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Starting a business in Qatar as an expat: commercial registration step by step
How an expat sets up a company in Qatar: choosing mainland, QFC or a free zone, checking whether your activity allows 100% foreign ownership, then trade name, commercial registration, commercial licence, establishment card, tax card, bank account and visas for staff.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Who
- Expats can own up to 100% in most sectors; some need a Qatari partner or extra approval
- Where
- MOCI Single Window (sw.gov.qa), MOCI app, or QFC / Qatar Free Zones
- Time
- MOCI says company establishment now takes about 2 days when papers are ready
- Core government fees
- CR QAR 500 a year; commercial licence QAR 500 a year; establishment card QAR 200
Since Law No. 1 of 2019 on non-Qatari investment, expats can own up to 100% of a company in most sectors, so a Qatari partner is no longer needed for most ordinary businesses. Setting up on the mainland is now handled mostly online through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) Single Window, which issues the commercial registration (CR), the commercial licence and the establishment card together. This guide is for residents and newcomers who want to open a trading, services, consulting, tech or similar company. The order is: choose where to set up (mainland, Qatar Financial Centre or a free zone), check your activity and ownership, reserve a trade name, secure premises, incorporate through the Single Window, then register for tax, open a bank account and hire staff. Rules for regulated sectors (health, education, finance, transport) and fees change, so check the live figures in the Single Window before you pay.
Before you start
- A clear description of what the business will do, matched to an activity on MOCI's activity list
- Valid passport for every shareholder; a Qatar ID (QID) for anyone who is already a resident
- A Qatar resident with a QID to act as general manager (the Single Window works through this person)
- Tawtheeq (National Authentication System) login linked to your QID, to sign in to the Single Window
- Two or three trade name options, in Arabic and English
- For a company shareholder: attested certificate of incorporation, articles and a board resolution from the home country
- An office or premises lease in the company's name (or a plan for one); without premises you cannot get the commercial licence
- Any sector approval your activity needs (for example health, education or transport) before you apply
- A realistic budget for rent, deposits, visas and a few months of running costs
Step by step
Decide between mainland, QFC and a free zone
Most small and medium businesses that sell to customers in Qatar register on the mainland with MOCI. The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is a separate platform with its own common-law based rules, 100% foreign ownership and 10% tax on locally sourced profits; it suits financial, professional, consulting, holding and head-office businesses. The Qatar Free Zones (Ras Bufontas next to the airport and Umm Alhoul next to Hamad Port) target logistics, manufacturing, technology and maritime companies. Each route has its own licence and premises rules, so pick one before you reserve a name or sign a lease.
Check your activity and ownership
Look up your activity on MOCI's activity list or the Qatar Business Map to see its code, whether it needs another ministry's approval, and whether non-Qataris can own 100%. Law No. 1 of 2019 allows up to 100% foreign ownership with MOCI approval, but excludes banking and insurance, commercial agencies, natural-resource exploitation and any other sectors the Council of Ministers names. If your activity is not open to full foreign ownership, you will need a Qatari partner, and you should have the shareholder agreement reviewed by a lawyer. Getting the activity right matters, because the CR and licence only allow what is written on them.
Choose the company type
Most expat-owned businesses are a limited liability company (LLC, often written WLL), where owners are liable only up to their capital. A foreign company can instead register a branch, which is not a separate company, or a representative office that cannot trade. Some forms, such as general partnerships and shareholding companies, are reserved for Qataris. If you are unsure, the MOCI Business Advisory and Establishment Office (opened in 2026) or a licensed consultant can advise; ask how much capital your activity and bank will expect.
Sign in and reserve a trade name
Sign in to the Single Window (sw.gov.qa) with your Tawtheeq national login, or use the MOCI app, and start with the trade name. The name must not copy an existing name or a well-known brand, and generic Arabic names are usually simplest; foreign or special names can cost more and take longer. Have two or three options ready. Pay the reservation fee shown on screen; the name is held for a limited time, so move on to the next steps without long delays.
Read guide: Tawtheeq (National Authentication System): signing up and logging in →Get sector approvals and premises
If your activity needs approval from another body, such as the Ministry of Public Health or the Ministry of Education, get it before you incorporate, because the Single Window checks it. Then lease premises that suit the activity and the zoning: an office for consulting, a shop for retail, a warehouse for storage. The lease should be in the company's name or transferable to it, and registered as the authorities require. The premises may be inspected by the municipality and Civil Defence before or after the licence is issued.
Read guide: Renting a home in Qatar →Apply for incorporation, CR and licence together
Use the Single Window's comprehensive incorporation service to submit the company details, shareholders, manager, capital, activities and lease. For standard LLCs the articles of association are prepared and signed through the platform; complex cases may still need signing before a notary at the Ministry of Justice. When approved, the system issues the commercial registration (CR), the commercial licence for the premises and the establishment registration together. MOCI said in late 2025 that company establishment had been cut to about two days when documents are complete.
Collect the establishment card
The establishment registration (often called the establishment card, computer card or immigration card) links your company to the Ministry of Interior so it can sponsor employees. It is issued automatically with a new commercial licence through the Single Window, for a fee of QAR 200 when the service launched. You can view it in the Metrash app or collect it from the Single Window office, the General Directorate of Passports or an MOI service centre. Keep its number handy: you need it for visas, the bank and the Ministry of Labour.
Read guide: Metrash: registering and using Qatar's Ministry of Interior app →Register for tax and with Qatar Chamber
Register the company with the General Tax Authority on the Dhareeba portal and get a tax card; tax advisers say to do this within 30 days of registration or starting work, and missing it can bring a fine. Companies pay 10% income tax on profits attributable to non-Qatari, non-GCC owners, so a fully foreign-owned company is normally taxable and must file yearly returns. Many mainland companies also need Qatar Chamber membership, with an annual fee that depends on capital and company type. Ask an accountant to set up bookkeeping from day one.
Open a business bank account
Banks usually ask for the CR, commercial licence, establishment card, articles of association, the QIDs or passports of owners and authorised signatories, the lease and a short business plan. Expect extra know-your-customer questions about where the capital comes from and who the ultimate owners are; corporate shareholders need attested documents. Account opening can take from days to several weeks, so start early. The account is also needed to pay staff through the Wage Protection System.
Read guide: Open a bank account in Qatar →Arrange your own residence
If you already live in Qatar on another sponsor, being a shareholder does not change your residence; check your employment contract before you work in your own business. Many owners are later sponsored by their own company once it has work-permit approvals. Since February 2026 Invest Qatar's Jusour programme also offers an entrepreneur residency for founders endorsed by a recognised Qatari incubator, with a minimum bank balance of QAR 36,500 for residents or USD 10,000 for overseas applicants. Property owners can also look at residence through real estate.
Read guide: Residency through property ownership in Qatar →Hire staff and get work visas
Register the company with the Ministry of Labour, apply for recruitment (visa) approvals for the jobs you need, and then bring workers in or transfer people already in Qatar. New arrivals go through the medical exam and fingerprints before their QID is issued. Pay salaries through the Wage Protection System and give every worker a written contract registered with the ministry. Do not let anyone work for you on another company's visa, which is illegal for both sides.
Read guide: Residence medical exam and fingerprints in Qatar →Keep everything renewed
The CR and commercial licence are renewed through the Single Window or the MOCI app, which since 2026 also offers a comprehensive renewal that updates the establishment registration. Renew in the 30 days before expiry, keep the lease valid, and update MOCI within 30 days of any change of partners, manager, address or activity. Also track the tax return deadline, Chamber membership and staff QIDs. An expired CR can block visas, banking and government services.
What it costs
| Commercial registration, one main activity (yearly) | QAR 500 |
| Commercial licence for premises or branch (yearly) | QAR 500 |
| Home-based business licence (yearly) | QAR 500 |
| E-commerce licence (website), from 2026 | QAR 500 |
| Establishment registration (establishment card) | QAR 200 |
| QFC licence application fee, non-regulated activities | USD 500 (about QAR 1,820) |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an activity that does not match what you will actually do, then needing an amendment and new approvals
- Signing a lease before checking that the premises' zoning suits the activity
- Using a 'nominee' Qatari partner when your activity already allows 100% foreign ownership, or signing side agreements that hide the real owner
- Assuming 100% foreign ownership is automatic in every sector; regulated and excluded sectors need extra approval or a Qatari partner
- Forgetting the tax card and annual tax return because the company is small or not yet profitable
- Working in your own company while on another employer's visa without checking your contract and residence status
- Letting the CR, licence or lease lapse, which blocks visas, renewals and banking
- Paying agents large 'sponsorship' fees for services the Single Window now provides directly
Questions people ask
Can an expat own 100% of a company in Qatar?
Yes, in most sectors. Law No. 1 of 2019 allows non-Qataris to own up to 100% with MOCI approval. Banking and insurance, commercial agencies, natural-resource exploitation and sectors named by the Council of Ministers are excluded, and some regulated activities need extra approvals. Check your activity in MOCI's activity search before you start.
Do I still need a Qatari sponsor or partner?
Not for most activities open to full foreign ownership. You will need a Qatari partner only if your chosen activity is restricted. You do need a Qatar resident with a QID to act as manager for the Single Window, and that can be you if you live here.
How long does it take to set up a company?
MOCI said in October 2025 that company establishment now takes about two days through the Single Window when documents are complete. In practice, finding premises, getting sector approvals, opening the bank account and getting visas take longer, often several weeks in total.
How much does it cost to open a company in Qatar?
Since 2024 the core MOCI fees are low: QAR 500 a year for the CR and QAR 500 a year for the commercial licence, plus QAR 200 for the establishment card. The real costs are rent, deposits, visa and medical fees for staff, Chamber membership and any consultant fees. Check the final total the Single Window shows before paying.
Can I start a business while I am employed on my company's visa?
You can usually be a shareholder, but working in your own business is a separate question. Check your employment contract for conflict-of-interest and second-job clauses, and confirm your residence and work-permit position before you take an active role.
Can I run a business from home?
MOCI issues home-based business licences for a list of approved activities, which was expanded to 63 activities in 2024, for QAR 500 a year. The applicant needs the property owner's ID, their own ID and the 'My Address' plate on the home. Check whether your activity and residence status qualify before applying.
Can I sell online without a shop?
Since September 2026 MOCI offers an e-commerce licence for 194 approved activities, issued online for QAR 500. It licenses the website you trade through. You still need to follow consumer protection rules.
Should I choose QFC or a free zone instead of the mainland?
QFC suits financial, professional services, consulting and holding companies and offers 100% ownership, common-law rules and 10% tax on local profits. The Qatar Free Zones suit logistics, manufacturing, technology and maritime companies and offer tax and customs incentives. If you mainly sell to ordinary customers in Qatar, the mainland is usually the simplest choice.
Official sources
- MOCI: Establishment registration through the Single Window ↗
- Invest Qatar: Foreign ownership rules (Law No. 1 of 2019) ↗
- The Peninsula: MOCI reduces fees by over 90% (Decision 60 of 2024) ↗
- Gulf Times: Company registration now possible in two days ↗
- QNA: MOCI e-commerce licence and new digital services (September 2026) ↗
- QFC: 90% cut to application fee ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.