In a sign of growing economic momentum, real estate lending by banks increased by about 36% in Qatar in one year up to July, though housing and rental costs have remained “largely flat” in that month, a new study has shown. In its latest “Mena real estate round up”, Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) said real estate lending in Qatar showed 0.8% increase in July compared with June.  Recently, QNB said loan portfolio expansion was strong in Qatar in the first half of this year. From gulftimes