Establishing Companies
What is the minimum capital required to establish a company?
There isn’t minimum or maximum capital when establishing a company
What are the documents required to establish an individual establishment?
Fill in the application-printed from www.moci.gov.qa
Proof of identity
Submit the documents through e-services or MOCI’s application
What are the types of companies according to legal entity?
Types of entities according to law of companies no. (11) of 2015 are: Limited Liability Company LLC, Liability Company, Sole Proprietorship Company, Simple partnership Company, General Partnership Company, Shareholding Company, Private Shareholding Company
What are the requirements to establish a Limited Liability Company?
Founders’ proof of identity
Fill in the incorporation document application (available online on MOCI’s official website: www.moci.gov.qa), certified by the Ministry of Justice
Copy of the authorized signatory’s proof of identity.
If the applicant is a representative, a duly certified legal procuration is required
A letter from the company if the founder is a moral person
Approval of the authority concerned in the activity (for some activities)
Reserve the trade name from Commercial Registration and Licenses Department
What are the requirements to establish a one-person Limited Liability Company?
Founders’ proof of identity
Fill in the incorporation document application (available online on MOCI’s official website: www.moci.gov.qa), certified by the Ministry of Justice
Copy of the authorized signatory’s proof of identity.
If the applicant is a representative, a duly certified legal procuration is required
A letter from the company if the founder is a moral person
Approval of the authority concerned in the activity (for some activities)
Reserve the trade name from Commercial Registration and Licenses Department
What are the requirements to establish a general partnership company?
Founders’ proof of identity
Fill in founders data in the contract application, certified by the Ministry of Justice
Copy of the authorized signatory’s proof of identity.
If the applicant is a representative, a duly certified legal procuration is required
Reserve the trade name from Commercial Registration and Licenses Department
Approval of the authority concerned in the activity (for some activities)
What is a simple partnership company?
A company consists of two parties of partners, one of which is a name partner with unlimited liability of the company’s financial commitments, while the other partner is a silent partner, who is responsible of the company’s commitments within his/her share.
What are the requirements to establish a simple partnership company?
Founders’ proof of identity
Fill in the founders data in the contract, silent and name partner
Copy of the authorized signatory’s proof of identity.
If the applicant is a representative, a duly certified legal procuration is required
Reserve the trade name from Commercial Registration and Licenses Department
What are the requirements to establish a holding company?
A holding company shall take the form of one of the companies, with a capital of 10,000,000 QR, the activity shall be within one of the following:
- Participating in the management of its subsidiaries or joint stock companies
- Invest its money in stocks, bonds, and other securities
- Provide required support to its subsidiaries
- Own intellectual property rights of patents, trademarks, industrial forms, franchise rights, and other moral rights, use them and lease them to its subsidiaries or others, inside or outside the state
- Own the movables and real estate necessary to practice its work within limits stipulated by the law
What is the procedure followed when establishing a company, with a minor partner?
Print the incorporation document application, the minor representative, and certify it
Fill in the commercial record services application
copy of passports
Government approval to practice the activity (if needed)
Is it possible that a Limited Liability Company establish a sole Proprietorship company?
All entities are prohibited from establishing a sole proprietorship company, where it is required that the owner is a normal person
Is it possible to convert a sole proprietorship company into a Limited Liability Company?
Yes, a sole proprietorship company can be converted into a Limited Liability Company
What are the requirements to open a GCC company branch in Qatar?
GCC companies can open a branch in Qatar according to terms and conditions determined by MOCI
What are the commercial activities GCC citizens can practice in Qatar?
GCC citizens can practice business as stipulated in the law
What is the maximum number of commercial records a GCC citizen can obtain?
There isn’t a maximum number of companies
Is it possible to open a branch in Qatar for a GCC company with a foreign partner that owns 30% in the main company?
A foreign partner can join a GCC citizen at any rate only if it is one of the sectors allowed by the investment law no. (13) of 2000
Is it possible for a GCC company branch to own a share in a Qatari company?
Yes, a foreign company branch may own a share in a Qatari company for up to 49% in commercial activities, and it may exceed 49% in activities allowed to GCC citizens, provided that all partners in GCC company must be GCC citizens, in the sectors allowed by the investment law no. (13) of 2000
Is it possible for a foreign partner to own more than 51% in a company?
Yes, foreign investors may own more than 49% up to 100% of the companies established in Qatar, in companies that are practicing their activities in the fields stipulated in article (2) of law no. 13 of 2000 of organizing the investment of non-Qatari capital in an economic activity
What are the requirements to open a branch of a company in Qatar?
The branch must bear the same name of the main establishment, and practice the same activities stipulated in the incorporation document.
What is the maximum number of commercial registers a GCC citizen or a foreign investor may obtain?
There isn’t a maximum number
Is it possible for a sole proprietorship company to join the commercial register of a current establishment?
Yes, by buying a share in the company or co-establishing it
What are the minimum and maximum number of partners allowed in commercial registers for different entities?
The minimum and maximum number of partners in companies:
- General partnership company, and simple partnership company: minimum two (2) partners, there isn’t maximum number of partners
- Shareholding and private shareholding company: minimum five (5) partners, there isn’t maximum number of partners
- Limited partnership by shares: minimum two (2) partners, there isn’t maximum number of partners
- Limited Liability Company: minimum one (1) person, and maximum fifty (50) partners
What are the requirements and percentages of owning shares for different nationalities and different legal forms?
In case the establishment is a Qatari company, Qatari partner/partners must own 51% at least of the shares. In some of the commercial activities a GCC citizen may own up to 100% of the company. A foreign investor may own more than 49% of the shares for allowed activities after acquiring an exception from the Minister of Commerce and Industry.
What is the minimum capital required to establish a limited liability company (LLC)?
There isn’t a minimum capital
What is the legal form of insurance companies?
Public or private shareholding company
What are the requirements to establish (recruit of manpower for others) activity?
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs approval of the required activity
Is it possible to establish a company with a non-Qatari capital?
Yes, a company can be established with non-Qatari capital according to investment law no. (13) of 2000
Is it possible to register a sole proprietorship company’s owner as a corporate body?
No, a sole proprietorship company’s owner can’t be registered as a corporate body, the commercial register is a publication of the trader (normal person)
Is it possible for one person to establish more than a sole proprietorship company?
No, a person shall not establish more than one sole proprietorship company. Although, a person can open more than one shop using the same commercial register as stipulated in article (2) of commercial record executive list.
In case a foreign partner registered in a commercial record left the country, Is it possible to delete the commercial record? Or delete the foreign partner from the record?
Yes, a commercial record can be deleted, or in case it was not renewed for 90 days, the department shall notify and delete the record. A partner can be deleted through a sale contract or a court rule
