Company formation in Qatar
How much it costs to open a company in Qatar in 2026, who can have 100% foreign ownership and what taxes a business pays.
Since 2019 a foreigner can own a company in Qatar outright. Law No. 1 of 2019 on non-Qatari capital investment allows up to 100% foreign ownership in almost all sectors except banking and insurance, natural resource extraction, commercial agencies and sectors closed by the council of ministers. Registration is handled by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through the government Single Window platform, where you apply and obtain the commercial registration and licence.
The most common form for a foreign founder is a limited liability company. According to the government investment promotion agency, it needs at least two shareholders. If you only need a liaison office without trading, a representative office works, and for contract work of a parent company, a branch.
How much company formation in Qatar costs: government fees
Government fees in Qatar are low. A new commercial registration and licence cost QAR 500, about $140, and the establishment registration with the Ministry of Interior, without which the company cannot hire staff or sponsor their visas, costs QAR 200, about $55. Both are paid on the Single Window platform. Annual renewal is QAR 500 for the first activity and QAR 300, about $85, for each additional one.
The riyal is pegged to the dollar at USD 1 = QAR 3.64, and amounts are rounded up. The main business costs are not fees but office rent, which the licence requires, staff visas and accounting. Our turnkey formation service starts at $23,000 for the basic package, with all fees in the table below.
Government fees of about $195, but without Interior Ministry registration the company cannot hire anyone
The law does not stop you registering a company on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: an activity where 100% foreign ownership is not allowed, a missed enterprise registration with the Interior Ministry without which the company cannot issue staff visas, documents without legalisation and Arabic translation and a missed annual licence renewal. We check whether full ownership is allowed for you, prepare the documents, register the company through the single window and handle renewals.
Turnkey package prices are in the table on this page; a manager will calculate the total for your structure in the chat.
How registration works
- Activity and legal form. We check whether 100% foreign ownership is allowed for your activity and whether a sector licence is needed.
- Name and articles. Name reservation and a memorandum of association in Arabic.
- Single Window application. Filing documents and paying for the commercial registration and licence.
- Establishment registration. Issued with the new licence, after which the company can sponsor staff visas.
- Tax number and bank account. Registration with the tax authority and opening a bank account.
Timing depends on the activity: with a standard licence and ready documents registration takes a few weeks, while sector permits add time.
What documents you need
For each individual shareholder, a passport; for a corporate shareholder, its constitutional documents and a resolution to set up a subsidiary. Documents issued abroad are legalised at a Qatari embassy or under the rules of the issuing country and translated into Arabic. You also need a lease for an office in Qatar: no licence is issued without an address. We check the file before filing so it is not returned over legalisation or translation.
Company taxes in Qatar
Corporate income tax in Qatar is 10%, charged on the share of profit attributable to foreign shareholders: according to the General Tax Authority of Qatar, the share owned by Qatari nationals is exempt. A 100% foreign-owned company pays 10% on all its profit. There is no personal income tax on salaries in Qatar, and VAT has not been introduced.
Why registration gets delayed
- An activity on the closed list. Banking, insurance, commercial agencies and resource extraction are not open to 100% foreign ownership.
- Documents without legalisation or translation. The application is sent back.
- No office. A licence is issued only for a real address in Qatar.
- Sector licence. Healthcare, education, construction and several other sectors need a separate permit from the relevant authority.
What we do
Murblz specialists choose the activity and legal form, check whether foreign ownership is allowed, prepare the memorandum and documents with legalisation and translation, file with the Single Window, and help with the office, establishment registration and bank account. Support fees are in the price table, and the total for your project is fixed in writing.
Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Company registration - Base package | $23 000 |
| Company registration - Package with nominee service | $23 000 |
| Company registration - Package with bank pre-approval (with nominee service and bank pre-approval) | $24 300 |
We will calculate online the cost of registering and running your company for the first year.
See also
Business account · Personal account · Investment property
FAQ
How much does it cost to open a company in Qatar?
Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Qatar?
What tax does a company pay in Qatar?
Do I need an office for a company in Qatar?
Can I register a company in Qatar remotely?
How many shareholders does a Qatari LLC need?
Opening a company in Qatar?
We check whether 100% foreign ownership is open to your activity and register the company on the mainland, in the Qatar Financial Centre or in a free zone. The catalogue covers every country.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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