WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1  
18 June 2014  
(14-3550)  Page: 1/31  
Trade Policy Review Body  Original: English  
 
 TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
REPORT BY 
QATAR 
Revision 
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), the policy statement by Qatar is 
attached. 
 
 WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  CONTENTS 
1   INTROD UCTION  .......................................................................................................... 4  
1.1   Overview .................................................................................................................. 4  
1.2   Qatar Nation al Vision  2030 ......................................................................................... 4  
1.3   Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016 ........................................................... 6  
1.4   Public policy stance .................................................................................................... 7  
2   MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ............................................................................... 8  
2.1   Overview .................................................................................................................. 8  
2.2   Economic  growth ....................................................................................................... 8  
2.3   Fisca l policy ........................................................................................................... ... 8 
2.4   Monetary and fore ign exchange policy .......................................................................... 9  
2.5   Foreign inve stment regime ........................................................................................ 10 
2.5.1   Foreign port folio investment .................................................................................... 11 
2.5.2   Foreign di rect inve stment........................................................................................ 11 
2.5.3   Qatar Investment Authority ..................................................................................... 11 
2.5.4   Cons truction ......................................................................................................... 11 
2.6   Capital markets ........................................................................................................ 13 
2.6.1   In surance .............................................................................................................  15 
2.7   Anti-money laundering and combatin g the financing of terrorism policies .......................... 15 
2.8   Tourism ................................................................................................................. . 16 
3   TRADE POLI CY REGIME ............................................................................................. 17  
3.1   Overview ................................................................................................................. 17 
3.2   The importance  of trade policy ................................................................................... 17 
3.3   Trade poli cy objectives .............................................................................................. 17 
3.4   Customs stra tegic objectives ...................................................................................... 18 
3.5   Changes in export and import pr ocedures .................................................................... 18 
3.5.1   Single window ....................................................................................................... 19 
3.5.2   Custom s valuation ................................................................................................. 19 
3.5.3   Valuation dispute process........................................................................................ 20 
3.5.4   Inspection before shipping ...................................................................................... 20 
3.6   Recent developments ................................................................................................ 20 
3.6.1   Foreig n investment ................................................................................................ 20 
3.6.2   Double taxation treaties .......................................................................................... 21 
3.6.3   Rules of origin .......................................................................................................  23 
3.6.4   Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguards measures ............................................... 23 
3.6.5   Intellectual property ............................................................................................... 24 
3.6.6   Import licenses ...................................................................................................... 24 
3.6.7   Electronic customs operations fo r air ca rgo ................................................................ 24 
3.6.8   Comp etition law .................................................................................................... 25 
3.6.9   Tasdeer ................................................................................................................ 25 WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  3.7   Upcoming re gulatory changes .................................................................................... 26 
4   TRADE AGREEMENTS ................................................................................................. 27  
4.1   Bilateral trade- related agreements .............................................................................. 27 
4.1.1   The Gulf Cooperation Council ................................................................................... 29 
4.1.2   Pan Arab Free Trade Area ....................................................................................... 29 
4.2   The World Tr ade Organi zation .................................................................................... 30 
4.2.1   The Doha Development Agenda ............................................................................... 30 
5   REFERE NCES ............................................................................................................. 31  
 
 WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1  Overview 1.1.  Qatar has undergone significant economic, human and social transformations since its last 
Trade Policy Review. The resident population expa nded from 0.89 million in 2005 to a little over 
2 million by the end of 2013; moreover, it is expe cted to reach 2.3 million in 2018 as the current 
construction drive peaks. Apart from the direct expansion in aggregate demand created by this 
increase, the country was also awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010. This is expected to 
complement investment initiatives already in place as part of its ongoing economic development 
efforts since the early 2000s. As a result, the economy has consistently diversified away from hydrocarbon production with services, in particular , emerging on the back of a growing population. 
1.2.  Since 2005, the authorities have put in pl ace policy-making processes and instruments to 
provide maximum flexibility of response to world economic events. This proved particularly helpful 
in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Furthermore, coordination across government entities was made a top priority in the wake of the preparations for the 2022 World Cup. 
1.3.  Increases in export revenues during the period under review — due to both an expansion in 
volume as well as increased world prices — translated into higher levels of domestically-financed investment. This included a wide range of initiatives such as a new international airport, health 
and education facilities, roads, ports, a metro system, commercial real estate, housing, hotels, 
museums and a new convention center, amongst ot hers. Furthermore, preparations for the 2022 
World Cup include several new stadiums, additional hotels space as well as the implementation of various tourist-related initiatives. Maintenance and operations services for the new infrastructure 
assets have also created significant business opportunities for both domestic and foreign 
companies. 
1.4.  The introduction of a permanent constitu tion in June 2004 provided the legal basis to 
guarantee, amongst other things, free entrepreneurial activity, judicial independence, private 
investment, and procedures for official approval of economic initiatives by the Council of Ministers. During this time, several strategic policy documents were also published in order to outline Qatar’s 
social and economic strategic policy framework. Amongst the most important are the Qatar 
National Vision 2030 (QNV) and the Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016 (QNDS). 
1.2  Qatar National Vision 2030 1.5.  QNV defines several long-term social and economic objectives while at the same time it 
provides a platform to create specific social and economic policy frameworks.
1 Consistent with this, 
QNV envisions the development of Qatar’s full potential, one in which it is capable of sustaining its own economic development and securing a high standard of living for future generations.
2 
1.6.  Amongst the most important contributions, QNV includes a general framework from which 
more detailed strategies and operational plans can be prepared. The vision thus contained aims to transform Qatar into a diversified, well-established and well-developed nation by 2030. Ultimately, 
Qatar is expected to be able to sustain its own development drive whilst providing a high standard 
of living for generations to come. The vision includes five major challenges that Qatar must balance:  
 Modernization and preservation of traditions. 
 
 The needs of this generation and the needs of future generations. 
 
 Manageable growth and controllable expansion. 
 
 The size and the quality of the expatriate  labour force and the selected path of 
development. 
 Economic growth, social developm ent and environmental management. 
                                               
1 Qatar National Vision 2030 (2008), pp. 1. 
2 Qatar National Vision 2030 (2008), pp. 1. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  1.7.  QNV rests on  four development pillars namely: human development, social development, 
economic development, and environmental development. 
1.8.  The targeted objectives of the human development  pillar are: (A) a world-class educational 
system, an effective system for funding scienti fic research and development, a significant 
international role in cultural and intellectual activities; (B) a comprehensive world-class healthcare 
system with services accessible to the whol e population; and (C) a capable and motivated 
workforce (increased and diversified participation of Qataris in the workforce and targeted 
participation of expatriate labour). 
1.9.  The targeted objectives of the social development  pillar are: (A) social care and protection 
(maintaining strong cohesive families and establishing an effective social protection system for all Qataris); (B) the structure of the society (building effective public institutions and strong and 
active civil society organizations); and (C) international cooperation (strengthening the role of 
Qatar and intensify regional and global cultural exchange and the care and support of dialogue and coexistence between civilizations, cultures and reli gions, thus contributing to international peace 
and security). 
1.10.  The targeted objectives of the economic development  pillar are: (A) sound economic 
management (reasonable and sustained rates of economic growth and economic stability, sound 
financial policy, a stimulating business climate coordinated with Gulf Cooperation Council states 
and with Arab and regional economic organization s); (B) responsible exploitation of oil and gas 
(optimal utilization of resources, promote advanced technological innovations in management of the oil and gas sector, a fully developed gas industry and long term maintenance of strategic 
reserves of oil and gas); and (C) suitable economic diversification (a diversified economy that 
gradually reduces its dependence on hydrocarbon industries, enhances the role of the private sector and maintains its competitiveness). 
1.11.  The targeted objectives of the environmental development  pillar include a balance 
between development needs and protecting the environment through: 
 A comprehensive urban development plan for Qatar that adopts a sustainable policy with 
regard to urban expansion and population distribution. 
 
 Encouragement of regional cooperation with GCC states.  
 
 A proactive and significant regional role in assessing the impact of climate change and 
mitigating its negative impacts. 
1.12.  In particular, QNV foresees the development of a vibrant and diversified economy 
increasingly reliant on the private sector with Qatar as a regional hub for knowledge and 
entrepreneurial activity.
3 
1.13.  QNV identified two major challenges for Qatar’s economy in fulfilling this vision. The first 
one is private sector development. According to it, such an initiative would require training and 
support for entrepreneurs as well as support from the state to help incubate and grow small and medium-scale enterprises. As at 2014, several public agencies provide financial and non-financial support to this end. Developing the private sector will help Qatar’s goal of diversifying its economy 
and increase the level of competition in domestic market.
4 
1.14.  The second challenge identified was to continue to develop and implement public policies 
consistent with Qatar’s development needs.5 To this end, the Government has taken various 
initiatives to develop the country’s workforce, coordinate policy initiatives across sectors, develop 
new institutions, maintain ongoing consultations with international organizations and, recently, create new policy instruments. 
                                               
3 Qatar National Vision 2030 (2008), pp. 13. 
4 Qatar National Vision 2030(2008), pp. 13. 
5 Qatar National Vision 2030(2008), pp. 14. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  1.3  Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016 
1.15.  The QNDS builds on the QNV and presents a planned program to provide economic, human 
and institutional development short-term initiatives in order to fulfill the vision spelled out in the QNV. These include programs to promote productivity growth, a diversified production base, the 
development of competitive health and educational systems, enhancing and improving public 
institutions and the development of its local workforce, amongst other things.
6 The QNDS was a 
product of a prolonged period of consultation with the government, private sector and civil 
society.7 
1.16.  QNDS seeks to strike a balance between the aforementioned potential challenges and 
Qatar’s development needs. In particular it ai ms to identify the most important development 
challenges and goals as well as strategic initiatives that are consistent with QNV. It also seeks to 
provide strategic consistency between national development plans and the general budget, and 
transform the institutional platform from partial selection of development projects to future oriented and outcome-based planning. QNDS also targets public sector institutional development 
to upgrade their ability to implement planne d modernization and development programs and 
ensure that sector-sector issues are properly addresse d. Finally, it includes the goal of establishing 
a framework that guarantees sufficient resources (natural, human, financial) to effectively 
implement its plans and programs. 
1.17.  The QNDS programs and projects reflect national development priorities related to the 
development pillars set out in the QNV. To this regard, the QNDS outlines the following specific goals:  
 Economic Development : The Government is committed to the responsible exploitation of 
the country's hydrocarbon resources and rational investment of their revenue for current and future generations. Priority is given to spending in infrastructure, population and institutions. 
 
 Human Development : Qatar is to continue to heavily invest in modern health and education 
systems, in accordance with international standards as well as enhance workforce capabilities 
and skills and develop human capacity in th e areas of science and technology through 
research and development. 
  Social Development : The Government is expected to work on promoting family values, 
developing an effective social protection system for Qataris, expanding democratic 
institutions, take initiatives to increase empowerment of Qatari women in economic and political spheres, adopt measures to preserve national heritage and culture, enhance the Arab 
and Islamic identity of the State of Qatar and encourage sports and healthier lifestyles. 
  Environmental Development : Qatar aims to establish an environmental management 
system, consistent with economic growth, encourage rationalisation of water consumption and 
preserve scarce resources through sustainable use. The Government is committed to improve air quality, reduce waste and increase recycling,  extend utmost effort to protect the country's 
national heritage and biodiversity, develop posi tive attitudes and values on the environment 
and participate in regional and international cooperation programs that encourage green 
technology. 
1.18.  The QNDS envisions that the successful implementation of its strategic programs and 
projects depends on public sector modernization and capacity building programs as well as the 
development of a culture of innovation and performance-based management, improvement of 
public services delivery and cooperation between government agencies. Qatar’s economic outlook 
for the period 2011-2016, as outlined in the QNDS, is consistent with a continuing economic global 
recovery as well as rebounding world trade.  
1.19.  While growth is expected to be lower than in previous years, income levels are expected to 
remain elevated with a continued expansion of the non-hydrocarbon sector. Both effects are 
expected to support headline GDP growth.
8 The QNDS outlines the process for sustaining economic 
                                               
6 Please see QNDS (2011) for further details. 
7 QNDS (2011), pp. 1-3. 
8 QNDS(2011), pp 5. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  prosperity with the overall goal of meeting the needs of the current generation without 
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. According to the NDS, a diversified economy would be more stable and thus capable of creating jobs and opportunities for the next generation.
9 
1.4  Public policy stance 
1.20.  The implementation of public policy duri ng the period under review was underpinned by a 
generally prudent approach to macroeconomic policy as well as developmental challenges.10 The 
authorities maintained a careful guideline of principles to enact public policy, as made explicit in 
the first address of Qatar’s new Emir to the Shur a Council: “Despite the high standard of living 
that we can provide [at the moment], we must  deal responsibly with our resources and our 
economy. This is not only about the next generation, but also the type of person we are keen on 
grooming at the present.”11 
1.21.  The former Emir-H.H. Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani-provided additional insights into the 
challenges of development, particularly in Qatar: “Development, in its broader sense, and the 
economic, environmental, technological and resource-related challenges encountering its 
realization have become an issue that determines the survival, role and progress of any society.”12 
Furthermore, he also expressed the Government’s views on world trade: “The unfinished task of 
[Doha Round of Trade Negotiations] must be finalized in order to promote world trade, as well as 
eliminate trade barriers, establishing a motivating environment for local and foreign investment and create appropriate partnerships between public and private sectors.”
13 The Government’s 
approach to public policy is expected to remain in place. 
                                               
9 QNDS(2011), pp 13. 
10 IMF (2011, 2012), Article IV Consultation, Washington, D.C. 
11 Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (2013), Shura Council Speech. 
12 Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (2013). Doha Forum  Viewed at: 
http://dohaforum2013.qatarconferences.org/includes/data/2013/speeches/Emir_speech.pdf . 
13 Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (2013), Doha Forum. Viewed at: 
http://dohaforum2013.qatarconferences.org/includes/data/2013/speeches/Emir_speech.pdf . WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  2  MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS 
2.1  Overview 2.1.  Over the last decade, Qatar has consistently shifted its policy focus from the hydrocarbon 
sector towards general infrastructure and service development. The Qatar National Development 
Strategy 2011-2016 (QNDS), which was built upon the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV), provides 
a detailed account of projects and programs which sees the largest portion of investments allocated to infrastructure projects. The information and communication technology (ICT) sector, 
in particular, has played a fundamental role in enhancing productivity over the past few years. The 
sector is expected to reach QR 24.7 billion by 2016  with a contribution of QR15.4 billion to Gross 
Domestic Product. Internet penetration reached 69.3% of individuals with household broadband penetration of 85%. The sector is expected to continue to develop as the resident population 
expands over the next five years. 
2.2.  The government adopted a policy aimed at diversifying income sources and developing 
economic infrastructure with the objective of financing its entire budgetary operations through 
non-hydrocarbon revenues by 2020. Accordingly, the Government adopted an expansionary fiscal 
policy to ramp up spending on capital assets in 2013/14 as it undertakes the vast infrastructure projects outlined in its successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 
2.2  Economic growth 
2.3.  The Qatari economy continued to diversify away from gas and oil although as at Q3 2013, 
55% of the economy remained based on hydrocarbons (41% when measured in real terms). Since 2005, large-scale construction projects and services have enhanced the role of the 
non-hydrocarbon sectors, thus increasing the sector’s contribution to real GDP growth, going from 
61% of overall headline growth in 2005 to an estimated 79% in 2013. As a result, real GDP growth remained strong during the period under review at an annual average of 13.7% in spite of world 
energy price fluctuations, the world financial crisis of 2008-2010 and a decline in real estate prices 
during 2010. 
 
2.4.  GDP growth is expected to slow down to  around 4.6% in 2014. Longer term, the economy 
should face external pressures as world energy prices are expected to decline due to increased 
competition, partly due to the increase in U.S. gas exports , coupled with a decline in U.S. demand 
for natural gas. However, high domestic investments (in new construction), preparations for the 
2022 World Cup and growth in services should co mpensate export pressures. The economy is 
expected to settle on a long-term growth trajectory of around 5% per annum by 2016. 
2.3  Fiscal policy 
2.5.  Qatar’s fiscal position remains stable as hydrocarbon-related revenues accounted for about 
62% of total government revenue in 2012 /2013, and about 61% of total revenues over 2005/06-2012/2013. Qatar’s state budget provided an average yearly surplus of nearly 9.6% of GDP during 
2005/06-2012 /2013. Tax revenues are still a limited source of total public revenues with around 
12% during 2007/2008-2012/2013 (an average of 4.7% as percentage of GDP). 0. 05. 010. 015. 020. 025. 030. 0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011  2012 2013
Hydrocarbon  Contribution Non‐hydrocarbon  Contribution
Real GDP GrowthAnnualChange  (%), 
Contribution  to Growth (%)
Source : QSA 0. 05. 010 . 015 . 020 . 025 . 030 . 0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009  2010 2011 2012 2013  Annual Change (%) 
Source : QSA Average: 13 . 7%Real GDP Growth(2005 ‐2013 ) WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  2.6.  The government’s fiscal surplus reached an estimated 8.1% of GDP in fiscal year 2013. 
Thereafter, it is expected to narrow owing to the one-off infrastructure costs associated with the 2022 World Cup projects and the State’s QNV objectives. Preliminary data on government revenue and expenditure from the Ministry of Finance for the FY 2012/2013 shows that the total revenue 
continues on an upward trend increasing by 29.5% to reach QR231.2 billion, while budgeted total 
expenditure increased by 27.6% to reach QR178.6 billion. 
2.7.  The fiscal surplus for 2012/2013 was QR52.6 billion. The 2012/2013 budget was based on 
the assumption that the world price of oil would be US$65/barrel. However, actual oil prices 
substantially exceeded this assumption and henc e pushed the fiscal surplus up. Furthermore, a 
decrease in public expenditure on megaprojects during the last fiscal year further contributed to push the surplus. 
2.8.  The budget statement for the current fiscal year 2013/2014 was announced in April 2013 and 
was based on a number of considerations that included various assumptions on the world’s economic recovery. The local economy is expected to  grow past 5% this year — in line with IMF 
estimates — driven by the non-hydrocarbon sector, especially in services and construction. In spite 
of this, longer term uncertainty remains a recurring theme, especially regarding world energy markets. 
2.9.  The budgeted expenditure for the current fiscal year is QR210.6 billion, 18% more than the 
budget for the previous year, while revenue is  budgeted at QR218.1 billion, based on the same 
conservative oil price assumption of US$65/barrel. It was also assumed that non-oil revenue will increase as tax-exempt status for many companies expires. 
2.10.  Megaprojects, wages and salaries represen t the bulk of the increase in the budgeted 
expenditure for the current fiscal year, as they re present 40% and 23.7% respectively, of the total 
budget. The rest of the budgeted expenditure is di rected towards capital and current expenditures. 
The budget includes planned increases in both he alth and education sector expenditure by 13% 
and 15% respectively. 
2.11.  One of the key objectives of the QNDS is to enhance economic development and stability of 
the State of Qatar. In order to meet the developmental needs outlined in the QNDS, the Ministry of 
Finance has adopted a comprehensive strategy for strengthening fiscal policy and its management by reforming the public financial management system. This is intended to enhance financial stability, encourage growth, improve the control of  public funds, increase the efficiency of the 
planning, preparation and execution of the budget in line with the national priorities and promote 
transparency and disclosure. 
2.12.  The financial management reform program includes the introduction of a new 
macroeconomic forecasting model, Result Oriented Budgeting (ROB), a Treasury Singly Account 
(TSA), a Government Financial Management Information System (GFMIS) and the nearly completed Tax Administration System (TAS), which will provide the Ministry of Finance with a firm 
base for public revenue administration. A new Credit Policies and Debt Office within the same 
Ministry was also created in 2012 to provide oversight over public debt levels. 
2.4  Monetary and foreign exchange policy 2.13.  Law No. (13) of 2012 sanctions Qatar Central Bank’s (QCB) internal and external 
operations. It organizes QCB’s internal management (including requirements for membership in its 
Board of Directors) and sets guidelines for its capital (QR50 billion) and accounts administration. It also provides a general framework of interaction with other governmental entities and other 
financial supervisory bodies as well as standards for customer protection. The law also establishes 
guidelines and requirements for licenses to be granted to financial institutions, including insurance and reinsurance companies. The Law also stipulat es the coordination arrangements between the 
Appeals Courts and QCB to be put in place in order to resolve disputes related to QCB decisions. 
Procedurally, such processes are to be handled by  a Dispute Resolution Committee established in 
QCB that includes members of the Appeals Court. 
2.14.  Furthermore, Law No. (13) also sets general guiding principles for monetary and foreign 
exchange policies. In practice, the stipulations of the Law reiterate long standing policies. Indeed, WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  from its inception in 1993, QCB upheld the Qatar Monetary Authority (QMA)’s strategy of targeting 
the exchange rate as a nominal anchor for its monetary policy. The formal framework for the exchange-rate policy is a fixed parity between the Qatari Riyal (QR) and the USD pegged at QR3.64 per USD. The peg, which was officially au thorized by Amiri Decree No. 34 of July 2001, has 
remained credible till this day. 
2.15.  The QCB continues to follow an exchange rate policy of hard pegging. Consequently, QCB 
monetary policy is drawn and implemented to manage the short-term interbank interest rates with 
a view to sustain the fixed parity between the QR and the USD. QCB also seeks to maintain 
financial stability by monitoring financial solvency within the system, safety indicators and take m e a s u r e s  t o  a c t i v e l y  p r e v e n t  r i s k  f r o m  s p r e a d i n g .  W i t h i n  t h i s  p o l i c y  f r a m e w o r k ,  t h e  Q C B  endeavors to regulate overall liquidity in order to maintain monetary and overall financial stability. 
2.16.  The Qatar Market Rates (QMR) is a monetary instrument through which local banks are 
allowed to deposit and borrow overnight funds at pre-specified interest rates from the QCB. While there is an individual bank-by-bank ceiling on the total amount of borrowing from the QCB, the 
amount of funds that can be deposited by bank s with the QCB cannot exceed each individual 
bank’s reserve requirements maintained with  the QCB. QCB Deposit Rate (QCBDR) and QCB 
Lending Rate (QCBLR) are the interest rates anno unced by the QCB on overnight deposit and loan 
transactions, respectively, between the QCB and local banks through the QMR Standing Facility. 
2.17.  The QCBLR is the key rate that the QCB uses  to convey signals to the market on the stance 
of monetary policy. It plays a key role in regulating the overall level of interest rates in the economy. As at 2013, there were five monetary instruments available to influence domestic 
liquidity, these were: Qatar Money Market Rates Facility, Repurchase Agreements, Required 
Reserve Ratio, Treasury Bills and Government Bonds. Since August 2011, the QCBLR and the 
QCBDR have remained unchanged at 4.50% and 0.75%, respectively. 
2.18.  Repurchase agreements’ (Repos) comprise purchases of assets by the QCB under a contract 
providing for their resale at a specified price on a given future date (limited to two weeks or one month), and are used to supply reserves. Repos are conducted in domestic government securities, 
i.e., loans backed by domestic assets. Although QCB sets the rate and duration for repurchase 
agreements (a characteristic of money market instruments), the QCB Repo Rate (QCBRR), which as at late 2013 was 4.50%, is known in advance and the size and timing of the repurchase transactions are initiated by commercial banks. In 2012, QCB, in partnership with Bloomberg, 
launched a Qatar Interbank Offer Rate (QIBOR) to boost the domestic interbank sector. The rate is 
calculated by Bloomberg and published by QCB. 
2.19.  Compulsory reserves equivalent to a certain percentage of the average total deposits 
(inclusive of both local and foreign currency) are held by banks with the QCB in Qatari Riyals. The 
ratio is calculated based on average daily total de posits during the period from the sixteenth day 
of each month to the twelfth day of the following month. The amount of required reserves 
approved by the QCB for maintenance comes into effect from the fifteenth day of each month to 
the fourteenth day of the following month. Reserves  do not earn any interest, although there is a 
penalty for shortfall in reserve maintenance. As at late 2013, the required reserve ratio was at 4.75%, remaining unchanged since April 15, 2008. 
2.20.  Inflation in Qatar during the period under review, as measured by consumer prices, 
experienced two distinct periods. Until 2008, these were driven by sustained increases in real estate prices and a sharp increase in the resident population during 2007-2008 that translated into 
a yearly average inflation rate of 12.4% (15.2% in 2008). Since then, inflation has remained 
subdued (3.2% in 2013) as real estate prices deflated markedly at an estimated yearly average of -0.1%. Inflation in 2014 is expected to hover around 3.4%. 
2.5  Foreign investment regime 
2.21.  Law No. (13), as amended, came into force in 2000 to provide the legal basis for foreign 
investment in Qatar. The law seeks to provide,  amongst other things, transparency and legal 
certainty to foreign investment in Qatar as well as deepen the country’s involvement in the 
multilateral trading system (see Chapter 3 for further details). WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  2.5.1  Foreign portfolio investment 
2.22.  Law No. (6) of 2006, which amended Law No. (13) of 2000, allows non-Qatari investors to 
invest in up to 25% of the shares in joint stock companies listed on Qatar Exchange (QE). Since then, Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI) have expand ed significantly. In fact, when measured as a 
flow, inward FPI reached QR4.8 billion, a 54.6% increase compared to 2008; almost of all these 
investments were made in non-financial derivati ves. Measured as a stock, inward FPI reached 
9.1% of GDP (QR32.5 billion). 
2.23.  Outward FPI expanded in spite of the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Indeed, it more than 
doubled going from QR 1.9 billion in 2008 to QR 3.9 billion in 2009 while stocks of outward FPI 
went from 3% of GDP (QR12.5 billion) to 4.6% of  GDP (QR16.4 billion) during the same period as 
investors sought to reduce exposure to risk in (mostly) US sovereign debt instruments. 
2.5.2  Foreign direct investment 
2.24.  Inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows reached QR29.6 billion in 2009, more than 
doubling its 2008 level of QR 13.8 billion. According to the World Bank, the compound growth rate 
of net FDI flows from 2008-2010 was 11% through the financial crises. However, since then and 
until 2012 net FDI inflows decreased by 74% as a result of massive outflow in the form of foreign investments mainly directed by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and its subsidiaries.  
2.25.  The increase during 2008-2010 was driven by four factors: mining and quarrying (which in 
2009 accounted for 50.7% of total FDI), manufacturing (25.8% of total FDI), finance, insurance, real estate and business services (11.4% of total FDI) and construction (6.5%). Over 50% of this investment originated either in the U.S. or in the EU. Measured as a stock, inward FDI increased 
by more than QR30 billion, going from QR64.7 billi on (15.4% of GDP) in 2008 to QR94.3 billion 
(26.4% of GDP). 
2.26.  Outward FDI during 2008-2010 was steadier. Measured as a flow, it actually declined from 
QR13.3 billion in 2008 to QR11.7 billion in 2009 althou gh measured as stocks it increased from 
QR27.2 billion (6.5% of GDP) to QR38.9 billion (11% of GDP). The declined in flows was directly related to the contraction in global economic activity going on at the moment as expectations were 
constrained by the financial crisis in 2008-2009. 
2.5.3  Qatar Investment Authority 2.27.   QIA — Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund — invests mostly outside Qatar and does so in a wide 
range of sectors, including real estate, automobile  companies, retail trade, hotels and tourism and 
agriculture. Among the most important divisions of the sovereign wealth fund are: Qatar Holding 
LLC (established in 2006), Delta2 Co., Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment (QIA’s real estate investment entity), Hassad Food Company (established in 2008) and Qatar Sports Investment 
Company (QSI). 
2.28.   QIA purchased 5% stake in local banks (US$2 billion) in January 2010 within the 
framework of the government's fourth support package to protect local banks from the global 
financial crisis. 
2.5.4  Construction 2.29.  Since 2005, construction activity has picked up significantly throughout Qatar — most of it 
concentrated in and around Doha — as authorities sought to carry out important development 
projects. This drive was further expanded in 2010 when FIFA awarded Qatar the 2022 World Cup 
as an estimated QR329 billion to QR402 billion in additional projects were added to the pipeline. Since then, both the preparations for the 2022 World Cup and the remaining infrastructure 
projects have underpinned both domestic and foreign investment. Foreign investment in 
construction activity takes place under the general foreign investment framework (see Chapter 3 for further details). 
2.30.  In 2012, the construction sector contributed QAR 31 billion to GDP up from QAR 28 billion in 
2011. The construction sector is the fifth largest in the economy relative to other non-hydrocarbon WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 12 - 
 
  sectors. In terms of employment, the construc tion sector dominates with 497,000 employed 
workers in 2011 which represented 39.2% of the to tal workforce within the country. Of the total 
construction workers, 83% work in production related fields and the remaining 17% are managers and/or specialists. From 2002 to 2011, the construction sector workforce witnessed a strong 
compound annual growth rate of 26%. 
2.31.  Total expenditure in construction activities during 2001 to 2012 has been estimated at 
QD598.6 billion. When examined by sectors, oil, gas and utilities outpace all other sectors by 
QR317.6 billion followed by transportation and bu ildings with QR113.2 billion and QR 167.9 billion 
respectively. Concomitantly, construction company registrations expanded significantly from 8,791 in 2001 to 24,164 in 2012.  
2.32.  Oil, gas and utility construction expenditure increased significantly between 2004 to 2006 as 
the country developed its upstream and downstream gas production. Investments went from an 
estimated QR32.9 billion in 2004 to QR54.8 billion and QR65.7 billion in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Some of the other key downstream projects undertaken between 2001 to 2012 
included the completion of an aluminum smelting plant, a steel production facility, a polysilicon 
plant, a large ammonia and urea plant, various water desalination plants and the development of various electricity generation and transmission facilities. 
2.33.  Ashghal, Qatar’s Public Works Authority, plays a fundamental role in the country’s ongoing 
construction drive. Its responsibilities include the planning, design, procurement, construction, 
delivery and management (including financial management) of all infrastructure projects and public buildings in Qatar. This covers roads, drainage, public buildings, schools and hospitals, 
amongst others. 
2.34.  During 2008/2009-2012/2013, Ashghal procured a total of QR26.5 billion in completed 
construction and management projects. These were: 144 building projects for a total of 
QR6.7 billion, 40 drainage projects for QR8.4 bill ion, 84 roads projects for an overall value of 
QR8.3 billion, 9 expressway projects for QR2. 5 billion and 30 road maintenance projects for 
QR496.5 million. As at December 2013, the agency had the following procurement schedule in 
place: 6 building projects, 13 expressway proj ects, 1 non-local road project, 35 local roads 
projects, 1 operation and maintenance project, 12 drainage projects, 2 local drainage and 2 
projects related to the Doha Bay Crossing. 
Completed Construction and Management  Projects Undertaken by Ashgal 
 2008/2009 2009/2010  2010/2011  2011/2012 2012/2013  
Buildings 42.3% 13.3%  18.9%  33.5% 21.7%  
Drainage 17.5% 7.3%  25.0%  54.9% 22.4%  
Roads 40.2% 75.2%  17.0%  7.6% 52.4%  
Expressways 0.0% 0.0%  37.2%  3.9% 0.0%  
Operation and 
Maintenance 0.0% 4.2%  1.8%  0.2% 3.5%  
Total (QR million) 1,580.7 2,285.7  5,920.0  8,577.7 8,087.5  
Source: Ashghal (2014). 
2.35.  In order to adequately prepare for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar committed itself to 
additional investments that included several new stadiums, new hotel rooms as well as a public 
transportation system for Doha, amongst others. Some of the specific projects around these commitments were already in the pipeline (such as the Doha International Airport and the Doha 
Metro). The development of the rail system, which includes the Doha Metro, is the single biggest 
project capturing around 40% of all 2022 World Cup related investment. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 13 - 
 
  Planned Investment Related to Prepar ations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup 
138.7
73.0
54.851.1
25.621.914.6
020406080100120140
Rail Roads Hotels  and 
Other Real 
EstateAirports Ports Bridges StadiumsQR bn.
 
2.36.  The commitments, in turn, created reve nue opportunities in both infrastructure 
development and maintenance and operations that  cumulatively range between QR26.3 billion to 
QR38.3 billion and QR27 billion to QR32.5 billion per year respectively. These opportunities are spread through various sectors as they reflect infrastructure expenditure plans as well as standard 
operational service costs. 
Expected Revenue Opportunities in Infras tructure Development and Operations and 
Maintenance 
 
2.37.  Total projected investment during 2013-2020 has been estimated at QR657 billion covering 
three broad areas: oil, gas and utilities (26% of total investment), transportation (37%) and 
buildings (37%). Oil, gas and utility projects in the pipeline are to focus on continuing downstream 
development capacity with projects such as the gas to liquid processing facilities, a national gas production facility, large scale water desalination facilities and the continuing development of its 
electricity network. 
2.38.  Construction in transportation infrastructure will also play a key role over the next 10 years 
as the rail network is developed. This will include a high-speed/long-distance passenger and freight line, a four-line metro system serving the Doha area, a people mover in the Central 
Business District and a light rail system serving the large scale Lusail commercial and residential 
district (in the northern most part of Doha). The rail network is a key development that will be used in the lead up, during and after the 2022 World Cup.  
2.6  Capital markets 
2.39.  The QCB, in consultation with the Govern ment, started issuing T-bills of 91-day maturity 
denominated in QR through a price-based auction since May 2011. This was done with the view to 0. 02 . 04 . 06 .  08 .  0Hotel fit‐out and equipmentRaw materials Project management  Rail rolling stocksRail systems and technologyBasic construction  componentsBasic transportation  infra constructionArchitectural/Engineering  Services Engineered  construction  components  Basic CRE constructionLarge scale CRE Large trans infra construction  
Max
Min Infrastructure  Investment  Revenue Opportunities  
QR bn 0. 05 .  01 0  .0 15  . 0Stadia energy provisionsStadia operationsPassanger  rail operations Airport handling Freight rail operations Rail infra O/MRoad O/MAirport facility maintenance  Hotel brand management  Port terminal operationsAirport retail and F&B Airport O/MHotel ownership  and operations
Max
MinOperations  and Maitenance  Revenue Opportunities  
QR bnWT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 14 - 
 
  further develop the domestic financial market, extend the yield curve to longer maturities — as 
well as facilitate the emergence of a short-term  yield curve — and develop additional instrument 
for managing structural liquidity. Subsequently , auctions of 182 and 273 day T-bills were 
introduced in August 2011 with both conventional and Islamic banks subscribing to T-bills. With 
the issuance of T-bills, certificates of deposit (CDs) have been phased out completely. 
2.40.  In order to continue to develop the yield curve towards longer-term maturities the QCB also 
introduced quarterly auction of 3-year and 5-year  government bonds of QR2 billion respectively. 
Since March 2013, QR1.5 billion of the debt issued represents conventional bonds whilst QR0.5 
billion are Sukuk instruments. The government bonds are also listed in the QE for secondary market trading. Efforts are also being made to create a reliable rating system as well as implement high corporate governance standards and transpar ency in reporting procedures (including the 
adoption of international accounting standards). The efforts are expected to bring market discipline 
to foster a domestic and foreign institutional investment base. 
2.41.  The Qatar Credit Bureau, which works under QCB, began operations on March 2011 in order 
to collect and consolidate credit-related information, improve access to credit markets and reduce 
risk. Further work remains to be done to ensure full procedural compliance. 
2.42.  Law No. (8) of 2012 reorganized the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA), originally 
established in 2005. The law details QFMA’s institutional and management structure, the 
composition of its board of directors as well as the agency’s policy objectives amongst other things. The main policy objectives include oversigh t of security trading activity, implementation of 
disclosure policy, oversight of possible financial crimes and carrying out relevant research to be 
published, amongst others. The Law provides QFMA with legal authority to issue all necessary 
regulations, rules and decisions to regulate Qatar’s financial market. QFMA is also mandated to establish mechanisms for resolving disputes that may arise from transactions as well as impose 
fines. 
2.43.  The Qatar Central Security Depository (QCSD) commenced operations in January 2014 thus 
replacing QE as the central clearing, depository an d financial registry. With the change, QE’s core 
function is now that of a securities trading ma rket only. QCSD’s responsibilities now include 
settling orders by delivery v/s payment, registration  of pledges over listed securities, registration 
and deposit of listed equity and debt securities (including Sukuk instruments) and acceptance of US treasury bills, amongst others. QCSD is licensed by QFMA. 
2.44.  By the end of 2013, credit rating agencies agreed on the stability of Qatar’s financial 
system. In June 2013, Standard & Poor's assigned Qatar a sovereign credit rating of AA/stable credit rating while Moody's Investors Service re ported that the outlook for its banking system 
remained stable at A2/stable. Trading Economics (TE) also held a stable credit rating (at 
87.36/stable). All of these assessments underpin Qatar's strong macroeconomic fundamentals driven by continued high public spending levels  that is expected to sustain growth and bank 
lending activity without financial or credit negative risks over the short and medium term. In May 
2013 TE upgraded Doha Securities Market from frontier to emerging market status. 
2.45.  Law No (13) stipulates that QCB is to pr ovide oversight on Islamic financial activities as 
well. These activities include: (i) generating prof its from standard banking activities not based on 
interest on any of its forms; (ii) attracting funds and savings to be directed towards Sharia-
compliant investment instruments; (iii) providing financial services that promote and revive social solidarity based on common interest; and (iv) gain, deepen and transfer experiences in the field of 
Islamic financial services and transactions. Islamic financial institutions may take all forms of 
deposits and carry out financial investment. In February 2011, the QCB decided to disengage conventional from Islamic banking by invoking Article 1 of Law No (33) of 2006. As a result, 
conventional financial institutions’ capital was separated from Islamic financial institutions’ capital. 
2.46.  The Law mandates that each Islamic financial institution create its own Sharia Supervisory 
Board in order to provide oversight on the inst itution’s activities and ensure that these are 
Sharia-compliant. The Law also sets the criteria for membership to the Board. QCB may develop a 
standard relation with any Islamic financial institution, e.g. act as a lender of last resource, buy 
and sell securities and other instruments with Islamic financial institutions, hold accounts at WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 15 - 
 
  Islamic financial institutions, etc, as long as it is sanctioned by the institution’s Sharia Supervisory 
Board. 
2.47.  Private credit demand expanded signific antly during the period review. Indeed, high 
economic growth — which averaged 13.7% annually-led to increased savings in spite of important 
levels of publicly-financed investment. As a result, the financial system enjoyed significant levels 
of liquidity thus expanding private credit demand more than five-fold, going from QR48.7 billion in 
2005 to QR258.3 in 2012 (QR284.3 billion as at Q3 2013). Most of this expansion was driven by 
real estate loans-which went from QR9.5 billion to QR102.1 billion during the same time — as well 
as private consumption. 
Inflation-Adjusted private Sector  Loans and Real GDP (1981-2012) 
R² = 0.95
050100150200250300
0 100 200 300 400Real GDP (QR bn)Inflation‐Adjusted Private Sector Loans (QR bn)
Source : QCB, MDPS
 
 
2.6.1  Insurance 
2.48.  Law No (13) of 2012 stipulates that QCB is  to supervise and regulate the insurance sector 
thus replacing the Ministry of Economy and Comm erce (MEC) as the supervisory entity for the 
sector. QCB and the MEC formed a joint committ ee in charge of the process of transferring 
authorities; specifically the licensing, and other related procedural responsibilities from MEC to 
QCB. The Bank thus created the Insurance Regu lation and Supervision Department within its 
organizational chart, which is currently preparing to take charge of the insurance sector regulation 
in Qatar. 
2.7  Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism policies 2.49.  Law No. (4) of 2010 forms the cornerstone of Qatar’s AML/CFT regime. The said Law 
includes matters related to criminalization, law enforcement authorities and aspects relating to the 
implementation of the UNSC resolutions. Also , the Law describes and stipulates preventive 
measures for financial institutions across the board and imposes core obligations upon them that are commensurate with existing recommended re quirements made by relevant international 
parties. The law includes guidelines for investigations and necessary provisional measures as well 
as international cooperation, mutual legal assistance, extradition and penalties. 
2.50.  In addition to the said Law and accord ing to the explicit authorization therein, the 
supervisory authorities amended and developed the regulations and instructions on AML/CFT 
procedures. As a result, a complete framework relating to preventive measures for financial institutions established in Qatar was put in place. The new rules and regulations were adopted by regulatory authorities including Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA), QCB, and 
QFMA. The above mentioned instructions and regula tions are updated on a regular basis in order 
to comply with the international standards. All relevant regulatory authorities coordinate compliance across all financial institutions under the supervision and control of QCB. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 16 - 
 
  2.8  Tourism 
2.51.  Qatar Tourism Authority is in the final stages of preparing Qatar’s strategic tourism plan, 
whose implementation is expected to take place from 2014 onwards. Specific activities have been 
chosen as case projects and, as a result, tourism-related small and medium enterprises are 
expected to come into the market. Specifically targeted financial products are to be provided by 
Qatar Development Bank at preferential rates (subject to financial qualification) for any company wishing to provide tourism services. Moreover, these activities are being coordinated with other 
preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and include opportunities in hotel management, leisure 
activities, tours, food and restaurants, cruises, amongst others. 
2.52.  The strategic plan conceptualizes Doha as  a major regional conventions hub. Pursuant to 
this, a second major convention center is about to  be inaugurated shortly. The strategic plan also 
envisions capturing some of the passengers that use Doha as a transit hub between 
Europe/America and the East Asia (total passenger travel through Doha was estimated at over 21 million in 2012). Efforts are being made at differentiating the tourism offer from other regional 
competitors thus contributing to the overall economic diversification objectives set in place by the 
Qatar National Vision 2030. 
2.53.  Qatar’s tourism potential is significant. As at 2013, the number of hotel rooms was 
estimated at around 30,000 with around 1.7 million arrivals in 2013 (674,594 from non-GCC 
countries). Both figures are expected to incr ease markedly over the next five years as 
preparations for the 2022 World Cup continue to take place and tourism activities gain traction. The number of hotel rooms, in particular, will have  to increase significantly by 2022 in order to 
meet standard FIFA requirements for the 2022 Worl d Cup. In this sense, international tourism 
receipts, measured as a proportion of GDP, are also expected to increase substantially from its 2012 level of 3% (the latest available number). WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 17 - 
 
  3  TRADE POLICY REGIME 
3.1  Overview 3.1.  Since its last Trade Policy Review, Qatar has made important efforts to continue to deepen its 
participation in the multilateral trading system and maintain its commitments to the World Trade 
Organization (WTO). In particular, the authorities have sought to enhance transparency and 
predictability to its foreign investment regime, promote and facilitate international trade and build up its institutional capacity. Efforts have also been made to boost private sector development by 
strengthening ties with Qatar’s trade partners and thus contribute to the country’s overall 
economic diversification objectives, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. 
3.2.  Strategic development plans have also been  put in place by the leadership since 2005 to 
expand and improve the existing infrastructure. Th is included launching several key projects that 
served to assist foreign investment as well as the entry, exit and distribution of goods and services 
into and out of the country. Some of the key initia tives have included the development of ports, a 
new international airport and roads throughout Qatar as well as the implementation of paperless 
procedures at a number of government agencies . Plans are underway to guarantee that trade 
flows are not interrupted nor that bottlenecks arise over coming years. 
3.2  The importance of trade policy 
3.3.  Qatar imports most of what it consumes and exports most of what it produces. As a result, 
trade policy has always played a fundamental role in the wellbeing of the Qatari people and the country in general. The current development process, moreover, has only highlighted the importance of trade policy within the general policy context as the economy will continue to rely 
crucially on trade flows to provide sustainable an d viable solutions to the needs of the rapidly 
expanding resident population as well as its ongoing construction activity. Imports will likely continue to expand at a faster rate than exports — as was the case during the period under review 
when imports of goods and services grew at a ye arly average of 16.1% while exports did so at 
13.9% — while significant construction projects are still underway.
14 
3.4.  Trade policy also plays a key role in guaranteei ng food security in Qatar. Most of the strategic 
reserves of agricultural products kept in the country at the moment are accumulated through 
imports before they are sold into the market through the Central Tender Committee.15 These food 
reserves operate under government protocols that, in practice, function on a first in-first out basis. 
3.3  Trade policy objectives 
3.5.  Trade facilitation is one of Qatar’s core trade policy objectives. In effect, the authorities 
envision the multilateral trading system — and the WTO in particular — as an additional platform to enhance trade flows and foreign investment as well as provide more transparency to potential 
investors. Henceforth, reducing trade barriers in a manner consistent with Qatar’s overall 
development goals remains a top priority within the context of the multilateral trading system, 
regional agreements (GCC and GAFTA/PAFTA) and bilateral FTAs.
16 
3.6.  Qatar seeks to define natural gas and its derivates as environmental goods in the committee 
on Trade and Environment.17 To this respect, it has submitted documentation to the WTO 
Committee on Trade and Environment as well as the Negotiating Group of Market Access.18  
Defining natural gas an environmental good would further expand and facilitate world trade, 
trigger cross-border investment and help address global environmental challenges. Qatar attaches 
                                               
14 IMF (2014), World Economic Outlook database. Viewed at: http://www.imf.org. 
15 Hassad Food (2014), Office of the Chairman. Doha, Qatar. 
16 GAFTA refers to the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, also known as the Pan Arab Free Trade 
Agreement. 
17 Sultan Al-Khater, Undersecretary of the Minist ry of Economy and Commerce (2013). Statement read 
at the WTO 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia. 
18 WTO documents: TN/TE/W/14 of 9 October 2002, TN/TE/W/19 and TN/MA/W/24 of 28 January 2003, 
TN/TE/W/19/Corr.1 and TN/MA/W/24/Corre.1 of 21 February 2003 and TN/TE/W/27 and TN/MA/W/33 of 25 April 2003. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 18 - 
 
  great importance to development challenges related to food security and, consequently, is of the 
view that food security concerns should override other “narrow commercial interests”.19 
3.7.  Qatar seeks to support its economic diversification drive away from hydrocarbons by 
liberalizing its trade regime. Freer trade flows w ill diversify the supply of goods and services in 
Qatar while increasing competition of its domestic markets. This is expected to reduce operating 
costs for local businesses and thus boost their competitiveness in areas other than hydrocarbon production. In addition, trade policy seeks to promote Qatari exports as part of its economic 
diversification efforts. To this end, Qatar Development Bank—Qatar’s publicly-owned development 
agency—runs an export promotion program called Tasdeer (see section 3.6.8 for further details). 
3.8.  Qatar seeks to contribute to resolve th e impasse surrounding the observer status of the 
League of Arab States at the WTO.
20 
3.9.  The authorities are committed to strengthening Qatar’s institutional trade policy capacity as 
part of the country’s general trade policy objectives. This includes recruitment of qualified personnel, training and expanding its presence abroad. 
3.4  Customs strategic objectives 
3.10.  The General Customs Administration (GCA) published a strategic plan in 2013 that provides 
broad guidelines on the agency’s internal and external objectives. Amongst the most important 
goals are: maintain high customer satisfaction, develop institutional capacity, create a training 
center to serve customer needs, implement best  practices throughout all processes, improve 
efficiency in tackling illicit trade (of goods and people), improve governance, develop electronic and paperless services, expand existing cust oms agreements and implement the Authorized 
Economic Operator programme.
21 Qatar also seeks to continue to streamline custom processes by 
further developing the organizational and functional structure of the GCA. 
3.5  Changes in export and import procedures 
3.11.  Since 2005 Qatar has taken steps to improve its import and export processes throughout 
the country’s points of entry. The GCA has invested in human capital development as well as upgrades in technology with the aim of simplifying procedures, improve customer response and 
streamline customs processes. So far, the results have been very encouraging: the GCA was able 
to reduce the clearance period of goods down to 15 minutes while consecutively reducing the inspection rate to 5% without infringing on the country’s security.
22 
3.12.  The importation of merchandise into the country includes an original commercial invoice 
with the shipper's letter head, stamp and signature. An attestation from the Chamber of 
Commerce must also accompany the cargo. All goods contained in the invoice must be identified by their HS Code which, in practice, implies that only authorized agents can clear consignments 
with the GCA. Emphasis was placed to protect the domestic market from products that are 
hazardous, non-compliant with standardized health norms and those found in violation of intellectual property rights. 
3.13.  Contraband is prohibited in accordance with Law No. (40) of 2002 (the Customs 
Administration Law), as amended. If a good is found to have entered Qatar or being attempted to be exported in contravention of existing legislation then a fine would be applied plus the payment of any outstanding duty to the GCA in the case of  an import. The law provides a list of activities 
deemed to constitute acts of smuggling.
23 
                                               
19 Sultan Al-Khater, Undersecretary of the Minist ry of Economy and Commerce (2013). Statement read 
at the WTO 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia. 
20 H.E. Sultan Al-Khater, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (2013). Statement 
read at the WTO 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia. 
21 General Customs Administration (2014), The Strategic Plan Of The General Customs Administration , 
Doha, Qatar. 
22 General Directorate of Customs (2014), Qatar Customs Clearance Single Window QCCSW – Success 
Story , Doha, Qatar. 
23 Article 140, Chapter 5. Law No. (40) of 2002 as amended. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 19 - 
 
  3.5.1  Single window 
3.14.  During the period under review, a computer-based customs system was developed and put 
in place to streamline customs process, reduce red tape and demurrage costs as well as expedite the entrance of goods into the country. The Qa tar Customs Clearance Single Window (QCCSW), 
also known as Al-Nadeeb, was implemented in al l major sea, land and air ports in Qatar. The 
QCCSW acts as a platform that coordinates all ministerial functions and procedures required by the GCA and other government agencies. The single window system has the objective, amongst 
others, of aligning procedures and standards with the World Customs Organization and WTO 
commitments and contributing to the country’s ongoing development drive. 
3.15.  The QCCSW integrated procedures and processes from the following government and 
private sector agencies: 
 Ministry of Interior 
 Ministry of Public Health 
 Ministry of Environment 
 Ministry of Information and Communication Technology 
 Ministry of Economy and Commerce 
 Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage 
 Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics 
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
 Ministry of Energy and Industry 
 Civil Aviation Authority 
 Chamber of Commerce and Industry 
 GCC Data Centre 
 Shipping Agencies and Express Mail 
3.16.  Planning and designing for the QCCSW took place during 2008/2009 after which 
implementation of the single window began. Ma jor system functionality at the sea ports was 
achieved in September 2011, followed by integrat ion with other government agencies. Operational 
functionality was achieved at the airports and land borders in late 2012 and 2013 respectively. 
3.17.  The system also collects information from freight forwarders and couriers regarding 
imported and transited goods for risk analysis purposes before arrival in Qatar to ensure timely release at the port of entry. There are around 9,000 registered companies, including more than 
90% of local importers and exporters, and more  than 600 trained clearing agents. More than 
58,000 users have so far registered with the system.
24 
3.18.  The Custom Directorate’s single window is part of more general effort undertaken by the 
authorities to provide greater transparency in government affairs. In effect, the government’s 
e-government initiative — called Hukoomi — provides a platform through which information and data from different ministries may accessed, including the QCCSW.
25 
3.5.2  Customs valuation 
3.19.  Customs valuation procedures are based on Qatar’s Customs Law. The procedures, which 
were incorporated into the QCCSW and are in accordance with the country’s commitments to the WTO, calculate the value of goods based on the transaction method. Based on previous 
transactions one of the following methodologies is used: (i) number of transactions or (ii) valuation 
based on a set period of time, e.g. last month. If necessary, valuation may also be carried out by the transaction method of identical goods with a dditional methods being applied in sequence by 
the customs officer should it be necessary (some of these are not part of the QCCSW). 
                                               
24 General Customs Administration (2013), Qatar Customs Clearance; Single Window QCCSW: A 
Success Story , Presentation, Doha, Qatar. 
25 The Government’s e-government website is available at 
http://portal.www.gov.qa/wps/portal/homepage/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gzA0sjR18Lk9A
gHycLA09vD1NTP3cjYwMDM6B8pFm8AQ7gaEBAdzjIPrz6_T zyc1P1C3IjDHQdFRUBK7iw SA!!/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0
FBIS9nQSEh/. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 20 - 
 
  3.20.  The resulting estimates are only referent ial and, thus, not mandatory. The owner of the 
goods has up to 15 days following registration of the customs declaration (or from the date of the 
valuation notice sent to him by registered  mail) to raise an appeal to the court. 
3.5.3  Valuation dispute process 
3.21.  The Law provides for steps to be followed should a dispute arise.26 Disputes typically arise 
once the inspector/auditor changes the value in a declaration, thus, recalculating duties according to the new value. If the owner of the goods rejects the new value then the inspector must clear 
the goods through the Valuation Dispute Committee (VDC) which by law must be established to 
oversee and settle the dispute. Concomitantly, the system calculates the difference and then 
places the amount under guarantee. The items are cleared and the declaration is rerouted to the 
VDC. The Valuation Dispute Committee, which may seek external assistance if necessary, then 
studies the dispute and issues the final decision on the system with the declaration being finalized 
based on the result. The trader has the right to appeal to Qatari Appeals Court in case he was not convinced with the VDC’s decision without bearing any consequences. 
3.22.  The Director may allow the withdrawal of goods in dispute — as long as they are not 
forbidden entrance into Qatar by law — after collecting a deposit equivalent to the sum of customs duties determined by the customs station.
 
3.5.4  Inspection before shipping 
3.23.  At the moment, Qatar does not require pre-shipment inspections as understood under 
standard international protocols on inspection before shipping. 
3.6  Recent developments 
3.24.  The authorities made consistent efforts during the period under review to transform Qatar’s 
investment regime while continuing to develop its trade policy framework. This included amending laws and regulation to provide further transparency and certainty to its foreign investment regime, 
streamline customs procedures, facilitate cross-border service provision (see Chapter 2 for further 
details) and adopt a new competition law, amongst others. The authorities also established trade promotion programs and put in place new trade policy instruments related to anti-dumping, 
countervailing and safeguards as well as rules of origin. With these, the authorities further aligned 
Qatar’s commitments to the multilateral trading system. 
3.25.  Qatar continued to negotiate bilateral investment and double-taxation agreements with 
countries around the world (see section 3.6.2 for further details). 
3.6.1  Foreign investment 
3.26.  Law No (13) of 2000, as amended, stipulates that foreign investors may invest in all sectors 
of the Qatari economy provided that they have a Qatari partner(s) whose share in the capital is 
not less than 51%. The law also provides exceptions to this rule which may be granted upon 
authorization by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) thus allowing foreign investors to increase their capital share up to 100%.
27 These exceptions cover investment in the following 
sectors: agriculture, manufacturing, health, educ ation, tourism, development and exploitation of 
natural resources, energy and/or mining, consulta ncy, information technology services, cultural, 
sports and recreational and distribution services, provided that such projects are consistent with Qatar's development objectives.
28 
3.27.  According to the Law, preference is given to  projects that optimize the use of “domestic raw 
materials, export industries, projects that would present a new product or in which modern 
                                               
26 Law No. (40) of 2002, as amended. 
27 Article 2, Part 2 of Law No. (13) of 2000, as amended. 
28 Foreign investment sector provis ions as well as ownership requ irements were provided by Law 
No. (10) of 2010 which amended Law No. (13). WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  technology is used”.29  Investment projects that seek to relocate leading global operations in Qatar 
or transfer skills and/or technology to the domestic labor force are also considered. 
3.28.  The Law prohibits foreign investment in banks and insurance companies—unless an 
exception is granted by the Council of Ministers — as well as commercial agency rights and trading 
in real estate. The following investment incentives are also provided by the investment law: 
 Land may be allotted on a long term lease contract for a period not exceeding 50 years 
(renewable). 
 Foreign investors can import all necessary equipment for their projects. 
 Exempt foreign capital invested from tax obligations for a period not exceeding ten years 
effective from the investment project commissioning date. Tariff exemptions are afforded regarding machinery and equipment imported for a project set-up. Foreign investment 
industrial projects are granted customs exem ption on imported raw materials and half 
manufactured materials not available in local markets and necessary for production purposes. 
 Equity capital, loan capital, and all income streams arising in Qatar are freely remittable. 
No foreign exchange restrictions exist. 
 Foreign investors have the right to transfer their investment ownership to and from any 
other foreign or natural investor. 
3.29.  There are currently two free zones in operations — the Qatar Financial Center and the Qatar 
Science and Technology Park — out of which foreign investment in finance-related services and technology-related (including research companies) can operate. In addition, foreign investors in 
manufacturing may be also eligible for tax exemptions. 
3.30.  Qatar’s legal system accommodates foreign investment in services as well. Furthermore, 
baring technical sector-specific requirements, the foreign investment incentives also cover 
investment in services. This has been the long-standing case with the energy sector as 
multinational service providers have worked alongside local providers for at least the last forty years. 
3.31.  Foreign investment is subject to possible expropriation only in the public’s interest (this 
applies to local investors as well) through a process that includes a legally mandated commensurate compensation. Once in operation, foreign investors have the freedom to transfer their private capital abroad as well as transferring ownership of the investment to other foreign or 
national proprietor. 
3.6.2  Double taxation treaties 3.32.  Qatar has signed a number of double taxation treaties in order to facilitate foreign 
investment and provide transparency both to investors and authorities. The following provides a 
list of the countries with which double taxation treaties are in force: 
 
 
                                               
29 Law No. (13) of 2000. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  Countries with which Qatar has double taxation treaties in force 
Country Date of Signature  Entry Into Force 
Algeria  03/07/2008 15/03/2011 
Armenia 22/04/2002 01/01/2008 
Austria 30/12/2010 07/03/2012 
Azerbaijan 28/08/2007 24/02/2008 
Belarus 03/04/2007 24/11/2007 
Brazil 20/01/2010 11/07/2010 
Bulgaria 22/03/2010 23/12/2010 
China 02/04/2004 21/10/2008 
Croatia  07/11/2008 03/04/2009 
Cuba 02/04/2004 01/01/2009 
Cyprus 11/11/2008 20/03/2009 
France 04/12/1990 01/12/1994 
GCC  1981 1989 
Georgia 20/12/2010 11/03/2011 
Greece 26/10/2008 21/03/2010 
India 07/04/1999 15/01/2000 
Indonesia 30/04/2006 19/09/2007 
Iran 17/07/2000 21/09/2010 
Italy  15/10/2002 07/02/2011 
Jordan 12/01/2004 31/12/2008 
Lebanon 23/01/2005 01/01/2010 
Luxembourg 03/07/2009 09/04/2010 
Macedonia 28/01/2008 13/10/2008 
Malaysia 03/07/2008 28/01/2009 
Malta 26/08/2009 09/12/2009 
Monaco 19/11/2009 01/06/2010 
Morocco  17/03/2006 07/04/2009 
Nepal 15/10/2007 19/05/2009 
Netherlands 24/04/2008 01/01/2010 
Norway 29/06/2009 27/12/2009 
Pakistan 06/04/1999 28/03/2000 
Panama 23/09/2010 05/05/2011 
Philippine 14/12/2008 11/05/2011 
Poland 01/11/2008 28/12/2009 
Romania 24/10/1999 04/09/2003 
Russia 20/04/1998 05/09/2000 
Senegal 10/06/1998 01/01/2000 
Serbia 19/11/2009 01/12/2010 
Seychelles 01/07/2006 06/05/2007 
Singapore 28/11/2006 04/09/2007 
Slovenia 10/01/2010 01/12/2010 
South Korea  27/03/2007 15/04/2009 
Sri Lanka 07/11/2004 02/04/2007 
Sudan 30/06/1998 01/01/2004 
Switzerland 24/09/2009 01/01/2011 WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  Country Date of Signature  Entry Into Force 
Syria 23/10/2003 27/04/2006 
Tunisia 08/03/1997 01/01/1999 
Turkey 25/12/2001 11/02/2008 
United Kingdom 25/06/2009 15/10/2010 
Venezuela 28/07/2006 30/07/2007 
Vietnam 08/03/2009 16/03/2011 
Yemen 07/08/2000 01/01/2008 
Source: Ministry of Finance. 
3.33.  The authorities have continued to negotiate additional double taxation treaties to facilitate 
foreign investment and enhance trade flows, the late st one having been signed with Kazakhstan in 
January 2014. A number of additional treaties were also signed since 2005 but are pending 
ratification to come into force. There are other negotiations underway with around 30 countries 
across the world. 
3.6.3  Rules of origin 
3.34.  An update on rules of origin was enacted since Qatar’s last Trade Policy Review.30 
Accordingly, all imported goods coming through the GCA must be accompanied with an official 
certificate indicating the goods’ origins in accordance with international standards and commitments. The certificate on the goods’ origin  must be provided by the exporting country’s 
Chamber of Commerce or other entity approved by  the GCA. Moreover, the law provides the GCA 
the right to question the information and conclusions contained in the said certificate. The GCA has the right to request additional documentation such as receipts, contracts, or any other document 
related to the product. 
3.35.  The regulations state that, in accordance with international law and standard procedures, if 
the production chain moves to a secondary country and the added value from labour or capital 
incorporated in that country exceeds 50% then the or igin of the good is considered to be from that 
secondary country. 
3.36.  All products arriving at Qatari borders must have a stamp or a sticker indicating their origin. 
If the nature of the product impedes so then an official document could be submitted instead with 
prior approval from the GCA. If a product does  not meet these requirements then the GCA may 
grant an exemption and all the necessary procedur es would be implemented either at the GCA’s 
warehouse or the importer’s personal warehouse, under the authorities’ supervision. However, if 
the importer constantly repeats this violation then the GCA has the right to refuse the product 
entry into Qatar. Moreover, any product that enters the market without an indication of its origin will be treated as an illegally smuggled product in accordance with Customs Law. 
3.37.  The aforementioned applies to all imported goods into the GCC in accordance with the GCC 
Common Customs Law. GCC manufactured products are treated as domestically produced products at Qatari borders. 
3.6.4  Anti-dumping, counterva iling and safeguards measures 
3.38.  H.H. the Emir ratified Law No. (10) of 2013 in the second half of the year thus enacting, in 
Qatar, GCC legislation on anti-dumping, counterva iling and safeguard measures. The Law, drafted 
at the GCC level, seeks to enable member states to take the necessary measures to protect 
national markets against dumping, illegal subsidies and surges in imports. Furthermore, this Law 
also states that a technical body, established at the GCC level and called the Office of the Technical Secretariat, is to oversee all related incidents in the GCC.
31 This Office directly reports to 
and follows the decisions taken by the Ministeria l Committee, a body made up of designated 
representatives from GCC Member States. The Office ’s aim is to surveil and regulate all incidents 
                                               
30 Ministry of Economy and Finance Decision No. (21) of 2011. 
31 The Office of the Technical Secretariat is made up of specialists working directly under the supervision 
of the Ministerial Committee. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  throughout the GCC and to provide technical advice regarding precautions measures to be taken to 
protect Member States’ domestic markets. 
3.39.  The law provides any entity the right to open a case with the Office of the Technical 
Secretariat when dumping incidents are thought to have occurred. Once a case is opened the law 
mandates that an investigation be done in order to quantify the extent of the damage done to the 
local market. Subsequently, measures can be put in place to compensate the estimated damage if it is confirmed that dumping in fact occurred. The law also foresees that the GCA may require a 
deposit from the importer proportionate to the va lue of the goods presumably being dumped into 
the country. The full deposit is to be returned to the importer if the importer maintains the pledge 
of selling the goods at a prescribed price determ ined by the GCA that includes the anti-dumping 
duty.  
3.40.  The application of countervailing measures in Qatar must follow a case opened at the Office 
of the Technical Secretariat. Once the case is opened, the law stipulates that a report is to be done to determine the extent of the subsidies afforded to those goods coming into Qatar. The 
countervailing measure is thus applied proportionately to the estimated subsidies. 
3.41.  The law affords the possibility that additional temporary import duties may be applied if a 
surge in imports of a specific product takes place.  
3.42.  The authorities plan to notify new domestic anti-dumping legislation to the WTO Anti-
Dumping Committed in line with the provisions of Article VI of GATT. 
3.6.5  Intellectual property 3.43.  Intellectual property law in Qatar refers mainly with infringements of intellectual property 
rights. The legal framework for the protection of these rights is based on Law No. (17) of 2011. 
Accordingly, the law empowers the GCA to take protective measures against the threat of counterfeit goods entering Qatar. Any business or person of interest may submit a formal 
complaint against any suspicious counterfeited product threatening its market share. The GCA, in 
turn, is obliged to open an investigation. The law stipulates that no action is to be taken unless there is evidence that proves that the suspec ted products are indeed counterfeited and thus 
contravene intellectual property rights. 
3.44.  If a product is proven to be counterfeited , the GCA will immediately ban the importation of 
the product and inform the exporting nation of its ac tion as well as explain its motive. In the event 
of a dispute, the case is immediately referred to the appropriate court in Qatar with the ruling 
given by the Supreme Court of Qatar.  
3.6.6  Import licenses 3.45.  No Import licenses are required and any trader with a valid commercial register can conduct 
import/export operations. Valid commercial licenses are transferable between individuals and/or 
corporations, subject to regulatory compliance. 
3.6.7  Electronic customs operations for air cargo 
3.46.  Coordination between the GCA and Qatar Ai rways is now paperless. Since the end of 2012, 
coordination between the QCCSW and Qatar Airways requires submitting the general manifest, the cargo manifest and the bills of lading electronically prior to landing in Qatar. Paper submissions are 
to be phased out while text-message and email notifications are being phased in
. 
3.47.  The GCA is expected to sign a Memorandum  of Understanding to implement the Electronic 
Airway Bill with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). As a result, the authorities will 
allow importers to submit airway bills of lading el ectronically without having to do so in paper. 
Furthermore, the GCA, in cooperation with IATA, plans to apply the air cargo e-freight concept. 
Through it, traders will be able to submit documents required for goods clearance electronically 
including invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin and other documents attached to the WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  Customs declaration. The new technology will  substitute a number of other paper-based 
documentation for electronic submission.32 
3.6.8  Competition law 3.48.  Qatar also enacted a competition law during the period under review. Law No. (19) of 2006 
provides the legal basis for its competition and anti-trust framework. Accordingly, the law prohibits 
specific activities that may lead to manipulations of either prices or quantities offered in the market. This includes providing “a sudden abundance of a product leading to their sale in a price 
that affects the economies of the other competitors”, intentionally creating shortages, restricting 
the production, manufacturing, distribution or marketing operations that could lead to restriction in the distribution of goods, publishing false inflation, collusion of tender, practices, outbidding and importation offers or abstain from providing a scarce product whenever its provision is 
economically possible, amongst other events.
33 
3.49.  The acquisition of shares or merges of tw o or more legal persons that create market power 
must be notified to the Competition Protecti on Committee for the Prevention of Monopolistic 
Practices. This committee, which reports to the Minister of Economy and Commerce, must issue a 
decision within ninety days after receiving the no tification. Failure to notify may lead to a fine 
between QR 1,000 and QR 5 million. 
3.50.  The law also stipulates exceptions. In effe ct, the provisions of the law do not apply to the 
“sovereign practices of the State”.34 This includes government institutions, agencies, companies 
and entities subject to the directives and supervisio n of the State. Exceptions can also be made in 
cases of mergers and acquisitions considered to violate free competition but that contribute to 
economic progress in a way that compensates the violation. 
3.6.9  Tasdeer 3.51.  Qatar Development Bank’s export promotion program — Tasdeer — was established in 2011 
as part of the authorities’ efforts to promote economic diversification away from hydrocarbon 
activities, in line with the objectives of Qatar Na tional Vision 2030. Since then, Tasdeer’s activities 
have covered two areas: export development and promotion and export insurance. In 2012, 
Tasdeer adopted an export development strategy which is currently being implemented. The 
strategy, which focuses on non-oil and gas exports, categorizes companies according to their export readiness as well as Qatar’s export products. Based on this, Tasdeer customizes its export promotions services. 
3.52.  Tasdeer also provides export insurance coverage to any Qatari-based exporter.
35 The 
pre-shipment risk cover offers protection against losses caused by the following: the foreign buyer becomes insolvent, contract cancellation or other material violation of contract, adverse measures 
taken by foreign governments or warlike events, embargo measured imposed by Qatar or third 
parties involved. The insurance policy covers up to 90% of the shipment’s value. 
3.53.  Tasdeer also instituted regular publicatio ns (trade reports, newsletters, market studies, 
export directory) while publishing (in 2013) a cust omer-friendly export guide in conjunction with 
ITC. It has also led export-promotion efforts outside Qatar through exhibitions, meetings, workshops and seminars with trade-related international organizations. 
                                               
32 The documents that are now to be submitted electronically include the general manifest, the cargo 
manifest, manifest amendment request, manifest cancelation request, electronic payment, customs declaration, declaration amendment request, declaration cancellation request, temporary import application, temporary import extension application, onsite inspection request, duties refund application, violation report and the related legal proces ses, traders authorizing customs clearing agencies, other government agencies 
approvals and electronic routing of the declaration to the inspectors. 
33 Article 3, Law No. (19) of 2006. 
34 Article 6, Law No. (19) of 2006. 
35 Details about Tasdeer may be found in 
http://www.qdb.qa/English/Products/Exporting/Pages/default.aspx . WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  3.7  Upcoming regulatory changes 
3.54.  The Minister of Economy and Commerce created a high level legal advisory committee 
(established in November 2012) to review and update a wide range of laws and procedures dealing with the domestic business environment. The am endments are expected to further ease the 
process of doing business in Qatar and simplify procedures for setting up business in the country. 
The upcoming amendments are still under legal re view but are expected to be drafted into law 
during the first quarter of 2014. The Consumer Protection Law No. (8) of 2008 and the Commercial 
Agents Law No. (8) of 2002 are also in line to be reviewed for possible updates once the 
aforementioned amendments come into force. 
3.55.  The following are the main laws currently under review:   Commercial Corporate Law No. (5) of 2002 . The proposed changes include, amongst 
other things, new corporate governance rules, the establishment of a single-window at the 
MEC for setting-up a business, the substitution of the “one-person company” legal figures for 
Limited Liability Company which can be incorporated by one or more persons, the elimination 
of the QR 200,000 requirement demanded on prospective company owners in order to set up 
a business, specification of penalties and new rules on the composition of the board of directors of public shareholding companies, i.e.  one third of a public shareholding company’s 
board of directors will not be required to own company shares. 
 
 Commercial Register Law No. (25) of 2005 . The proposed changes include, amongst 
other things, registering a company and its subsidiaries with a single entry into the registry, 
the establishment of annual renewal registration requirements, updated penalties for 
infringements of the law and reconciliation procedures for violations of the law.  
 Investment Funds La w No. (25) of 2002 . The proposed changes cover new products 
(such as money market funds and holding funds), processes as well as provide updates on fines. In particular, the investment fund registry is to be moved to QFMA with a minimum of 
QR10 million being required to set it up. Investment companies will be required to be 
publically listed within two months after registration.  
 Commercial, Industrial and Similar Bu sinesses Licences La w No. (3) of 1975 . The 
law, which stipulates rules and procedures to acquire a business license in Qatar, is to be 
amended in the following main areas: (i) all small scale vendors will be required to be linked to established (and licensed) businesses; (ii) penalties and reconciliations procedures for 
infringements of the law; (iii) license renewal requirements (to be made uniform); and 
(iv) establish a one-day guaranteed response for license applications submitted to the MEC so that approvals from other regulatory agen cies in Qatar may be sought thereafter. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  4  TRADE AGREEMENTS 
4.1  Bilateral trade-related agreements 4.1.  Qatar has in place two types of trade-re lated agreements, amongst other protocols, to 
support its bilateral trade framework: the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments 
(RPPI) Agreements and the Economic, Commercial and Technical Cooperation (ECTC) Agreements. 
These agreements, which complement GCC-level trade policy, provide the legal framework to facilitate and promote bilateral foreign investme nt flows and trade. The agreements have been 
pursued on a bilateral basis and are in line with GCC guidelines. 
4.2.  The RPPI Agreements provide Most Favore d Nation treatment to reciprocal investments, 
including those made prior to the signing of the agreement.
36 Non-discriminatory treatment, 
however, is only afforded to investors from the contracting countries and is not guaranteed in 
situations where investments are owned or controlled by natural or legal persons from third non-
contracting parties. The agreements also stipulate guidelines in the case of expropriation and compensation. Free movement of capital, returns, earnings, payments and other relevant financial 
flows related to the investment as well as work authorizations for consultants of foreign nationality 
are also guaranteed under the RPPI Agreements. 
4.3.  The Agreements also establish a process for dispute resolution for those cases where 
consultation between the parties involved did not yield a mutually satisfactory outcome. If 
disagreement persists, the parties have the choice of taking their case to either a competent court in the host country, the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes or an ad-hoc Arbitral Tribunal. Any law enacted by either country that extends more favourable treatment 
than that afforded by the RPPIs will prevail over the RPPIs. 
4.4.  Trade related areas under ECTCs cover bilateral promotion and facilitation of trade flows in 
industrial goods (both intermediate and final), agriculture, raw materials and services.
37 At the 
sector level, ECTCs cover industry (manufacturing ), mining, energy, agriculture, communications, 
transport, construction and tourism. The Agreements also stipulate that the contracting parties are to allow methods of payments between natural and legal persons of both countries in accordance 
with standard international financial regulations and processes. Furthermore, both countries are to 
encourage bilateral trade promotion through thei r respective chambers of commerce, bilateral 
trade exhibitions and training and orientation wo rkshops. The agreements also stipulate that a 
Joint Commission on Economic, Commercial and Technical Cooperation is to be set up in order to 
implement the agreement as well as expand the areas of mutual interest. 
4.5.  The following provide a list of countries with which Qatar has RPPI and ECTCs Agreements in 
place: 
Country Signing of ECTC Signing of RPPI 
Algeria 24/10/1996 24/10/1996 
Argentina 18/01/2010 - 
Armenia 22/04/2002 22/04/2002 
Azerbaijan 30/11/2004 28/08/2007 
Belarus 17/02/2001 - 
Bosnia and Herzegovina 01/06/1998 01/06/1998 
Brazil 20/01/2010 - 
Bulgaria 14/04/2009 08/11/2007 
Chad 22/11/1999 22/11/1999 
China 11/03/1985 09/04/1999 
Congo 28/03/2010 28/03/2010 
Costa Rica 25/01/2010 25/01/2010 
                                               
36 Ministry of Economy and Commerce (2014). 
37 Ministry of Economy and Commerce (2014). WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  Country Signing of ECTC Signing of RPPI 
Croatia 23/04/2009 12/11/2001 
Cuba 14/09/2000 12/11/2001 
Cyprus 11/11/2008 11/11/2008 
Egypt 02/01/1990 - 
Eritrea 07/08/2000 - 
Finland 10/06/2002 12/11/2001 
France 16/12/1974 08/07/1996 
Gambia 17/05/2002 - 
Germany 14/06/2005 - 
Ghana 17/05/2002 - 
Greece 16/03/2007 - 
India 19/04/1984 07/04/1999 
Iran 10/11/1991 20/05/1999 
Iraq 1979 - 
Italy 16/01/1992 22/03/2000 
Ivory Coast 16/05/2002 - 
Japan 16/03/2007 - 
Jordan 08/07/1980 - 
Kazakhstan 23/05/1998 04/02/2008 
Lebanon 16/08/2000 28/04/2010 
Libya 28/04/2004 - 
Luxemburg 09/06/2011 - 
Malaysia 25/01/1975 - 
Mali 18/05/2002 18/05/2002 
Mauritania 25/12/2003 - 
Mongolia 29/11/2007 29/11/2007 
Montenegro 17/02/2009 - 
Morocco 27/02/1990 - 
Nepal 16/06/2005 - 
Niger 18/05/2002 - 
Pakistan 16/04/1984 06/04/1999 
Philippines 15/12/2008 - 
Romania 06/06/1996 - 
Russia 27/11/1990 - 
Senegal 10/06/1998 10/06/1998 
Singapore 30/10/2007 - 
Slovenia Jan-10 - 
Somalia 27/05/1975 - 
South Africa 20/10/2002 - 
South Korea 21/04/1984 16/04/1999 
Sudan 30/06/1998 - 
Syria 02/12/1990 23/10/2003 
Tajikistan 06/05/2007 06/05/2007 
Thailand 12/04/1999 - 
Tunisia 26/10/1975 - 
Turkey 11/03/1985 25/12/2001 
United Kingdom 19/06/1976 - WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  Country Signing of ECTC Signing of RPPI 
Ukraine 13/01/2002 - 
United States 19/03/2004 - 
Venezuela 21/01/2010 - 
Viet Nam 11/12/2007 - 
Yemen 30/01/2000 07/08/2000 
Source: Ministry of Economy and Commerce. 
4.1.1  The Gulf Cooperation Council 
4.6.  Qatar became a member of the Gulf Coop eration Council (GCC) Customs Union — which is 
headquartered in Riyadh — on January 1st 2003.38 With this, its tariff schedule was aligned with 
other GCC Member States, trade barriers were eliminated amongst Members States and import/export procedures were made uniform throughout the Customs Union. Trade policy at the 
GCC level, particularly regarding negotiation of Free Trade Agreements with non-GCC countries, 
has since been coordinated amongst Member States. 
4.7.  The core areas governing GCC Customs Union are contained in the economic convention 
between GCC Members signed at the Muscat Summit of December 2001. In particular, Article 1 of 
the economic convention between the GCC countries contains the Customs Union’s core guiding 
principles
: a common external tariff applicable to non-GCC countries, uniformed customs 
procedures, a single point of entry whereby cust oms duties are collected, free movement of goods 
amongst GCC countries and national treatment afforded to goods produced in any of the GCC countries. 
4.8.  Qatar’s economic diversification, food security objectives and private sector development 
objectives are consistent with the GCC’s primary trade policy objective of liberalizing trade between GCC Member States. The establishment of the GCC free trade area opened markets for 
local businesses which is expected to continue to boost private sector development in Qatar. The 
Custom Union’s agreement also specifies certain Sanitary and Phytosanitary rules. 
4.9.  In 2010 the GCC put a moratorium in place delaying negotiations between the GCC and other 
countries until economic impact studies were finalized.
39 
4.1.2  Pan Arab Free Trade Area 4.10.  The Pan Arab Free Trade Area (PAFTA), also  known as Greater Arab Free Trade Area and of 
which Qatar is a founding member, was formally established on February 27
th 1997.40  T h e  
Agreement, which expanded an existing Agreem ent on Facilitation and Development of Trade 
Amongst Arab States in place since 1981, originally envisioned a 10 year transition period (later reduced to 7 years) for the establishment of a free trade area. The establishment of this area 
included the progressive elimination of customs and other trade distorting duties (finalized in 
2005) and the elimination of all non-tariff barriers, including administrative, monetary, financial and technical barriers to trade. 
4.11.  Qatar provides special treatment to Suda n and Yemen based on PAFTA rules that provide 
preferential treatment to least developed Member States. In consequence, as at early 2014, Sudanese and Yemeni exports to Qatar enter the country duty-free whereas Qatari exports to Sudan and Yemen are subject to custom duties. Qa tar also provides preferential treatment to 
Palestine under the PAFTA Agreement. Exports manufactured in Palestine thus enter Qatar on a 
duty-free basis while Qatari exports to Palestine are subject to customs duties. 
                                               
38 Amiri Decree No. (81) of 2003. 
39 GCC Decision from 6th September, 2010. 
40 Member States include Qatar, Egypt, U.A.E., Bahr ain, Jordan, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, 
Iraq, Oman, Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Algeria,  Morocco and Yemen. Access ion procedures are ongoing 
with Djibouti, Somalia, Comoros Islands and Mauritania. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
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  4.12.  During the period under review, Qatar applied rules of origins as stipulated under the PAFTA 
Agreement. Until 2010, the rules applied required that the value added should not be less than 40% of ex-factory cost in order for the product to be considered as originating from a PAFTA Member State.
41 Since then, the rules of origin were changed to a production-process approach.42 
4.13.  Negotiations on trade in services within the context of PAFTA, in which Qatar participates, 
are still ongoing. 
4.2  The World Trade Organization 
4.14.  Qatar officially became a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) after incorporating 
the WTO Agreements into Qatari Law through the Amiri Decree No.(24) of 1995. The Decree thus ratified the Agreements internally. Within the WTO, Qatar has been negotiating an initiative at the committee on Trade and Environment concerning the definition of natural gas and its derivatives 
as an environmental good, thereby seeking to further facilitate world trade.  
4.15.  Qatar oversees its commitments to the WTO through a National WTO Committee composed 
of representatives from relevant ministries and government authorities and headed by an 
appointee from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. This Committee also monitors initiatives 
undertaken on behalf of Qatar within the context of the multilateral trading system. 
4.2.1  The Doha Development Agenda 
4.16.  In line with having hosted the conferen ce in which the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) 
was launched, Qatar has made consistent efforts to promote the liberalization of international trade. In particular, it has sought to remove barriers and obstacles that limit growth in trade and support the role of developing nations in international trade. 
4.17.  Qatar has been an active participant of th e DDA negotiations. Its main objectives within the 
DDA include greater access to non-agricultural products and the removal of agriculture subsidies, the free movement of natural persons and trade facilitation. Furthermore, it has been promoting 
international trade through bilateral investment an d trade-related agreements with many countries 
(see section 4.1). These agreements complement arrangements on double taxation, trade promotion, elimination of customs duties, dispute resolution, economic and technical cooperation 
and capacity building, amongst others. Moreover, Qatar has made particular efforts to finalize such 
agreements with developing nations. Under these arrangements, Qatar and its partner nations provide each other non-discriminatory treatment in their bilateral investment and trade framework. 
                                               
41 Arab Rules of Origin of 1998 as stipulated in the PAFTA Agreement. 
42 Detailed Arab Rules of Origin as stipulated in the PAFTA Agreement. WT/TPR/G/296/Rev.1 • Qatar 
 
- 31 - 
 
  5  REFERENCES 
 Al Meezan. Qatar Legal Portal.Viewed at: http://www.almeezan.qa  
 
 Ashghal (Qatar Public Works Authority). Viewed at: http://www.ashgal.gov.qa  
 
 General Customs Administration (2013), Presentation, Qatar Customs Clearance Single 
Window QCCSW – Success Story , Doha, Qatar. 
 
 General Customs Administration (2014), The Strategic Plan of The General Customs Authority , 
Doha, Qatar. 
 
 General Secretariat for Development Planning (2008), Qatar National Vision 2030 , Doha, 
Qatar. 
 
 General Secretariat for Development Planning (2011), Qatar National Development Strategy , 
Doha, Qatar.  
 Hassad Food (2014), Office of the Chairman, Doha, Qatar. 
 
 Hukoomi. Viewed at: http://www.egovernment.qa . 
 
 ICTQatar. Viewed at: http://www.ictqatar.qa . 
 
 IMF (2011, 2012), Article IV Consultation , Washington, D.C. 
 
 IMF (2014), World Economic Outlook . Viewed at: http://www.imf.org . 
 
 Middle East Economic Digest. Viewed at: http://www.meed.com . 
 
 Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. Viewed at: http://www.gsdp.gov.qa . 
 
 Ministry of Economy and Commerce. Viewed at: http://www.mec.gov.qa . 
 
 Ministry of Economy and Commerce (2012), Qatar Business and Trade Report , Doha, Qatar 
 
 Ministry of Finance. Viewed at: http://www.mof.gov.qa . 
 
 Qatar Central Bank, Quarterly Statistical Bulletin . Viewed at: http://www.qcb.gov.qa . 
 
 Qatar Development Bank. Viewed at: http://www.qdb.qa . 
 
 Qatar National Bank. QNB Capital LLC. Viewed at: http://www.qnb.com.qa . 
 
 Qatar Tourism Authority. Viewed at: http://www.qatartourism.gov.qa . 
 
 Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute. Viewed at: http://www.swfinstitute.org . 
 
 World Bank (2014). Viewed at: http://www.worldbank.org . 
 
Speeches: 
 
Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (2013). Doha Forum. 
1. http://dohaforum2013.qatarconferences.org/includes/data/2013/speeches/Emir_speech.pdf . 
2. http://dohaforum2013.qatarconferences.org/includes/data/2013/speeches/Emir_speech.pdf . 
 
Sultan Al-Khater, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (2013). 1. Statement read at the WTO 9
th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia. 
 
Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (2013). Shura Council Speech. 
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