral upwards more and more bachelors and even families are opting to live in mobile homes, Qatari daily the Peninsula reported on Wednesday.
The newspaper said landowners are renting out vacant plots for around 1,000 riyals ($275) per month, with trailers costing between 15,000 and 20,000 riyals.
It said those with trailers were then renting out space in the mobile home to others for around 1,000 riyals each.
The paper said the cost of a single room even in industrial areas had risen to around 3,500 riyals a month.
It is illegal to live in a trailer in Qatar, according to the paper.
Rents in Qatar rose almost 5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter after surging more than 27 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007, according to official data.
Inflation in the Gulf state rose for a third quarter running in March to a near record of 14.75 percent.
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