Company Registration in Qatar: A Comprehensive Guide
Company registration in Qatar is a process facilitated by the authorities for those who meet the required conditions. Therefore, foreign investment, due to the favorable conditions and multiple business options. Furthermore, you will find that in Qatar you can create your company with one of the different types of business allowed. In this article, we will show you how to register a company in Qatar detailing each of the steps to follow. Likewise, you will see the requirements that you need to meet for this, as well as the established criteria. Procedure for Company Registration for Qatar The procedure for company registration in Qatar consists of a series of simple but time-consuming steps. However, the local government allows foreigners to establish their businesses in the country as long as they meet the established conditions. Below you will see the company establishment process in its entirety: Choose a name for your company To begin a new company registration in Qatar, you must find a name for your business. In this case, you should not only look for a representative name but a unique one for your company. However, the reservation process can be done through the website of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (www.moci.gov.qa). In the same way, you can do it through the mobile application of said Ministry or in person (at the Ministry or a branch). Additionally, the name must not have been registered or be misleading or violate public laws. Open a bank account Foreign company registration in Qatar also includes the creation of a bank account in the country. In this case, you need a letter from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry permitting the opening of the aforementioned account. Additionally, the account will be active once you deposit the required capital, which will take 1-2 business days. Company Articles of Association The next step to establish the company is to present the statutes for their respective approval by the authorities. The authority in charge of approving them is the Ministry of Business and Trade, which can do so in 1 day. In this case, you must collect the Articles of Association (AoA) application form from the office of the said ministry. Additionally, this document must contain essential information about your company, including the following: Company name Address of the business headquarters Terms and purposes of the company Social capital Details of shares in kind Restrictions on the transfer of shares Shareholder data (names, nationality, place of residence) Sharing of profits between partners and the loses also Names of company officers Additional documents Regarding company registration in Qatar, you may need additional documentation depending on the type of business. In this case, you will require them if your company is involved in activities that require a special license. Therefore, you need to go to the corresponding ministry to obtain the aforementioned license. Registration with the Chamber of Commerce Many companies do not carry out this step because they are not obliged to do so but it should be done for the small business registration in Qatar. This is because registration with the Chamber of Commerce can be beneficial for your business. Thus, to make the request, which must be signed by the General Director, you must include the following: Format of the commercial registration of the business Copy of Qatar ID of the CEO of the company Copies of the identities of the owner, shareholders, and partners of the business Commercial registration certificate Certificate of incorporation of foreign companies Obtain the company seal To register a business in Qatar, you must obtain the seal of your business. In addition, the authorities do not issue stamps for companies, so you must have them manufactured. Additionally, the Ministry of Business and Commerce is in charge of verifying that you have the seal, which will not cost you more than QR 100. Obtain business license After obtaining commercial registration (CR), you must obtain the commercial license that corresponds to your business. This is a crucial process for company registration in Qatar as it allows you to get an office and carry out your activities. However, this is one of the processes that entail a greater challenge and it is the Ministry of Economy and Commerce that delivers it. In this case, you can find the application that you must complete and send on the website of said Ministry. However, depending on the nature of your business, the application process may vary. To complete the entire process legally and efficiently, you can seek the assistance of a company registration service provider in Qatar. Documents required for company registration in Qatar As we mentioned in the previous section, to company registration in Qatar you must submit the required documentation. Next, we will show you which documents are essential for this purpose: Copy of passport and residence of each of the shareholders Business License Application Form Certificate of payment of the share capital of the company Power of attorney authorizing a person to sign Memorandum of Association ( MoA ) Articles of Association ( AoA ) Name reservation certificate If applicable, No Objection Certificate or NOC from the sponsor Commercial Registry from the country of the company Approval by authorities Types of Entities for Company Registration in Qatar The authorities allow company registration in Qatar incorporated in various types of businesses in the country. Below we will show you the types of legal entities you can establish in Qatar: Sole property This type of company is one in which all the activity and share capital are in the hands of a single person (natural or legal). In this case, the name of the company must be associated with its owner followed by the phrase Sole Proprietorship or OPC. Furthermore, the capital must be QR 200,000, although part of the amount may be in shares in kind. On the other hand, although the owner manages the company, he can appoint one or more administrators to represent his company. However, in Qatar, this
