Expertise / Corporate & Commercial

Setting up a company in Qatar

Mainland or QFC, foreign or Qatari ownership, trading or holding. We advise on which structure fits the business you are actually building — then draft and file the documents that put it in place.

Mainland or QFC?

This is the first decision and the expensive one to unwind. It usually turns on where your clients and contracts sit, not on which is cheaper to open.

Mainland LLCQFC
Foreign ownershipUp to 100% with approval, sector-dependent100%, no local partner required
RegulatorMinistry of Commerce and IndustryQatar Financial Centre Authority
Governing lawQatari law, Arabic constitutional documentsQFC's own legal framework, English documents
Disputes go toInvestment and Trade CourtQICDRC Tribunal
Usually right forTrading, contracting, retail, government workHolding, advisory, and professional services

How we work through it

  1. 01

    Structure

    What you will sell, to whom, and where the money comes from — then mainland or QFC, and what activity codes you need.

  2. 02

    Constitutional documents

    Articles of association drafted for your business rather than the registry template — reserved matters, transfer restrictions, deadlock.

  3. 03

    Shareholders agreement

    Capital, board composition, pre-emption, exit mechanics and tiered dispute resolution. This is where later disputes are prevented.

  4. 04

    Registration and licensing

    Filing, commercial registration, trade licence, and the sector permissions your activity actually requires.

How long it takes, and what it costs

Straightforward incorporations complete in weeks rather than months; regulated activities take longer because the regulator does. We tell you what the work will involve and where the government fees fall before you instruct us.

Related reading

This page is general information about the firm's services and does not constitute legal advice on any particular matter.