15 steps to incorporating in Qatar in 2024

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  • Pre-incorporation steps

    1. Prior to incorporating in Qatar, our Client i) settles Healy Consultants’ Qatar business registration fees ii) signs and returns our Client engagement letter and iii) provide us all the required due diligence documents;
    2. Healy Consultants drafts a detailed Qatar corporate setup engagement project plan, mapping out by week each step to Qatar business registration engagement to completion, optimizing transparency, and setting Client expectations;
    3. Healy Consultants assists our Clients determine i) what type of Qatar corporate registration entity is required ii) what class of business license is required iii) how a Qatari national sponsor will help iv) banking and cash flow considerations and v) employment visa strategies;
    4. If a 51% local shareholder is required, Healy Consultants provides our Client detailed due diligence information about the nominee. A detailed legal shareholders contract is signed between our Client and the Qatari national, clearly defining roles and responsibilities.
  • Incorporation steps

    Name reservation and M&AA

    1. When the exact Qatar corporate structure is agreed with our Client, Healy Consultants reserves company name with the Commercial Registry Department and the Trademarks Department located at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce in Doha;
    2. The company Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&AA) is prepared in Arabic, signed before an agent at the Ministry of Justice and submitted for review at the Commercial Companies Inspection Department at the Ministry of Business and Trade;

    Securing the Certificate of Registration

    1. Our Client supplies Healy Consultants with a lease agreement for their office premises in Qatar. If required, Healy Consultants will supply virtual office services for 6 months until our Client finds their preferred business address following Qatar entity registration;
    2. Healy Consultants then proceeds to i) pay the Chamber of Commerce fee ii) notarise all company documents at MOCI and Ministry of Justice and iii) submit an application for the Certificate of Registration to the Qatar Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). Approval to follow within three weeks.

    Securing the Trade License

    1. Healy Consultants submits municipal licence application to MOCI together with i) certificate of registration ii) signed M&A accompanied by passport copy of the authorized signatory iii) name approval certificate iv) notarised directors’ and shareholders’ resolutions v) the lease agreement in Arabic, accompanied by photographs of the office premises and office signboard.
    2. Prior to granting the Trade License, an inspection team from the municipality will visit the office premises of the company. License approval will be granted only if the leased premises is designated as a commercial property;

    Securing exemption for a local shareholder (if applicable)

    1. To be exempt from requiring a 51% Qatari shareholder, our Client’s business will need to i) utilize substantial local raw materials and local labour ii) significantly enhance Qatar exports or iii) supply a significant new product to the Qatar market or iv) bring modern technology to the country. If these conditions are met, Healy Consultants applies for exemption to the Investment Promotion Department at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce;
  • Post-incorporation steps

    1. Healy Consultants assists our Client to open a multicurrency corporate bank account with a Qatar bank. Our Client deposits the issued share capital of US$55,000 to their multicurrency account
    2. Healy Consultants assists our Client i) register for taxes and obtain a tax identification number (tax card) from the Tax Department at the Ministry of Finance and ii) apply and obtain the company establishment card (computer card) from Qatar Ministry of Interior;
    3. Healy Consultants will obtain work visas from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Department of Naturalization and Residence to support Qatar business formation;
    4. Following company incorporation engagement completion, Healy Consultants couriers a full company kit to our Client, including original Qatar corporate documents, unopened bank correspondence and a Client feedback survey.
  • List of documents required for incorporation

    • A non-objection letter from the parent company to incorporate a local subsidiary in Qatar and consent to use the company name;
    • Certified true copies of the parent company attested by Qatari Embassy in the country of origin;
    • A Power of Attorney issued to our Client’s local Qatar representative or Healy Consultants Qatar;
    • A copy of the lease agreement for office premises in Qatar;
    • Personal due diligence documents for each individual shareholder, director and authorized representative notarized and attested by a Qatari Embassy including passport, utility bill and bank statements.

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For additional information on our company incorporation services in Qatar, please contact our in-house country expert, Ms. Chrissi Zamora, directly:
client relationship officer - Chrissi