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Selling online in Qatar: the MOCI e-commerce licence
Since March 2026 any business selling goods or services through a website, app or social media account in Qatar needs an e-commerce licence from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Here is who needs it, what you must have first, how to apply in the Single Window, and the rules you must follow once you are selling.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Fee
- QAR 500 per licence (one licence per website or platform)
- Issued by
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), under Decision No. 25 of 2026
- Apply
- Online through the MOCI Single Window (sw.gov.qa)
- First need
- A Commercial Register entry and one of the 194 approved activities
Selling online in Qatar is now a licensed activity in its own right. Ministerial Decision No. 25 of 2026, in force since 16 March 2026, says no business may sell goods or provide services through a website, digital platform or social media account without an e-commerce licence from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). In September 2026 MOCI opened the licence for 194 approved activities, for a fee of QAR 500, with no need for a shop or office. This guide is for anyone who sells, or wants to sell, through an online store, Instagram, WhatsApp or a similar channel, whether you already have a company or are starting one. The order is: check that the rule applies to you and that your residence allows you to own a business, get into the Commercial Register, pick an approved activity, set up your domain and online payments, apply in the Single Window, then follow the display and consumer rules every day. Several details (validity, renewal and how social media accounts are handled in practice) are still being clarified, so confirm your case with MOCI on 16001 before you pay.
Before you start
- A valid Qatar ID and an active Tawtheeq (National Authentication System) login for the Single Window
- Your Commercial Register (CR) number, or a plan to get one first (see the business setup guide)
- Proof that your residence status allows you to own and run a business, such as a no-objection from your employer where needed
- The exact activity you will sell online, checked against MOCI's list of 194 approved activities
- Any extra approval your activity needs, for example from the Ministry of Public Health for food or cosmetics
- Your website address (a .qa or .com.qa domain) or the exact social media account or app you will sell through
- An online payment option: a payment gateway from your bank or a payment company licensed by Qatar Central Bank
- A written return and exchange policy, a customer service phone number and an email address to publish on your site
Step by step
Check whether you need the licence
The rule covers any commercial selling of goods or services through an electronic platform: your own website, an app, or a social media account used to take orders. It does not cover personal sales that are not in commercial quantities, such as selling your own used sofa or phone. Businesses registered with the Qatar Financial Centre or a free zone have their own regulators, and law firms have said the decision mainly targets MOCI-registered businesses, so check with your regulator if you are in one of those. If you sell regularly to make money, assume you need the licence.
Read guide: Selling your furniture and things before leaving Qatar →Make sure your residence lets you own a business
The e-commerce licence does not change your visa. Most expats are sponsored by an employer, and running your own business on the side usually needs your employer's agreement and must not break your contract. People on family sponsorship need a work permit before taking paid work, and freelancers need the right residence for self-employment. Sort this out first, because a licence your residence does not allow can still get you into trouble with the Ministry of Labour or the Ministry of Interior.
Read guide: Working in Qatar on your spouse's or parent's sponsorship →Get into the Commercial Register first
MOCI only issues the e-commerce licence to applicants who are already in the Commercial Register. If you have a company, use its existing CR. If you are starting from scratch, MOCI's September 2026 announcement says the licence lets you set up and run a business fully online, without a physical shop or office, so you no longer need to rent premises just to sell online. If you hold a home business licence, ask MOCI whether it counts as a Commercial Register entry for your activity before you apply. The full steps for a new company, trade name and CR are in the business setup guide.
Read guide: Starting a business in Qatar as an expat: commercial registration step by step →Pick an approved activity
Only activities on MOCI's approved e-commerce list can be licensed; there were 194 when the licence launched. MOCI's examples include fashion design and related products, consulting in different fields, digital design, AI consulting and solutions, photography and translation, and observers expect online retail of clothes, shoes and perfume to follow. Search the list and the Qatar Business Map on MOCI's website for the exact activity name and code. If your activity needs another ministry's approval (food, cosmetics, health products, education), get that approval before you apply, because MOCI asks for it.
Set up your website domain
MOCI says the licensed website must use a .qa or .com.qa domain, registered through one of eight service providers approved under the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA). A .com.qa address is usually linked to a registered business, so have your CR ready when you buy it. If you sell through social media or an app instead of, or as well as, a website, note the exact account names: each website or platform needs its own licence. Do not launch the site for sales until the licence is issued.
Set up online payments
Licensed sellers must offer electronic payment for orders on their platform. Most banks in Qatar offer an online payment gateway for business accounts, and several payment companies are licensed by Qatar Central Bank (QCB) to provide payment links and online card payments. Use only a QCB-licensed provider, because unlicensed collection services can freeze your money. You can still offer cash on delivery as an extra, but online payment must be available. Open a business bank account in the company's name so customer money is kept apart from your salary.
Read guide: Fawran instant payments in Qatar: sending money by phone number →Apply in the Single Window and pay
Log in to the MOCI Single Window at sw.gov.qa with your Tawtheeq login and look for the e-commerce licence service among the commercial licence services. Choose your CR, the approved activity and the website or platform, upload any other approvals and submit. Pay the QAR 500 fee online. Exact screen names may change after MOCI's 2026 website and app updates; if you cannot find the service, call MOCI on 16001 or use the Business Advisory and Establishment Office.
Publish the required details on your site
Once licensed, your website or page must clearly show your Commercial Register number and e-commerce licence number, your customer service phone and email, a description of each product or service, your return and exchange policy, and how customers can complain or claim their rights. On social media, put these in the bio or a pinned post and link to a full policy page. These details let customers and MOCI check that you are a real, licensed seller.
Follow consumer protection rules every day
Qatar's consumer protection law applies to online sellers just like shops. Show real prices in Qatari riyals, give a clear invoice with the date and price, deliver what you advertised, and honour your return and exchange policy and warranties. MOCI also expects sellers to get approval before running sales, discounts or promotions, so check the promotions service before you advertise a big sale. Customers can complain to MOCI about online sellers, and MOCI can take action against both licensed and unlicensed ones.
Read guide: Consumer rights in Qatar: refunds, exchanges, warranties and complaining to MOCI →Keep the licence and the business up to date
Sell only through the platform named on your licence, and get MOCI's approval before changing licence details such as the website, activity or business data. Adding a new website or platform means applying for another licence. Keep your Commercial Register valid, because the e-commerce licence depends on it, and check the licence expiry date shown in the Single Window. Companies with foreign owners also need to file a yearly tax return with the General Tax Authority.
Read guide: Renewing your commercial registration, licence and establishment card in Qatar →
What it costs
| E-commerce licence issuance, per website or platform (MOCI, September 2026) | QAR 500 |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Selling on Instagram or WhatsApp without any licence because the account is 'only a page'; social media selling falls under the decision
- Applying for one licence and then selling through several websites or accounts; each platform needs its own licence
- Starting the business on an employer's visa without permission, or on family sponsorship without a work permit
- Using a .com or other foreign domain for the licensed website when MOCI asks for .qa or .com.qa
- Taking only cash on delivery or bank transfers; licensed sellers must offer electronic payment
- Forgetting to show the CR number, licence number, contact details and return policy on the site
- Running a 'sale' or discount campaign without checking MOCI's promotions approval
- Letting the Commercial Register expire, which leaves the e-commerce licence without its base
Questions people ask
Do I need a licence to sell on Instagram or WhatsApp in Qatar?
Yes, if you sell regularly as a business. Decision No. 25 of 2026 defines the platforms it covers to include websites, digital platforms and social media channels used for transactions. Only personal sales that are not in commercial quantities are excluded. Each account or website you sell through needs its own licence.
Can an expat get the e-commerce licence?
The decision does not set a nationality rule; the conditions are being in the Commercial Register, an approved activity and the right approvals. Since 2019 expats can own up to 100% of a company in most activities. The bigger question is your residence: if your employer sponsors you, you usually need their agreement to run your own business. Check with MOCI (16001) and your employer before paying.
My wife is on my family visa. Can she sell clothes or cakes online?
Not just by getting the licence. A person on family sponsorship needs a work permit before working, and she also needs a Commercial Register entry or a home business licence for the activity. Food and cosmetics need extra health approvals. Read the guides on working on family sponsorship and the home business licence first.
How much does it cost and how long is it valid?
MOCI announced an issuance fee of QAR 500 per licence. News reports on the launch did not give the validity period or renewal fee, so check the expiry date and renewal terms shown in the Single Window when you apply. Remember the Commercial Register, domain, payment gateway and any other approvals have their own costs.
Do I need a shop or office?
No. The licence is for e-commerce without a physical shop. You still need a Commercial Register entry, and any rules that apply to your activity (for example food hygiene) still apply where you work.
I already have a shop with a CR. Do I need this licence for my website too?
If you sell through a website, app or social media account, the decision requires an e-commerce licence for that platform, even if you also have a physical shop. Each platform is licensed separately. Ask MOCI how this applies to your existing commercial licence, as the transition for existing businesses has not been clearly published.
I only sell my own used things on Qatar Living or Facebook groups. Do I need a licence?
No. The decision does not apply to personal transactions that are not in commercial quantities and not part of a business. Selling your own furniture or car before you leave is fine. Buying goods to resell for profit is a business and needs a licence.
Is a home business licence enough to sell online?
Not on its own. The home licence lets you run an approved activity from your home, while selling through a website or social media is governed by the e-commerce decision. The home business guide explains the home licence; ask MOCI whether your home licence counts as the Commercial Register entry needed for the e-commerce licence.
Official sources
- QNA: MOCI unveils new digital services, including the QAR 500 e-commerce licence (Sept 2026) ↗
- Zawya: Qatar e-commerce licence, Single Window and .qa domain rules (Sept 2026) ↗
- Crowell & Moring: Decision No. 25 of 2026 dates, conditions and duties ↗
- Al Tamimi & Co: Qatar's new e-commerce licensing requirements ↗
- Qatar Living: MOCI e-commerce licence covering 194 activities ↗
- Al Raya: MOCI says no physical office needed (Arabic, Oct 2026) ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.