Company formation in Qatar

At a glance

Entity

Limited liability company (WLL — With Limited Liability), under Commercial Companies Law No. 11 of 2015; 1-50 shareholders

Corporate tax

10% flat corporate income tax on profit attributable to foreign ownership (Income Tax Law No. 24 of 2018, administered by the General Tax Authority); profit attributable to Qatari and resident-GCC ownership is currently untaxed. Not a zero-tax jurisdiction for foreign founders. As of 2026.

Incorporation time

~2-4 weeks for a standard activity; longer where the activity needs prior approval from a sector regulator

Minimum capital

No statutory minimum — MOCI abolished the old blanket QAR 200,000 requirement; capital is divided into shares of QAR 10 or more, and MOCI can set a minimum for certain regulated activities

Resident director

No resident-director rule. The WLL is run by one or more managers (not a board); a manager may be a foreigner and need not be resident, though at least one authorised signatory with local reach is expected. Regulated activities may impose their own requirements.

Audit

Statutory audit is effectively mandatory for LLCs: annual financial statements must be prepared (IFRS) and audited by an auditor locally licensed under Law No. 8 of 2020, then filed with the tax return within four months of year-end. No meaningful small-company exemption in practice.

Remote set-up

Not a genuinely remote setup. A physical office/lease in Qatar is required; the memorandum of association is certified by the Ministry of Justice, and founder IDs/corporate documents typically need notarisation and attestation/legalisation. A local representative acting under a legalised power of attorney can handle in-country steps, but at least one founder visit or heavily attested paperwork is normal.

Government fee

Core MOCI fees are modest and per the official fee schedule: commercial registration QAR 500/year for one main activity (QAR 300 per additional activity), commercial licence QAR 500/year, and trade-name reservation up to QAR 1,000 for six months (short holds are free) — roughly QAR 1,000-1,500 in core government fees, before office lease, attestation and any sector-approval costs.

Best for

This suits foreign founders who genuinely need an onshore presence in Qatar. That means bidding on local or government contracts, running a physical operation, or sponsoring staff. It is not the right fit for anyone looking for a light-touch or tax-neutral holding vehicle.

The process

1. Reserve a trade name and obtain in-principle activity approval from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), plus any sector-regulator approval; secure a physical office lease in Qatar
2. Draft and execute the articles/memorandum of association, have it certified by the Ministry of Justice, and file the incorporation application via the Sijilaat/Single Window system
3. Obtain the commercial registration (CR), commercial licence and municipal (baladiya) permit, and register the company Computer Card (establishment card)
4. Open a corporate bank account, register with the General Tax Authority for corporate tax and obtain a Tax Identification Number, and appoint a licensed auditor