In Qatar you do not simply set up "a company". You set it up under one of the country's three legal frameworks. The choice depends on your activity and your clients.
1. Mainland (Ministry of Commerce and Industry)
This is the most common route. The company is registered with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and can work anywhere in Qatar, with private and public clients.
- Ownership: up to 100% foreign capital in most activities (Law No. 1 of 2019).
- Tax: 10% corporate income tax on the share of profits belonging to foreign owners.
- Suits: trading, services, consulting, restaurants, construction, any activity aimed at the local market.
2. Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)
The QFC is a business platform based in Doha, with its own rules and its own courts, based on English common law.
- Ownership: up to 100% foreign capital.
- Tax: 10% on locally sourced profits; 100% repatriation of profits.
- Suits: financial services, consulting, professional services, holding companies, regional headquarters.
3. Qatar Free Zones (QFZ)
Two zones are operating: Ras Bufontas, next to Hamad International Airport, and Umm Alhoul, next to Hamad Port.
- Ownership: 100% foreign capital, with full repatriation of capital.
- Tax: corporate tax exemptions of up to 20 years, no customs duties on imports.
- Suits: logistics, industry, technology, international trade, activities that import and re-export.
How to choose
Three questions are usually enough:
- Are your clients in Qatar? If so, mainland is generally the right choice.
- Is your activity a financial or professional service, or a holding company? The QFC is worth a look.
- Do you move goods in and out? Look at the free zones.
This is exactly what we confirm at the "structure and activity" stage of your file, before anything is filed. A wrong framework is not fixed with a simple form.
Also read: the 100% foreign-owned company in Qatar.
Talk to us about your project
Every activity has its own rules. In a 30-minute introductory call you tell us about your project and we tell you whether we can help and what the next steps are. Book a call or see how we register companies in Qatar.