Assistance to Startups

Local companies can be incorporated under the Commercial Companies, Law No. 11 of 2015. The Foreign Investment Law provides that a non-Qatari (foreign investor) can have a company incorporated with the MoCI wherein his/her shareholding will be restricted to 49% or less and A Qatari individual is legally required to hold a minimum of 51% ownership in the company.

The Commercial Companies Law outlines the following eight types of legal entities:

• 1. General partnership
• 2. Limited partnership
• 3. Partnership limited by shares
• 4. Unincorporated joint venture (particular partnership)
• 5. Public or private joint stock companies (shareholding companies)
• 6. Limited liability company (LLC)
• 7. Single person company
• 8. Holding company

There is no minimum paid-up capital requirement, and shareholders' liability is limited to the extent of their respective ownership in the company’s capital. Even though the foreign investor is allowed to own 49% of the share capital, the foreign investor can presume significant control over the management and operations of the company.

A company may be incorporated by drafting an Articles of Association (AOA), which outlines its governance framework and related provisions. The AOA must be drawn up in Arabic, with or without a parallel English version, approved by the MoCI and legalized before the Ministry of Justice. Once the Articles of Association (AOA) are signed and legalized, the newly formed LLC must complete several registrations to commence business in Qatar. These include registration with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, obtaining a commercial registration from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), securing a municipal (trade) license from the local Municipality, and acquiring an immigration card (company ID) from the Ministry of Interior. The establishment process is fairly straightforward. In certain cases, depending on the nature of the proposed business activity, prior approvals may be required from the relevant Qatari authorities. ILC has extensive experience assisting startups with entity formation through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), as well as supporting several prominent multinational corporations in establishing their branches in Qatar.

ii. Qatar Financial Centre

The QFC was established by Law No. The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) was founded pursuant to Law No. 7 of 2005 as a financial and commercial hub aimed at attracting international providers of financial and business services. The QFC aims to operate at international standards and provide a world-class business and regulatory infrastructure for investors seeking to do business in Qatar.

What sets the QFC apart from other financial centers in the Middle East is its lack of physical boundaries, allowing entities registered under the QFC to operate both within Qatar and internationally. Entities established under the QFC can be fully owned by foreign investors. The repatriation of capital and profits is allowed without any restrictions. The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) accommodates a variety of legal entity structures, including Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), general and limited partnerships, and protected cell companies. All QFC entities must be licensed by the QFCA through the QFC’s Companies Registration Office. Entities wishing to work within or throughout the QFC must be engaged in specific activities and must obtain a license from the QFC authorities. Permitted activities are classified into two main categories: regulated and non-regulated activities.

iii. Qatar Science and Technology Park

The QSTP is a part of the Qatar Foundation. It is a center of research and commercial excellence for scientific development. The QSTP aims to be the Middle East’s leading location for the development and commercialization of technology. Any entity seeking to incorporate within the QSTP must engage in activities that support the advancement of technology. Operations within the QSTP can be carried out either through a company established under the QSTP framework or via a branch office of a foreign company. A license is required in both cases. The QSTP provides the following three tiers of licenses:

Standard License – Grants the licensed entity full access to all free zone benefits.
Restricted License – Offers limited free zone benefits, subject to the discretion of QSTP management.
Service License – Issued to entities that provide services to tenants operating within the QSTP.

iv. Qatar Free Zone

The QFZ was established by Law No. 34 of the Year 2005 and amended by Legislative Decree No. 21 of 2017 to tailor to the logistics, trading, chemicals and emerging technology sector industries. The QFZ aims to provide a seamless and bureaucratic free process for incorporation and registration of 100% foreign-owned limited liability companies or branches of foreign-owned entities. The Qatar Free Zone Authority (QFZA) was established in 2018 as an independent body responsible for overseeing and regulating the Qatar Free Zones (QFZ). In line with its goal to enhance global competitiveness, the QFZA offers significant incentives, including full exemptions from both direct and indirect taxes—such as corporate and income tax—and implements a zero customs duty policy for free zone companies.

At ILC, we have played a key role in supporting a wide range of startups by offering comprehensive legal and business advisory services. In partnership with the Doha Incubation Centre, we have advised over 100 startups across various sectors and have built strong, enduring relationships with many of them. Our services include end-to-end support for incorporating entities across multiple jurisdictions, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), and the Qatar Free Zones (QFZ).