The Ministry of Commerce and Industry highlighted Law No. 3 of 2023 regarding combating the concealment of non-Qataris practicing commercial, economic, and professional activities in violation of the law. This law was issued by His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, to replace Law No. (25) of 2004.
The new legislation aligns with the approved strategy to modernize legal frameworks and foster an investment climate founded on transparency. Furthermore, it allows for the practice of various economic activities following approved regulations and keeps pace with the latest legislative amendments related to the regulation of non-Qatari capital investment in economic activities.
The new law aims to achieve the following:
- Ensure fair practices in commercial transactions and establish an environment conducive to investment.
- Provide stability to commercial enterprises by permitting reconciliation and legalizing the situation of the concealed party, at the expense of the violator.
- Encourage the reporting of concealment cases.
- Enhance collaboration between government entities to combat concealment.
- Involve civil society and increase its role in limiting concealment.
- Deter through the increase of penalties on concealment crimes.
- Collect the State’s rightful taxes and any other dues resulting from illegal activities.
Concealment cases include:
- The practice of non-Qatari (the concealed) of any commercial, economic, or professional activity in any of the fields he/she is not authorized to practice.
- The obtainment of the non-Qatari (the concealed) percentages of profits higher than what’s stipulated in the articles of association of the company or its incorporation document.
- A Qatari national, whether an individual or a company, facilitating non-Qataris in engaging, in any manner, in commercial, economic, or professional activities that violate applicable laws.
In 2004, the Anti-Concealment Committee was established at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This committee has been given several powers to receive reports of violations of the Anti-Concealment Law, particularly regarding non-Qataris’ engagement in commercial, economic, and professional activities in violation of the law. The committee assesses the severity of each case and refers it to the Public Prosecution to carry out its jurisdiction over certain violations.
The committee includes representatives from the State Security Service, the Qatar Central Bank, the Ministry of Interior, and the General Tax Authority.
The Anti-Concealment Committee can be reached by email at acc@moci.gov.qa.
