ORGANISATION MONDIALE  
DU COMMERCE  S/DCS/W/QAT 
24 janvier 2003 
 (03-0588) 
Commerce des services Original:   anglais 
  
 
QATAR 
 
Projet de version convertie de la Liste d'engagements spécifiques
1 
 
 
 On trouvera ci-joint un projet de version conve rtie de la Liste d'engagements spécifiques du 
Qatar en format Word.  Ce document ne remplace  pas les engagements juridiquement contraignants 
souscrits par le Qatar dans sa Liste d' engagements spécifiques (GATS/SC/120).  
  Le projet de version convertie de la liste a été établi par le Secrétariat, à la demande des 
Membres, pour faciliter le processus de négociation,  y compris la présentation des offres initiales. 
 
______________ 
 
 
                                                     
 
1 Le présent document a été établi, en anglais seulement, par le Secrétariat sous sa propre responsabilité 
et sans préjudice des positions des Membres ni de le urs droits et obligations dans le cadre de l'OMC.  
 
  
 S/DCS/W/QAT 
Page 2 QATAR – SCHEDULE OF SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS 
Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border (2)  Consumption abroad (3)  Commercial presence (4)  Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
I. HORIZONTAL COMMITMENTS  
ALL SECTORS INCLUDED 
IN THIS SCHEDULE  
 
3) As stipulated in Qatari laws, decisions and 
regulations, National services and goods or 
services and goods of national origin should 
have priority in purchases of Governmental, Semi-Governmental and Public Sector 
Departments, as well as in purchases of 
national and foreign contractors, awarded 
contracts by the Government of Qatar or its 
affiliate bodies to fulfil in or outside the country. The priority referred to above is only 
applicable if the differential in price of goods 
or services of national origin is not in excess of 10 % compared to those of foreign origin 
(law  nr. 6 of 1987). 
  
 
3) Possessing, buying, selling or dealing in Qatari 
shares are, presently, c onfined to Qatari natural 
or juridical persons.  Foreigners are not 
allowed to invest in Qatari shares. 
 
 The restriction on acquisition of Qatari shares 
by foreigners is made because of the small 
number of Qatari joint stock companies 
(around 20) and absence of organized stock exchange market. 
  
   
  With the exemption of banks, financial and 
insurance institutions and other sectors and 
sub-sectors which are no t stipulated as areas 
of commitments with limitations on the number of service suppliers in the attached 
schedules, foreign commercial presence 
should be either through a Qatari Agent working in the same field of services or 
related to it (official agency contract must be 
registered with the Ministry of Finance, Economy and Commerce).  Or:  through a 
partnership with the capital of Qatari 
Company.  Acquisition of land or real estate by foreign 
natural persons or foreign juridical persons 
are not allowed. Foreigners can acquire land 
for economic activities on long lease particularly for industrial use. 
 
 Foreign nationals or companies with foreign 
share holdings may be required to pay direct 
taxes on income derived from work or 
operations in Qatar, whereas local services suppliers or local Qatari companies may not 
be required to pay similar taxes (Law nr. 11 
of 93). Foreign nationals or companies may obtain tax exemption for 5-10 years before 
making the investment.  
   
  S/DCS/W/QAT
 Page 3Modes of supply: (1)  Cross-border (2)  Consumption abroad (3)  Commercial presence (4)  Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
  Foreign commercial presence may be 
required to provide certain benefits in the 
form of  technology transfer, research and development programs, technical or 
marketing assistance and educational or 
training of local manpower.  
 
  
 
 3), 4) National services i ndustries and services may 
have some kind of incentives and assistance, 
like industrial land blocks, easy financial loans, market research and marketing 
programmes including the organization of 
exhibitions or facilitating its taking part in Qatari pavilion in international fairs and 
exhibitions, with free or lowered costs, 
establishing of marketing centres (inside or outside the country), and/or granting discount 
on the prices of its a dvertising programmes in 
national TV and national advertising agencies and some other incentives alike. 
  
 4) Unbound, except for measures concerning 
the entry and temporary stay of natural 
persons falling within the following 
categories: 
 
  - Managers 
  - Specialists, and   - Skilled technicians 
 
 Presence of foreign natural persons as self 
employers is not allowed. 
 
  
 4) Unbound, except for m easures concerning the 
categories of natural persons referred to in the 
market access column. 
  Housing and social programmes and some 
aspects of free health  care, are limited to 
Qatari citizens.   
 S/DCS/W/QAT 
Page 4  
Modes of supply: (5)  Cross-border (6)  Consumption abroad (7)  Commercial presence (8)  Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
II. SECTOR-SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS  
1. BUSINESS SERVICES 
 
A. Professional Services     
b) Accounting, auditing and 
bookkeeping services 
 (CPC 862) 1) None 
 
2) None 
 3) The number of foreign  suppliers is frozen at 
the level existing on March 1995 (10 firms) 
 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
 
2) None 
 3) None 
 
 4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section  
c) Taxation services, as 
follows: 
 
- Business tax planning and 
consulting 
 (CPC 86301) 
 
- Business tax preparation 
and review services (CPC 86302)  
 
 
1) None  
2) None 
 
3) None 
 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 
  
 
 
1) None  
2) None 
 
3) None 
 4) None, except as indicated in the horizontal 
section  
d) Architectural services 
 (CPC  8671) 1) None 
 
2) None  
3) Access only for projects of over $100 million 
or the equivalent  amount in other currencies. 
 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. 
 1) None 
 
2) None  
3) None, except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
 
 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section.   
  S/DCS/W/QAT
 Page 5Modes of supply: (5)  Cross-border (6)  Consumption abroad (7)  Commercial presence (8)  Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
h) Medical and dental 
services 
 (CPC 9312) 1) Unbound 
 
2) Unbound  
3) None 
 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 
 1) Unbound 
 
2) Unbound  
3) None 
 4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section.  Residency required.  
i) Veterinary services 
 (CPC 932) 1) None 
 
2) None 
 3) None 
 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
 
2) None 
 3) None 
 
4) None, except as indicated in the horizontal 
section.  Residency required.  
B. Computer and Related 
Services     
a) Consultancy services 
related to the installation 
of computer hardware 
 (CPC 841) 
 b) Software implementation 
services 
 (CPC 842)  
c) Data processing services 
 (CPC 843)  
d) Data base services 
 (CPC 844)  1) Unbound 
 
2) Unbound 
 
3) None  
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) Unbound 
 
2) Unbound 
 
3) None  
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section   
 S/DCS/W/QAT 
Page 6 Modes of supply: (5)  Cross-border (6)  Consumption abroad (7)  Commercial presence (8)  Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
C. Research and  
Development Services     
a) R&D Services on natural 
sciences 
 
b) R&D Services on social 
sciences and humanities 
 
c) Interdisciplinary R&D 
Services 1) Unbound 
 2) Unbound 
 
3) None  
4) Unbound, except as indicated under the 
horizontal section 1) Unbound 
 2) Unbound 
 
3) None  
4) None, except as indicated under the 
horizontal section  
F. Other Business Services     
b) Market research services  
(CPC 864) 1) None 
 2) None 
 
3) None  
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 1) None 
 2) None 
 
3) None  
4) None, except as indicated in the horizontal 
section  
c) Management consulting 
service 
 (CPC 865) 
 
  1) Unbound 
 
2) Unbound 
 
3) None  
4) Unbound, except as indicated under the 
horizontal section 1) Unbound 
 
2) Unbound 
 
3) None  
4) Unbound, except as indicated under the 
horizontal section  
e) Technical testing and 
analysis service 
 (CPC 8676) 1) None 
 
2) None  
3) None 
 4) Unbound, except as indicated under the 
horizontal section 1) None 
 
2) None  
3) None, except as indicated under the 
horizontal section 
4) None, except as indicated under the 
horizontal section   
  S/DCS/W/QAT
 Page 7Modes of supply: (5)  Cross-border (6)  Consumption abroad (7)  Commercial presence (8)  Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
2. COMMUNICATION 
SERVICES 
 B. Courier services
 
 
 Land based international 
courier services  
 
 1) Unbound 
2) Unbound 
3) The number of foreign suppliers is frozen at 
the level existing on March 1995 (6 firms) 
4) Unbound, except as indicated under the 
horizontal section 
  
 
 1) Unbound 
2) Unbound 
3) None  
4) Unbound, except as indicated under the 
horizontal section  
3.  CONSTRUCTION AND 
RELATED 
ENGINEERING 
SERVICES  
 
A) General construction work 
for buildings  
 (CPC 512) 
 B) General construction work 
for civil engineering  
 (CPC 513) 
 
C) Installation and assembly 
work  
 (CPC 514+516) 
 D) Building completion and 
finishing work  
 (CPC 517)  
 
  
 
1) None  
2) None 
 3) Access only for projects of over $100 million 
or the equivalent amount in other currencies. 
 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
1) None  
2) None 
 3) None, except as indicated in the horizontal 
section 
 
 
4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section 
 
  
 
  
6. ENVIRONMENTAL 
SERVICES  1) Unbound 
2) Unbound 
3) None 1) Unbound 
2) Unbound 
3) None  
(Environmental services – 
cont'd) 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 4) Unbound, except as  indicated in the 
horizontal section 
   
 S/DCS/W/QAT 
Page 8 Modes of supply: (5)  Cross-border (6)  Consumption abroad (7)  Commercial presence (8)  Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
7. FINANCIAL SERVICES  
 
A. All insurance and 
insurance-related services  
 
b) Non-life insurance 
services 
 
c) Reinsurance and 
retrocession 
 
d) Services auxiliary to 
insurance (including 
broking and agency 
services) 
  
 
  
 
1) None  
2) None 
 3) The number of foreign insurance suppliers is 
frozen at the level existing on March 1995 (5 
firms) 
 
4) Unbound  
 
  
 
1) None  
2) None 
 3) None 
 
  
4) Unbound  
B. Banking and other 
financial services   
 (excluding insurance) 1) None 
 
2) None  
3) The number of branches of foreign banking 
institutions is frozen at the level existing on 
March 1995 (8 branches) 
 4) Unbound 1) None 
 
2) None  
3) None 
 
 
 4) Unbound 
   
  S/DCS/W/QAT
 Page 9Modes of supply: (5)  Cross-border (6)  Consumption abroad (7)  Commercial presence (8)  Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
9. TOURISM AND 
TRAVEL-RELATED 
SERVICES     
A. Hotels and Restaurants  
(including catering) 
 (CPC 641-643)    
 Hotels 1) Unbound 
 
2) None 
 3) None 
 
4) Unbound 
 1) Unbound 
 
2) None 
 3) None 
 
4) Unbound  
 Restaurants 1) Unbound 
 2) None 
 
3) None  
4) Unbound 1) Unbound 
 2) None 
 
3) None  
4) Unbound 
  
 
 
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