Legislation of Qatar

Service packages Legislation Tax System Audit Services

Tax treaties entered

Algeria
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Barbados
Belarus
Brunei
Bulgaria
China
Croatia Cuba
Cyprus
Ecuador
France
Georgia
Greece
Guernsey
Hong Kong Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Isle of Man
Italy
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lebanon
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Morocco
Nepal
Netherlands
Norway
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Switzerland
Syria
Tunisia
Turkey
United Kingdom
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen

Tax Exchange Information Agreement (TIEA)

No

List of state regulatory authorities

Government of Qatar
Shura Council
General Tax Authority
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Qatar Central Bank
Qatar Open Data
Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)

Corporate info

Legal system
Muslim law with elements of civil law
Types of entity
- Limited Liability Company (LLC);

- Company Limited by Guarantee (LLC(G));

- Segregated Portfolio Company;

- General Partnership;

- Limited Partnership;

- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP);

- Fund;

- Branch of a foreign company.

Shelf companies permitted
No
Incorporation timescale for a new company
From 2-3 weeks
Company suffix
"Limited liability company" is added to the company’s name
Sensitive words
A limited liability company (LLC) must have a name derived from its activity or the name of one or more of its members
Cyrillic alphabet permitted in company name
No
Local registered office
Yes
Local registered agent
Yes
Information to be kept at the registered office
Register of founders; accounts
Seal required, type of seal
Seal is required
Redomiciliation (to, from) permitted
-

Director and secretary

Minimum number of directors
1
Residency requirements for directors
No
Corporate directors permitted
No
Directors’ meetings/frequency/location
No restrictions
Disclosure to local agent
Yes
Disclosure to public
Yes
Company secretary required
No
Residency requirements for a secretary
No
Qualified secretary required
No
Corporate secretary permitted
No

Shareholder and beneficiary

Minimum number of shareholders
From 2 to 50
Residency requirements for shareholders
A foreign national can only own up to 49% of a company, 51% must be owned by a Qatari national
Corporate shareholder permitted
Yes
Meetings/frequency/location
No restrictions
Disclosure to local agent
Yes
Disclosure to public
Yes
Beneficiary info disclosure to
Yes

Shares and share capital

Minimum authorized share capital
Not established
Minimum issued share capital
Not established
Minimum paid share capital
Not established
Authorized capital payment deadlines
Not established
Issued capital payment deadlines
Not established
Standard currency
QAR
Standard authorized share capital
Standard par value of shares
Shares with no par value permitted
No
Bearer shares permitted
No

Taxes

Personal tax
No
Сorporate tax
10%
Corporate tax (in detail)
Standard corporate income tax rate is 10%
Capital gains tax
10%
Capital gains tax. Details
Capital gains tax rate is 10%
VAT
No
VAT. Details
Qatar has made a number of declarations about introduction of VAT, but the date of it coming into force has not been announced yet
Withholding tax
0% (dividend), 5% (interest), 5% (royalty)
Other taxes
Social insurance contributions, excise tax, customs duties
Exchange control
No
Government fee
-
Stamp duty
No

Accounts

Requirement to prepare accounts
Yes
Requirement to file accounts
Yes
Publicly accessible accounts
No
Requirement to file Annual Return
No
Publicly accessible Annual Return
No
Audit required
Yes

General information shortly

Location
Qatar Peninsula in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula
Total area
11 586 sq. km
Population
2 846 118 (2020)
Capital
Doha
National currency
Qatari rial
Conditional reduction of currency
QAR
Against USD
0,27
Climate, average max and min t°
Dry subtropical desert climate with low rainfall and hot and humid summers
Time difference from Moscow
No
Dialing code
+974
State language
arabian
Ethnic groups
Qataris - 11,6% of the population; immigrants - 88,4%: Pakistanis (18%), Indians (18%), Iranians (10%) and others
Literacy rate
97,3% (2019)
History
Credit rating
AA
Government type
Semi-constitutional monarch
Executive branch
The Emir has the exclusive power to appoint the prime minister and cabinet ministers who, together, constitute the Council of Ministers, which is the supreme executive authority in the country
Legislative branch
The Council of Ministers also initiates legislation
Judicial branch
Judicial power is vested in courts of general jurisdiction. Judicial decisions are proclaimed in the name of the Emir
Unemployment
0,1%
GDP per capita rank
10 (2021) IMF List
Corruption perceptions index rank
Corruption Perception Index - 63 (2021)

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Banks of Qatar

Bank
The cost of opening an account, $
Global rating
Countrywide rating
GSL rating
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