Guides / Housing & utilities / Home upkeep

Home fire safety in Qatar: wiring, kitchens, extinguishers and what to do in a fire

How to stop the fires Civil Defence sees most in Qatar homes, from overloaded sockets and summer AC loads to unattended cooking, chargers and cars, and exactly what to do if a fire starts.

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026

Fire emergency
Call 999 (free, 24/7)
Main causes
Overloaded sockets, ignored electrical faults, unattended cooking
Kit for every home
ABC extinguisher, fire blanket, smoke alarm
Electricity fault (no fire)
Kahramaa 991

Most home fires in Qatar start with something ordinary: too many plugs in one socket, an electrical fault someone noticed and ignored, or a pan left on the hob. Civil Defence, the fire and rescue service under the Ministry of Interior, says fires fell in the first half of 2026 as more people followed safety rules, but long, hot summers keep the risk high, with air conditioners, chargers and gas cylinders all working in the heat. This guide is for anyone renting a flat or living in a villa, especially families with children. Work through it in order: understand the main causes, fix the electrics and the kitchen, get an extinguisher and a smoke alarm, check your building and plan your escape. It ends with what to do during a fire and in the days after. In any fire, call 999.

Before you start

  • Your building number, zone and street from the blue plate on the building, saved in every family member's phone with 999
  • A walk round your home to find every extension lead, multi-plug and charger in use
  • The name and number of your landlord or building maintenance, and a copy of your tenancy contract
  • A small multi-purpose (ABC) dry powder extinguisher and a kitchen fire blanket from a hardware or safety shop
  • A battery smoke alarm for the hallway outside bedrooms, plus spare batteries
  • The location of your electricity distribution board and gas regulator, and how to switch each off
  • For apartment buildings: the location of the nearest two stairways, the fire alarm call point and the floor's extinguishers
  • Your home contents insurance policy number and the insurer's claims line, if you have a policy
  • The Metrash app on your phone, signed in, for contacting the Ministry of Interior

Step by step

  1. Know what starts most home fires in Qatar

    Civil Defence (the fire and rescue service under the Ministry of Interior) says most building fires it attends start with a few avoidable things: overloaded sockets and circuits, poor or non-standard wiring, electrical faults that people notice but ignore, cooking or hot oil left unattended, and flammable things stored carelessly. Summer makes all of these worse, because air conditioners run for months and wiring and batteries work in high heat. Officials also say many fires begin as a small fault that could have been caught early. Knowing this list tells you where to spend ten minutes checking your home: the sockets, the kitchen and the storage cupboard.

  2. Make sockets and extension leads safe

    Do not plug several high-power devices into one socket or one extension lead, and never plug one extension lead into another. The Ministry of Interior asks residents to use genuine wires and sockets that meet approved standards, to keep connections away from heat and water, and to unplug appliances when they are not in use. Cheap adaptors and multi-plugs without a fuse or switch are a common weak point, so replace any that feel loose, look scorched or get warm. Never run cables under carpets or rugs, where damage and heat go unnoticed.

  3. Act on electrical warning signs straight away

    A burning or fishy smell, a socket or plug that feels hot, flickering lights, buzzing, or a breaker that keeps tripping are warnings, not annoyances. Switch the circuit off at the distribution board if you can do so safely and stop using it. In a rented flat or compound, report it in writing to the landlord or building maintenance, because wiring inside the building is normally theirs to fix; the Ministry of Interior advises using a qualified electrician for any installation or repair, never a handyman guess. If there are sparks, smoke or fire, call 999 first. For a dangerous fault on Kahramaa's supply (the electricity and water company), call 991.

    Read guide: Kahramaa: connecting electricity and water and paying bills →

  4. Run air conditioners and big appliances safely in summer

    Air conditioners are the biggest electrical load in most Qatar homes. Have them serviced before summer so dusty coils and worn wiring do not overheat, and make sure each split or window unit has its own suitable socket rather than an extension lead. In past summer warnings Civil Defence has advised not overloading the electricity meter, running air conditioners only when someone is at home, switching off water heaters when they are not needed, and keeping gas cylinders out of direct sun. Unplug the TV, chargers and kitchen appliances before you travel, and ask a neighbour or the building watchman to keep an eye on the flat.

    Read guide: AC servicing in Qatar: what to do, what it costs, and when to book →

  5. Charge phones, scooters and power banks with care

    Lithium-ion batteries in phones, laptops, power banks, e-scooters and e-bikes can overheat and burn fiercely, especially if they are damaged, cheap or charged with the wrong charger. Use the charger that came with the device or a branded replacement, charge on a hard surface, not on a bed or sofa, and do not leave scooters or e-bikes charging overnight or while you are out. Keep them out of the corridor and away from your only exit, so a battery fire cannot block your way out. Stop using any battery that swells, hisses, smells or gets very hot, and do not leave power banks or devices in a parked car.

    Read guide: E-scooter and e-bike rules in Qatar: where to ride, helmets, rentals and safety →

  6. Never leave cooking unattended

    Unattended cooking and hot oil are among the main causes of home fires in Qatar, and the risk rises in Ramadan and at family gatherings when there is more frying. Stay in the kitchen while anything is on the hob, turn pan handles inwards, and keep children out while you fry. If oil catches fire, turn off the heat if you can reach it safely and cover the pan with a lid, a damp (not dripping) tea towel or a fire blanket, then leave it covered to cool. Never throw water on burning oil, because it makes the fire explode outwards, and never carry a burning pan outside.

  7. Keep the gas cylinder safe

    Most flats and villas cook with an LPG cylinder, usually Woqod's Shafaf cylinder, or with a central gas supply. Use only an approved regulator and hose, keep the cylinder upright in a ventilated spot out of direct sun, and turn the regulator off after cooking and before travelling. If you smell gas, do not switch anything on or off, open windows, get everyone out and call 999 from outside. The cooking-gas guide explains buying, connecting and leak-testing a cylinder step by step.

    Read guide: Cooking gas at home: getting a Shafaf cylinder, refills and safety →

  8. Get an extinguisher and a smoke alarm, and learn to use them

    Civil Defence says a working extinguisher and knowing how to use it can limit the damage in the first minutes of a fire. For a home, a small multi-purpose dry powder extinguisher (often labelled ABC) near the kitchen door and a fire blanket in the kitchen cover most cases; add a battery smoke alarm in the hallway outside bedrooms, and in each storey of a villa. To use an extinguisher, remember PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side, and keep your back to the way out. Check the pressure gauge is in the green each month, test the alarm button, and have extinguishers serviced as the label says. Never use water on an electrical fire.

  9. Check the building's fire systems and keep exits clear

    In apartment buildings and compounds the owner must regularly maintain the fire alarm, detectors, sprinklers, hose reels and extinguishers, and Civil Defence names neglected systems and blocked exits as common violations. When you move in, find the nearest two stairways, the fire alarm call point and the extinguishers on your floor, and check that fire doors close by themselves. Never store bikes, boxes or shoes in emergency stairs or exit corridors. If the alarm is faulty, an extinguisher is missing or an exit is locked, report it in writing to building management, and if nothing is done you can contact the Ministry of Interior through the Contact Us service in the Metrash app.

    Read guide: Renting a home in Qatar →

  10. Make an escape plan with everyone at home

    Agree with your family, flatmates and domestic worker how you would get out at night: two ways out of each room if possible, which stairway to use, and a meeting point outside, such as the building gate or car park. Keep keys for doors and window grilles where everyone can reach them in the dark. Save 999 in every phone and make sure everyone, including children and the domestic worker, knows the building number, zone and street from the blue plate on the building. Practise once, because in smoke people lose their sense of direction in seconds.

    Read guide: Emergencies in Qatar: who to call and where to go →

  11. If a fire starts, get out and call 999

    Shout to warn everyone, press the fire alarm call point if there is one, and leave at once; do not stop for belongings and do not go back in. Close doors behind you to slow the fire, use the stairs, never the lift, and if there is smoke, stay low and cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth. Call 999 from a safe place and give the building number, zone and street, what is burning and whether anyone is trapped. Only use an extinguisher on a small fire if you have a clear way out behind you. If you are trapped, close the door, block the gap with wet towels, go to a window and wave a cloth or shout; if clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll.

    Read guide: Emergencies in Qatar: who to call and where to go →

  12. After a fire: stay out, record everything, tell the landlord and insurer

    Do not go back inside until Civil Defence says it is safe, and do not switch the power or gas back on yourself. Take dated photos and videos of the damage, list damaged belongings, and keep receipts for emergency hotel stays or cleaning. Tell the landlord or building management in writing the same day, and call your home contents insurer, which may ask for an official report of the incident, so ask Civil Defence or the police how to get one. Who pays for repairs depends on the cause and your contract; if you cannot agree, the rental disputes guide explains the next step.

    Read guide: Home contents insurance in Qatar for tenants and owners →

Common mistakes

  • Plugging an AC, heater or kettle into an extension lead, or chaining one extension lead into another
  • Ignoring a burning smell, a warm socket or a breaker that keeps tripping until it becomes a fire
  • Walking away from hot oil or frying, even for a minute, or throwing water on an oil fire
  • Charging e-scooters, e-bikes or power banks overnight, on a bed, or in the corridor that is your only way out
  • Storing boxes, bikes or shoes in emergency stairs and exit corridors, or locking fire exits
  • Leaving power banks, lighters, perfume or hand sanitiser in a parked car in summer
  • Going back inside a burning home for belongings, or using the lift during a fire
  • Assuming the landlord's insurance covers your furniture and electronics after a fire

Questions people ask

What number do I call for a fire in Qatar?

Call 999. It is free and reaches the Ministry of Interior operations room, which sends Civil Defence, police and an ambulance as needed. Give the building number, zone and street from the blue plate on your building, say what is burning and whether anyone is trapped. For a dangerous electricity fault without fire, call Kahramaa on 991.

Is it safe to leave the AC running while I am out or on holiday?

In its summer warnings Civil Defence has advised running air conditioners only when someone is at home and not overloading the electricity meter. Many residents leave one unit on low to control humidity; if you do, make sure it has been serviced, is on its own proper socket, and that everything else is unplugged. Switch off water heaters and turn the gas regulator off before you travel.

Do I have to keep a fire extinguisher at home?

Buildings must have fire systems that the owner maintains, and Civil Defence strongly encourages residents to keep a working extinguisher and know how to use it. We could not confirm a legal requirement for a private flat or villa, but a small ABC dry powder extinguisher and a fire blanket are cheap insurance. Check the gauge monthly and service it as the label says.

The fire alarm in my building is broken or the emergency exit is locked. What can I do?

Report it in writing to the landlord or building management and keep a copy. The owner is responsible for maintaining fire alarm and suppression systems, and blocked or locked exits are among the violations Civil Defence highlights. If nothing is fixed, contact the Ministry of Interior through the Contact Us service in the Metrash app, adding photos.

Can I put out a kitchen oil fire with water?

No. Water on burning oil turns to steam instantly and throws flaming oil across the kitchen. Turn off the heat if you can reach it safely, cover the pan with a lid, damp tea towel or fire blanket, and leave it covered. If the fire spreads beyond the pan, get out, close the door and call 999.

Is it dangerous to leave a power bank or perfume in the car in summer?

Yes. The Ministry of Interior warns against leaving phones, power banks, lighters, perfume, hand sanitiser and other flammable items in parked cars, because the inside of a closed car gets hotter than the outside air. If you notice smoke, a burning smell or engine overheating while driving, stop safely, switch off, get everyone out and call 999; do not fully open the bonnet, as that feeds the fire with air.

Who pays for the damage after a fire in my rented flat?

It depends on what caused the fire and on your contract. The landlord usually covers the building and its fixed systems, while a tenant can be held responsible for damage caused by their own misuse. Your own belongings are only covered if you have home contents insurance. If you cannot agree, the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee decides; see the rent dispute guide.

Is it safe to charge an e-scooter inside the flat?

It can be, if you use the original charger, charge while you are awake and at home, and keep it away from your exit and from beds or sofas. Do not charge a scooter or battery that has been dropped, wet or swollen. Never leave it charging overnight in a corridor or stairwell, as a battery fire there can trap everyone in the building.

Official sources

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

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