Company Formation Qatar

An introduction to Company Formation in Qatar

In a majority of the cases, it is required to establish a presence in the country in order to participate in a project. There are many ways to setting up a business in Qatar. It will be our role to find the “ideal” or “optimal” solution for you.

The company setup in Qatar or in other words the formation, incorporation and registration of a business in the State of Qatar depend on the requirements of the initiator of the business or project and the activities as well as the organizational and operational structure of the proposed business.

The options in terms of Company Formation Qatar

The most popular options are legal entities with limited liability with a local partner under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry or legal entities with or without a local partner under the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, Qatar Free Zone Authority or Qatar Science & Technology Park.

A local partner is a natural person with the nationality of the State of Qatar or a legal entity fully owned by a natural person with the nationality of the State of Qatar. As per the local laws, a local partner shall hold at least fifty-one percent of the shares of the proposed business (if it will be registered under and regulated by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry). A popular option for the compensation of the local partner is a retainer package consisting of a monthly fee and a percentage of the income. The compensation of the local partner depends on the seniority and his or her role and responsibility in the proposed business.

Company Formation Qatar under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry

Most of the businesses in the State of Qatar are registered under and regulated by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. In the majority of the cases, these are businesses with a local participation of more than fifty one percent of the shares.

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry facilitates the contribution of Start Ups and Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to the economy and development of the State of Qatar in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

The focus is on a number of sectors with priority such as:

  • Energy
  • Mining
  • Industrial
  • Agriculture
  • Distribution (Logistics)
  • Healthcare
  • Technical Services
  • Education
  • Information Technology
  • Sports & Culture
  • Natural Resources
  • Tourism

It applies for Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and larger corporations in parcular.

In case of Start Ups the focus is on:

  • AgriTech
  • HealthTech
  • EdTech
  • Information & Communication Technologies
  • FinTech
  • Mobility & Transport Solutions
  • SportsTech

Company Formation under the Qatar Financial Centre Authority

The Qatar Financial Centre Authority is one of the world's leading and fastest-growing onshore business and financial centres. It has the purpose to position the State of Qatar as an attractive business destination at the crossroads between East and West. The Qatar Financial Centre Authority is home to more than 950 businesses with recognition and reputation.

These are non-financial and financial service providers such as:

  • Advisors
  • Internal and external auditors
  • Consultants
  • Banks and financial institutions
  • Lawyers
  • Insurance brokers
  • Accountants and bookkeepers
  • Others

Some of the incentives of the Qatar Financial Centre Authority are:

  • The possibility of one-hundred percent foreign ownership which translates into greater control of your business
  • A legal system based on the English Law (which is an international best practice with easy access)
  • The function as a one-stop-shop for preparation, formation, operation and liquidation
  • A network of more than 950 businesses
  • A competitive tax environment with a corporate tax of ten percent on locally sourced profits

Company Formation under the Qatar Free Zones Authority

The Qatar Free Zones Authority is an organization or institution created in 2018 to develop, implement and regulate some of the world-class free zones in the State of Qatar. These free zones are a platform for the regional and international expansion for businesses in the country.

The objective and purpose is to partner with the most promising corporations in all shapes and sizes. A focus is on the logistics, chemicals and emerging technologies, where the country has a strong value proposition.

The free zones are designed to promote and support the formation of logistics clusters with competitive advantages such as market reach, accessibility and connectivity, award-winning infrastructure and capacity. The free zones are set to diversify and extend or expand the current landscape.

The Umm Al Houl Free Zone (under the Qatar Free Zones Authority) in the south of the country will be home to a world-class chemicals cluster with competitive advantages such as the natural gas reserves, the costs of inputs, a strategic location and the free zone incentives.

The State of Qatar was ranked as one of the top ten countries in the world for the growth of innovative companies and fifteenth globally for companies embracing disruptive ideas in 2018. The country identified emerging technologies, a collective term referring to innovative, high tech industry sectors as a key focus in the free zones. The Qatar Free Zones Authority aims and intends to attract and build clusters in emerging technologies such as:

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Block-chain
  • Robotics
  • Virtual reality
  • Drones
  • Internet of Things
  • Automotive technologies
  • Big data
  • Cyber-security
  • Data analytics
  • 3D printing

Company Formation in the Qatar Science & Technology Park

The Qatar Science & Technology Park is a hub for research and development in technology. It is part of Qatar Foundation and home to international corporations which contributed to the development and implementation of new technologies around the world.

Some of the incentives of the Qatar Science & Technology Park are:

  • The quick and easy company formation
  • The exemption from customs duties or charges on imports and exports
  • The possibility of one-hundred percent foreign ownership
  • The exemption from taxes and the repatriation of capital

The Qatar Science & Technology Park is central to the research, development and innovation ecosystem of Qatar Foundation.

The process of Company Formation Qatar

The process of formation, incorporation and registration is divided in three stages or phases. These are Pre-Licensing (to assess your possibilities, to evaluate the potentials and to determine your options), Licensing (to apply for a license) and Post-Licensing (to become operational with visas, office, insurance, bank account and others).

Our credentials and experience with Company Formation Qatar

Starting a business in Qatar may be complex. In turn, it can be lengthy and costly.

We have been part of the formation, incorporation and registration of legal entities in any and all shapes and sizes in the State of Qatar. These are legal entities with a local partner under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry or legal entities with or without a local partner under the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, Qatar Free Zone Authority or Qatar Science & Technology Park.

We are working with the most relevant stakeholders in the country to optimize the efficiency and to advance, enhance and improve the ease of doing business in the State of Qatar.

Our experts and specialists for the business startup in Qatar understand their policies and procedures.

The steps to your business in the State of Qatar

It would be our pleasure to learn more about your objects and plans in the State of Qatar and the activities as well as the organizational and operational structure of the proposed business in order to determine your options.

We are in a position to promote and support you in accordance with your requirements in Pre-Licensing, Licensing and Post-Licensing. It includes without limitation or restriction the pre-selection and selection of a local partner, the mediation between the parties and the formalization of the relationship between the parties (before the formation, incorporation or registration). We have got a network of local partners with members of the royal family, current and former senior administration officials and key businessmen and women.

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Please click on the link and reach out to our experts and specialists to discuss your requirements. It would be our pleasure to assist you!

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