Your company in Qatar, registered properly.
The mainland LLC is the standard route for doing business in Qatar — trading with local clients, hiring staff, sponsoring your own residency. We take you through it step by step.
Can foreigners start a business in Qatar? Yes — and since Qatar reformed its foreign investment law, up to 100% foreign ownership is possible in most sectors, subject to approval of your activity. Some regulated activities still require a Qatari partner; we tell you which before you commit to anything.
Company formation in Qatar runs through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry: trade name, articles of association, commercial registration (CR), trade licence and Computer Card. The commonly used share capital for an LLC is QAR 200,000, and a complete setup typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. Every filing is handled on the ground in Doha by our licensed partner — you get one contact and a clear cost breakdown, not a maze of counters.
What makes the difference between a smooth incorporation and a stalled one is rarely the big decisions — it is the order of the small ones. An activity code that does not match what you actually plan to do, an office lease signed too early or too late, a shareholder document missing one attestation: each of these costs weeks. Because we work through the same sequence with every founder, the file is assembled once, in the right order, and the ministry sees a complete application rather than a conversation.
How it works, step by step
- 01
Define the activity and check ownership rules
We map what you actually plan to do onto Qatar's licensed activity list and confirm whether your sector allows full foreign ownership or needs a Qatari partner — before any money moves.
- 02
Reserve the trade name
Two or three name candidates are checked and reserved with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, so the rest of the file has an anchor.
- 03
Draft and sign the articles of association
The articles set shareholding, management and capital. Signing can be done in Doha or through a power of attorney if you are still abroad.
- 04
Obtain the commercial registration (CR)
The CR is the company's birth certificate. With it, the company legally exists and can take the next steps in its own name.
- 05
Secure the office and the trade licence
A registered address is required for the licence. We help you choose a footprint that matches the stage you are at, from a compliant small office to a full fit-out.
- 06
Obtain the Computer Card
The immigration card lists the company's authorised signatories and unlocks everything visa-related — it is the gate between a registered company and an operating one.
- 07
Sponsor residency visas
The company sponsors your work residence permit — medical check, biometrics, QID — then your family's, and your first employees'.
- 08
Open the bank account and register for tax
With CR, licence, Computer Card and QID in hand, the corporate account and the Dhareeba tax registration close the loop. Your company is live.
Documents you will need
- Passport copies of all shareholders and managers
- Two or three proposed trade names
- Clear description of the planned activity
- Articles of association (we draft them for signature)
- Registered office address or lease agreement
- Capital arrangement for the chosen legal form
- Power of attorney if you incorporate remotely
- Corporate documents, legalised, if a company is a shareholder
Is this the right route for you?
A good fit if
- You want to sell to clients based in Qatar — companies, government or consumers
- You plan to hire staff locally and sponsor their visas
- You want your own company to sponsor your residency and your family's
- You are building a long-term presence, not executing one contract
Not the right route if
- Your business is purely international trade or logistics — compare the free zones first
- You run a consulting or financial services firm that fits the QFC's common-law framework better
- You only need to execute one existing contract in Qatar — a branch office is leaner
- You want residency without a real operating activity — we will tell you honestly
Frequently asked
Can foreigners own 100% of a company in Qatar?
In most sectors, yes — Qatar's foreign investment framework allows up to 100% foreign ownership subject to approval of the activity. A minority of regulated activities still require a Qatari partner. We check your specific activity before anything is filed.
How much does company formation in Qatar cost?
It depends on the legal form, the activity and the approvals it needs. The commonly used share capital for an LLC is QAR 200,000, and government fees come on top of professional fees. You receive a full itemised quote before committing.
What are the requirements for company formation in Qatar?
Passport copies of the shareholders, a trade name, an approved business activity, articles of association, a registered office address, and the capital arrangement for your legal form. We prepare the file so nothing bounces.
How long does it take to register a company in Qatar?
A straightforward mainland LLC typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from engagement to a company that can operate, depending on activity approvals. Regulated activities take longer — we tell you honestly up front.
Do I need to live in Qatar to open a company there?
No — incorporation can be driven remotely with a power of attorney, and many founders fly in only for key steps. If you plan to relocate, the company can then sponsor your residency and your family's.
Do I need a local sponsor for a mainland company?
Not in most sectors any more — the reformed investment law allows up to 100% foreign ownership subject to activity approval. Where a Qatari partner is still required, or commercially useful, we structure that relationship properly rather than pretending the rule does not exist.
Do I need a physical office to register the company?
Yes — a registered address is part of the trade licence file. The footprint can be modest at the start; what matters is that it is compliant and matches your activity. We help you avoid paying for space you do not need yet.
What tax will my mainland company pay?
Corporate income tax applies at a flat 10% on most foreign-owned profits, filed through the Dhareeba portal. There is no personal income tax on salaries in Qatar. We connect the accounting side at incorporation so the first filing date never surprises you.
Can my new company hire employees straight away?
Once the CR, trade licence and Computer Card are in place, the company can apply for work visas under its own sponsorship. Quota and role approvals depend on the activity — we plan the first hires with you as part of the setup, not after it.
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