Buying at public auctions in Qatar: cars, jewellery and property on Court Mzadat

Court Mzadat (مزادات المحاكم) is the official app of Qatar's Supreme Judiciary Council for public auctions. It sells assets ordered to be sold by the courts and items seized by the Public Prosecution: cars and motorbikes, special number plates, gold jewellery and watches, equipment, scrap and real estate. Every auction runs online in the app, usually in a fixed three-hour window, and residents with a valid QID and a Qatari mobile number can register. This guide explains the order of things: register early, read the lot's terms, pay the refundable deposit, bid, then pay in full on time so the item is transferred to you. Prices can be well below the market, but everything is sold as it is, so the checks you do before you bid matter most.

Before you start

• A valid QID (an expired QID can block registration)
• A Qatari mobile number in your own name, to receive the verification code and the winning-bid text message
• The Court Mzadat app (مزادات المحاكم) from the App Store or Google Play; the seller is listed as the Supreme Judiciary Council
• A bank card that works for online payments, with enough limit for the deposit and the full price
• Your maximum price for each lot, written down before the auction starts
• For a car: a plan to inspect it, a valid driving licence, and insurance ready to arrange in your name
• For property: confirmation that you are allowed to own that property, and funds ready for the full price plus registration costs
• Time on auction day: most car and jewellery auctions run from 4pm to 7pm

Step by step

1. Download the official app

   Search for "Court Mzadat" or "مزادات المحاكم" in the App Store or Google Play and check the seller is the Supreme Judiciary Council. Do not confuse it with private auction apps such as Platinum Mzadat, which run their own sales with their own rules. Turn on notifications, because new auctions and results are announced in the app. Upcoming auctions are also posted on the X accounts of the Supreme Judiciary Council and the Public Prosecution, and in local news.

2. Register and wait for approval

   Create an account with your QID number and your Qatari mobile number, and enter the code sent by SMS. The council says approval can take up to 24 hours, so register at least a day before the auction you want. You cannot bid until the account is approved. Read the general terms in the app while you wait, because by bidding you accept them.

   Read guide: Get your Qatar ID (residence permit) →

3. Browse the auction and open each lot

   Auctions are grouped by date and type, for example vehicles, real estate, jewellery, plates or equipment. Each lot shows photos, a description, the opening price and the auction time. Car lots usually include a condition report, the specifications and a map of where the car can be inspected; property lots include location details and plans. Note the deposit and payment terms for that lot, because they can differ by type and price.

4. Inspect before you bid

   The terms say that entering the auction counts as a full inspection and you accept the item as it is. The written description does not replace seeing it, and the council does not take responsibility for the condition of vehicles. Use the inspection map or call the number in the app (reported as 4009 3636) to arrange a viewing. For used-car checks to do on the spot, see our guide on buying a used car.

   Read guide: Buying a used car in Qatar safely →

5. Pay the refundable deposit

   To take part you pay a security deposit (التأمين) in the app. For cars it was reported as QAR 5,000 for lots opening below QAR 100,000 and QAR 25,000 for lots opening above that; for property it was QAR 250,000. The deposit is returned if you do not win. If you win and then do not pay, you lose it, so only pay a deposit for lots you are ready to buy. Check the amount shown for your lot, as it can change.

6. Bid during the auction window

   Bidding happens only in the app during the stated time, often 4pm to 7pm for cars and jewellery. Each bid must go up by at least the minimum step (reported as QAR 500 for cars). Stick to the maximum you set beforehand, and remember that fees, insurance, repairs and any registration renewal come on top. Keep the app open near the end, because the last minutes are when most bids arrive.

7. Win, then pay the full price on time

   When the auction ends and your bid is approved, you receive a text message telling you to complete payment in the app. For cars this was reported as within 24 hours for items under QAR 100,000 and within 48 hours above that. If you miss the deadline, the sale is cancelled, your deposit is kept, your QID can be blocked from future auctions, and legal action can follow. Administrative and electronic payment fees are added; the app shows them before you pay.

8. Take ownership of a car or plate

   A vehicle cannot be taken until the full price is paid and ownership is transferred. In 2024 the council said ownership is transferred to the buyer within three working days. Have insurance in your name ready before you drive it, and check the registration (Istimara): if it has expired, the car needs a Fahes inspection and renewal before it can be driven legally. After that, the car is yours like any other; later sales follow the normal Metrash transfer.

   Read guide: Fahes vehicle inspection: booking, fees and how to pass →

9. Collecting jewellery, watches and other items

   For jewellery, watches, equipment and scrap, collection instructions are given in the app or by message after payment. Check the listed weight, karat and description of gold lots before bidding, as you cannot argue about condition afterwards. Bring your QID and the payment receipt when you collect. Arrange your own transport for large items such as equipment or scrap.

   Read guide: Buying gold in Qatar: Gold Souq tips, pricing and taking it abroad →

10. Completing a property purchase

    Property sales follow the court's rules on judicial sales. After the full price and the costs are paid (in the app, or by deposit or bank transfer to the court's account), the council sends a letter to the Real Estate Registration Department. The property was reported to be registered in the buyer's name 15 days after full payment. Non-Qataris can only own property in areas the law allows, so check before you pay a QAR 250,000 deposit.

    Read guide: Buying freehold property in Qatar as an expat: step by step →

What it costs

Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.

Common mistakes

• Registering on auction day and missing the auction because approval can take up to 24 hours
• Bidding on a car you have not inspected, then finding faults after you have accepted it as it is
• Winning and failing to pay in time, which loses the deposit and can block your QID from future auctions
• Forgetting fees, insurance, repairs and Istimara renewal when setting a maximum bid
• Bidding on property without checking that a non-Qatari may own it
• Using a private auction app or a social media "agent" thinking it is the official court auction

Questions people ask

Official sources

• The Peninsula (Aug 2025): confiscated vehicles auctioned on Court Mzadat; QID and Qatari mobile needed ↗
• Marhaba (Sep 2024): deposits, payment deadlines and transfer times ↗
• Al Sharq (Sep 2024): auction terms, sold as is, penalties for non-payment ↗
• The Peninsula (Sep 2024): 24-hour approval, deposit and QAR 500 increments ↗
• Court Mzadat on the App Store (Supreme Judiciary Council) ↗
• Gulf Times (Aug 2026): auction categories and Q2 2026 results ↗

Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.

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