Five Steps to Setting Up a Company in Qatar

Having evaluated the market, if you chose to set up a branch of your own office in Qatar, you will need to register your company as an LLC. Note: LLC stands for, Limited Liability Company. Exactly the same as WLL (With Limited Liability).

The five steps:

Step 1 a. Qatari sponsors ID copy. b. Your passport copy (which you could scan and email if you are out of Qatar) c. Signing the Company Establishment Form. This is provided in Arabic only and you will actually need to sign the Arabic form. Fee: QAR10,000 (Approx $2,740) It shows your company name, Lists the owners (Qatari sponsor as the first party, you as the second party), Shows shareholding of the two owners which Qatar law proscribes to be 51%:49% in favour of the Qatari sponsor.*)

*This is a legal requirement to protect Qatar from potential liabilities run up by a foreign company. What happens is that you then have an agreement (legally binding, lodged with the Ministry of Commerce, so it protects you) on the percentage profit split (sponsor typically takes much lesser percentage) between you. Step 2 Take a letter from the Ministry of Commerce to the bank and deposit your capital minimum QAR200,000. In practice, your funds can be withdrawn or utilized after a week. Then we take a certificate from the bank (proof of the above step) and take this to the Ministry of Commerce who then provide the official Company Registration Certificate. Step 3 Obtain membership of Qatar Chamber of Commerce. Fee: QAR500 (Approx $135) Step 4 Issuing of license from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA). Fee: QAR1500 (Approx $410) Apply for office Board Approval. They will make an appointment (in 2-3 days) to visit your new office. Fee: QAR1500 ($410) Printer Creates Office Sign with your company logo, contact details. QAR550 (Approx $140) Step 5 Department of Immigration: With all the above documentation, the Immigration Dept will provide your computer card. Fee: QAR300 (Approx $85) You are now in business. The entire process can be completed in two to four weeks. Distinction will carry out the above five steps free of charge, just charging an ongoing Qatari Sponsors fee (this is negotiable) which could be as low as QAR5,000 pcm (Approx $1,370). This does not include the government fees listed above which may total QAR8-12,000* ($2,200-3,300) *This is dependant on the number of business activities listed on your Company Registration.

Contact: Dave Trevena

+974 6603 7866

dave@dqatar.com

www.dqatar.com