Registering a company in Qatar (mainland)

Who this is for

Qatari and non-Qatari investors who want to set up a company or other business on the Qatar mainland, regulated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It does not cover companies set up in the Qatar Financial Centre or in the Qatar free zones. Those have their own authorities, rules and online portals (see the links below).

Before you start

• A login for the Single Window platform. You sign in through the National Authentication System (Tawtheeq).
• A decision on the legal form of the business, for example a limited liability company (LLC), a one-person company, a partnership or a branch of a foreign company. Each form has its own naming and partner rules.
• The business activities you plan to carry out. You can check them with the Business Activities Search and Business Setup Advisor tools on the Single Window site.
• One or more proposed trade names that follow the official trade name rules.
• Details of the partners and their shares, the capital, the managers and the authorised signatories.
• For the full set-up (comprehensive establishment): a business location that suits the activity, with proof of your right to use it.

Steps

1. Choose your route

   The Single Window offers two options. With company registration, you reserve a trade name and register the company before you have premises, but you cannot start trading or hire staff until you get a commercial licence. With comprehensive establishment, you get the trade name, the commercial registration and the commercial licence together, so you can start work and recruit staff.

2. Check the trade name and activities

   Search the Single Window for available trade names and activities. A trade name must fit the activity and the legal form. Some forms need fixed words in the name, such as L.L.C for a limited liability company. Names that include Qatar, Qatari, national or public are only for companies set up by the government.

3. Fill in the online application

   Log in to the Single Window and complete the form. It asks for the capital and partner shares, activities, legal form, trade name, managers and signatories, financial details, location, employment details and contract type. The system checks the data as you enter it and tells you by text message and email if anything needs correcting.

4. Sign the memorandum of association

   When the application is ready, you are asked to sign the establishment contract. You can sign it electronically on the Single Window site using your national authentication (smart card), or at a Single Window service centre.

5. Pay the fees

   The Single Window adds up all the fees for your application. You can pay online by debit or credit card, or by card at a service centre (book an appointment first on the website). The certificates are only issued once the full amount is paid.

6. Receive your documents

   After payment, the system issues the approved documents online. Depending on your application, these can include the trade name registration, the commercial registration, the commercial licence, the establishment registration, a tax card, a company certificate and any special licences your activity needs.

7. Get ready to hire

   To bring workers from abroad, you first need a labour recruitment approval. You can request it during the establishment process or later as a separate request. The approval comes before any visa application to the Ministry of Interior. See our guide on work permits and employment contracts.

Good to know

• Under Law No. 1 of 2019 on non-Qatari investment, foreign investors can own up to 100% of a company in many sectors. This does not apply to banking and insurance, companies that exploit natural resources, commercial agencies, or other sectors set by the Council of Ministers. Check your activity before applying.
• Since 2021, the comprehensive establishment and renewal services are provided online through the Single Window rather than at ministry counters.
• Premises must suit the activity and meet Civil Defence safety rules and any health requirements. Some activities, such as vehicle workshops, can only operate in industrial or designated areas.
• Commercial registrations and licences must be renewed. Renewal is also done on the Single Window.
• Qatar Financial Centre (QFC): a separate onshore platform with its own common-law framework, licences and online application. Apply through the QFC, not the Single Window.
• Qatar Free Zones: the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) registers and licenses companies in the free zones through its own Investor Portal.