Company Formation in Qatar for Foreign Investors
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Company formation in Qatar for foreigners: QFC, mainland or free zone
Three routes, one point of contact: advised in your language, executed in Doha.
Foreign founders setting up in Qatar decide the route first: the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), the mainland through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), or a free zone of the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA). Each route sets its own rules on activities, ownership, tax and cost, and changing later usually means a new licence and a new bank file.
Creators Majlis is a QFC-licensed boutique advisory in Doha. We advise you in English, German or Arabic, recommend the route in writing and handle the formation with the authority, from name reservation to licence.
Key points first
The three routes
QFC: for consulting, professional services, software and holdings, with 100% foreign ownership and English common law. Mainland (MOCI): for companies selling in Qatar or bidding for government work, with up to 100% foreign ownership in most sectors under Law No. 1 of 2019, subject to approval. Free zone (QFZA): for manufacturing, logistics and regional trade.
Tax
Corporate tax of 10%: in the QFC on locally sourced profit, on the mainland on the share of profit attributable to foreign ownership. No personal income tax. Shareholders resident abroad should check their home country’s controlled foreign company (CFC) rules with their tax adviser before the structure is set. We work through that with your adviser before formation.
Documents
Passports of the shareholders and managers. For a corporate shareholder, add its certificate of incorporation or commercial register extract, its articles and a board or shareholder resolution approving the formation. Documents from your home country must be notarised and legalised for use in Qatar, and the mainland usually requires an Arabic translation. We tell you exactly what your route requires and organise the rest.
After formation
The licence is not the end of the work. We support the corporate bank account, residence permits for managers and their families, registrations with the authorities, and accounting and annual filings. One point of contact from first assessment to ongoing operations.
Is Qatar right for your plans?
Who fits
- A company building a base for the Gulf region.
- A consultancy or software firm with clients in Qatar or the region.
- A family holding its investments through a QFC holding company.
- Founders relocating to Doha to run their business on the ground.
Who does not
- Anyone looking only to save tax, without a real presence in Qatar.
- Anyone seeking a short-term shell company.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Qatar?
Yes. The QFC and the free zones allow 100% foreign ownership. On the mainland, Law No. 1 of 2019 permits up to 100% in most sectors, subject to approval by the Ministry. Banking, insurance and commercial agencies remain capped at 49% unless the Cabinet grants an exception.
Which route suits a foreign company?
Consulting, professional services, software and holdings usually belong in the QFC. If you sell in Qatar, build on site or bid for government work, you set up on the mainland. Manufacturing, logistics and regional trade fit a free zone. We assess your plans and recommend the route in writing, with our reasoning.
Do I need to travel to Qatar to set up the company?
Not for every step. Much of the work we handle under a power of attorney. Opening the bank account and obtaining a residence permit usually require you in Doha. We schedule the appointments so that one short trip is enough.
What taxes does a company pay in Qatar?
Corporate tax is 10%: in the QFC on locally sourced profit, on the mainland on the share of profit attributable to foreign ownership. There is no personal income tax. Shareholders resident abroad should check their home country's CFC rules before the structure is set.
How long does company formation in Qatar take?
It depends on the route, the activity and the legalisation of your documents from your home country. After the first assessment we give you a realistic timeline for your case.
In which languages do you advise?
English, German and Arabic. The first meeting, the written recommendation and ongoing coordination run in the language you prefer. Filings with the authorities in Qatar are made in English or Arabic, and we take care of them.
Speak to the adviser who will handle your mandate.
From the first assessment to the annual return, one person and one point of contact.