H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, chaired the Ministry’s first quarterly meeting to review its performance for 2026, in the presence of Ministry officials.
The meeting reviewed the Ministry’s key achievements and initiatives during the first quarter of 2026, including the launch of 36 new electronic services through the Ministry’s website, the activation of the National Intellectual Property Strategy Committee, and the issuance of the Gulf National Product Certificate Service Guide for factories. It also covered the publication of the draft law regulating public-private partnerships on the “Sharek” platform, in addition to the signing of a contract with Hassad Company for the management, operation, and service delivery of central markets.
The first quarter also witnessed the activation of the “Operations Center” to monitor markets and ensure continuity of supplies amid geopolitical conditions, the announcement of the draft Competition Regulation Law on the “Sharek” platform in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the State of Kuwait in the field of competition protection, and the launch of the iSupplier electronic supplier portal service. In addition, 30 specialized licensing services were activated through a unified digital platform, including services related to festival promotions, clearance activities, auctions, and associated sub-services.
The meeting further discussed the Ministry’s overall performance results during the first quarter of 2026, reviewed performance indicators across various sectors, and highlighted key operational challenges alongside proposed solutions aimed at accelerating the implementation of approved plans and projects.
Within the Commerce Affairs Sector, the number of new commercial registrations reached 6,328 during the first quarter of 2026, marking an increase of 18.5% compared to the same period in 2025.
During the same period, the Single Window platform continued enhancing its services, with 12 services developed in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting a 300% increase compared to the three services developed during the first quarter of 2025. The number of transactions submitted through the Single Window platform reached 109,284, of which 94% were submitted electronically, representing a 7% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025, reflecting continued progress in digital transformation efforts. Customer satisfaction rates reached 93% for electronic submission services during the first quarter, 99% for services provided at the Ministry building, and 95% for services delivered through government service centers.
With regard to attracting foreign investment, 3,295 non-Qatari companies were established during the first quarter of 2026, representing a 66% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025. This reflects the attractiveness of Qatar’s investment environment and reinforces investor confidence.
In relation to intellectual property rights protection, 1,661 trademarks were granted during the first quarter of 2026, in addition to 145 patents, reflecting an increase of 134% compared to the same period in 2025. Furthermore, 43 copyrights were granted, marking a 16% increase compared to the first quarter of the previous year.
Within the Industry Affairs and Business Development Sector, cumulative investment in the industrial sector reached QAR 270 billion during the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 0.13% compared to the first quarter of 2025. In addition, 17 new factories that commenced production were registered during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting an increase of 112% compared to the same period last year. The readiness of 32 factories was also evaluated during the same period, marking a 191% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the average time required to issue initial approvals was one working day during the first quarter of 2026.
Within the Consumer Affairs Sector, 1,897 specialized licenses were issued during the first quarter of 2026. The sector also received 6,895 complaints during the same period, representing an increase of 323% compared to the first quarter of 2025. These included 5,640 consumer protection complaints, 631 specialized licensing complaints, 622 supply-related complaints, and two competition-related complaints. Complaints were addressed within specified timeframes, with consumer protection complaints closed within eight days, supply complaints within one day, and specialized licensing complaints within two working days.
During the same period, 74,766 inspection visits were carried out during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting an increase of 89% compared to the first quarter of 2025, while the violation rate stood at 9%, as part of efforts to strengthen market oversight and consumer protection.
The number of beneficiaries from supply support reached 453,694 during the first quarter of 2026, marking an increase of 3.11% compared to the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the number of beneficiaries from feed support reached 8,638 during the same period, reflecting an increase of 3.6% compared to the corresponding period last year.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on continuing the regular follow-up of the Ministry’s objectives and performance indicators, while strengthening coordination across various sectors to support the implementation of plans and initiatives according to approved timelines.
