Decrease in Building Licenses in Palestine in Q1 2026

SadaNews Economy - The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that the number of licenses issued in Palestine during the first quarter of 2026 decreased by 13% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the number of licenses issued saw an increase of 27% compared to the corresponding quarter of 2025. The number of new building licenses, however, declined by 12% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, but increased by 46% compared to the same quarter of 2025. No building licenses were issued in the Gaza Strip during this period.

The "Statistics" bureau stated in a press release today, Thursday, that the number of building licenses issued for residential and non-residential buildings reached 1,841 licenses in the first quarter of 2026, of which 1,194 were for new buildings.

The total licensed building area (residential and non-residential) amounted to 1,051 thousand square meters, of which 884 thousand square meters were for new buildings and 167 thousand square meters for existing buildings. The number of licensed housing units reached 4,030 units with total areas of 668 thousand square meters, including 3,465 new housing units with an area of 574 thousand square meters, and 565 existing housing units with a total area of 94 thousand square meters.

The statistics office pointed out that the number of new housing units recorded a decrease of 6% during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter of 2025, but an increase of 50% compared to the corresponding quarter of 2025.