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A mainland company in Qatar is set up online through the Single Window of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It takes about two to three days once the documents are complete, and the published approximate government cost is QAR 1,700 for a simple company. Most activities are open to foreign investors with up to 100% ownership.

Timeline
2–3 days (Single Window)
Government fees
About QAR 1,700 in government fees for a simple company
Fees last verified
10 November 2026
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Key facts

Who this service is for

  • Foreign investors who want a company they own in full, without a Qatari partner.
  • Entrepreneurs living in Qatar who want to turn their activity into a licensed company.
  • Foreign companies that have won a contract with a government entity and need a branch in Qatar.
  • E-commerce businesses that want to operate without a shop under the e-commerce licence.
  • Professional or financial services firms considering the Qatar Financial Centre or the free zones.

What the service covers

  • Choosing the legal form and activities that fit the ownership you want.
  • Trade name reservation and preparation of the articles of association.
  • Commercial registration and Qatar Chamber membership through the Single Window.
  • Trade licence or e-commerce licence.
  • Establishment card and tax registration.
  • Help opening the company bank account, subject to the bank's requirements.
  • Power of attorney wording and guidance on attesting it outside Qatar.

Legal forms available to investors in Qatar

FormForeign ownershipMinimum capitalCore government feesLicensing authorityBest for
LLC with a Qatari partnerUp to 49%QAR 1,000Registration 500 + articles review 500 + notarisation 500 + Qatar ChamberMinistry of Commerce and IndustryActivities that require 51% Qatari capital
LLC with full foreign ownershipOver 49% and up to 100%QAR 1,000As above + QAR 5,000 Qatar ChamberMinistry of Commerce and IndustryMost commercial and service activities
Branch of a foreign company100% by the parentNone5,000 registration + 10,000 Qatar ChamberMinistry of Commerce and IndustryA foreign company performing a contract with a government entity
Qatar Financial Centre company100%None for non-regulated activitiesUSD 500 application + USD 5,000 a yearQFC AuthorityProfessional, financial and technology services within QFC's permitted activities
Free zone company100%Not publishedNot published; set with the applicationQatar Free Zones AuthorityManufacturing, logistics and export

100% foreign ownership: how it works

Law No. 1 of 2019 regulating the investment of non-Qatari capital allows foreigners to own up to 100% of a company in most activities, with the approval of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. A non-Qatari investment licence application on the Ministry's form and a CV for each partner are filed with the establishment application, and a QAR 5,000 Qatar Chamber fee is added.

Some activities are excluded from full foreign ownership, including banks, insurance companies and commercial agencies. We therefore check the activity in the business activities search tool before filing anything.

  • Check the activity first: the permitted ownership depends on the activity, not the legal form.
  • The manager must hold a valid Qatari ID card.
  • The beneficial owner must be declared to complete the establishment.

A company without an office: the e-commerce licence

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched the e-commerce licence under Minister's Decision No. 25 of 2026. It covers 194 activities, costs QAR 500 to issue, and licenses the website used for the activity instead of a shop. The commercial registration is issued first, then the e-commerce licence.

  • The website must use a Qatari domain such as name.qa or name.com.qa, and each website needs its own licence.
  • The site must show the commercial registration number, the licence number, an electronic payment option and the returns and exchange policy.
  • The e-commerce licence does not grant residency.
  • The Legal GCC package for 100% ownership with the e-commerce licence starts from QAR 5,999 and is completed within 7 to 10 working days of receiving the attested power of attorney.

Documents issued outside Qatar: attest before filing

The Single Window requires any official document issued outside Qatar to be attested by the foreign ministry and the Embassy of Qatar in the country of issue. In practice a power of attorney goes to a notary in your country, then the foreign ministry there, then the Embassy of Qatar. Qatar is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough.

If a document reaches Qatar without full attestation, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers an attestation completion service for QAR 150, plus the equivalent of QAR 120 for the Qatari mission and the fees of the foreign ministry in the country of issue.

After incorporation: what the company must do each year

The commercial registration and trade licence are renewed yearly or for up to five years. Corporate income tax is 10% of profits and there is no personal income tax.

  • Registration renewal: QAR 500 for one activity and 300 for each additional activity.
  • Trade licence renewal: QAR 500.
  • The establishment card is required for visa and residence applications.
  • We handle these transactions under our PRO service.

How we work

  1. 01

    Structure and activity

    We review your activity and ownership, choose the legal form and confirm whether the activity is open to full foreign ownership.

  2. 02

    Documents and power of attorney

    We send the document list and the power of attorney wording. Documents issued outside Qatar are attested by the foreign ministry and the Embassy of Qatar in the country of issue.

  3. 03

    Filing

    We file the comprehensive establishment application in the Single Window: trade name, registration, articles and Qatar Chamber.

  4. 04

    Licence and establishment card

    Once the registration is issued we complete the trade or e-commerce licence, the establishment card and the tax card.

  5. 05

    Handover and bank account

    We hand over the extracts and help open the bank account, then handle annual renewals if you wish.

Procedures, authorities, documents and fees

Fees are in Qatari riyals unless stated otherwise. "Not published" means the authority does not publish the figure on its website.

Procedures table: Company Formation in Qatar
ProcedureAuthorityRequired documentsFee (QAR)Timeline
Trade name reservationMinistry of Commerce and Industry (Single Window)Three proposed names that meet the trade name rules and do not resemble an existing companyNo fee within the comprehensive establishment (1,000 if reserved on its own)Within the establishment time
Commercial registrationMinistry of Commerce and Industry (Single Window)Passport of each partner, commercial registration of any corporate partner, power of attorney for a representative, beneficial owner declaration500 for the first activity + 300 for each additional activityAbout 2–3 days for the whole transaction
Review and notarisation of the articlesMinistry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Justice via the Single WindowArticles signed digitally by the partners or at an appointment500 review (LLC) + 500 notarisation for the first three copiesWithin the establishment time
Foreign investment exception (non-Qatari ownership over 49%)Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Qatar ChamberNon-Qatari investment licence application on the Ministry's form, CV for each partner5,000 (Qatar Chamber fee)Within the establishment time
Qatar Chamber membershipQatar ChamberCalculated automatically from the application500 to 5,000 by share capital, plus a fee that varies by activityWithin the establishment time
Trade licenceMinistry of Commerce and Industry (Single Window)Valid lease or title deed, building completion certificate, address plate, Civil Defence certificate if the area is 250 m² or more500Once the premises are ready
Establishment cardMinistry of InteriorCopies of the commercial registration, trade licence and IDs of authorised signatories200Within the comprehensive establishment
Branch of a foreign companyMinistry of Commerce and Industry (Single Window)Authorisation to represent the company, the parent's commercial registration and articles, the contract with the government entity and its approval, all attested by the foreign ministry and the Embassy of Qatar in the country of issue5,000 registration + 10,000 Qatar ChamberAbout 2–3 days once attested documents are complete
Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) companyQFC AuthorityProposed name, activities and business model, registered office in approved premises, details of directors and beneficial owner, articles of associationUSD 500 application + USD 5,000 a year for one activity + USD 50 per additional activityNot published; depends on QFC's review
Free zone (QFZ) companyQatar Free Zones AuthorityOnline application through the Investor Portal, company definition, activities and property solutionNot published; set with the licence applicationNot published

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to set up a company in Qatar?

The approximate government cost published by the Single Window is QAR 1,700 for a simple company. It is made up of QAR 500 for commercial registration, QAR 500 for reviewing the LLC articles, QAR 500 for notarisation and QAR 200 for the establishment card. Qatar Chamber fees, the trade licence (QAR 500) and any additional activities (QAR 300 each) are added.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Qatar?

Yes. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, most activities are open to foreign investors with ownership above 49% and up to 100%. This requires a non-Qatari investment licence application and a CV for each partner, and adds a QAR 5,000 Qatar Chamber fee. A limited number of activities require at least 51% or 100% Qatari capital.

How long does it take to set up a company in Qatar?

About two to three days through the Single Window once the application and documents are complete. Attesting documents issued outside Qatar by the foreign ministry and the Embassy of Qatar in the country of issue comes first and takes additional time that varies by country.

What is the minimum share capital?

QAR 1,000 for a limited liability company and other companies, QAR 5 million for a private shareholding company, and QAR 10 million for holding and public shareholding companies. There is no minimum for a foreign company branch or a representative office.

What is the difference between the mainland, the Qatar Financial Centre and the free zones?

The mainland is regulated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with fees in Qatari riyals paid through the Single Window. The Qatar Financial Centre is a separate licensing authority with a USD 500 application fee and a USD 5,000 annual fee for one activity, and no minimum capital for a non-regulated company. The free zones offer 100% foreign ownership and a renewable 20-year tax exemption; their fees are set with the licence application.

Do I need an office to set up the company?

The commercial registration is issued without ready premises, but the trade licence requires a valid lease or title deed. For the 194 activities covered by the e-commerce licence (Minister of Commerce and Industry Decision No. 25 of 2026), the website can be licensed for a fee of QAR 500.

What is the corporate tax rate in Qatar?

Corporate income tax is 10% of profits and there is no personal income tax. The free zones grant a tax exemption for twenty years, renewable, under Law No. 34 of 2005.

Can I set up the company from outside Qatar?

Yes, through an agent holding a power of attorney attested by a notary and the foreign ministry in your country and then by the Embassy of Qatar there. We send you the wording and file the application once we receive the attested document.

Does the company give its owner residency?

The e-commerce licence does not grant residency. A company with a trade licence and an establishment card applies for visas and residence permits through the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour according to the approvals it is granted.

Official sources

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