Exporting to Qatar
Strong links with the UK
Qatar has strong political, cultural, and economic ties to the UK. English is widely spoken and people value brands from the UK. UK exports to Qatar continue to rise. In the year to March 2019, UK exports to Qatar amounted to £3.5 billion (ONS, 2019).
National Vision 2030
The UK is the partner of choice for National Vision 2030, Qatar’s social, economic and environmental development programme (Goverment Communications Office of Qatar, 2019). It provides a framework for government policy, planning and allocation of funds. Its goals include reducing reliance on oil and gas revenues, increasing economic diversity (including developing a local knowledge-based economy) and stimulating the private sector.
Foreign direct investment incentives
Qatar has various initiatives to incentivise foreign direct investment (FDI). There are two free zones, designed to allow for 100% foreign ownership, one near Hamad International Airport and one near Hamad Port (Qatar Free Zone Authority, 2019). Manateq, Qatar Financial Centre and Qatar Science and Technology Park operate as free-zone-style locations.

Ease of doing business
77th
out of 190 countries (World Bank, 2019)
Currency
Riyal
Business language
Arabic
English is widely spoken, but business documents will need to be in Arabic
GDP per capita
$70,770
UK is $42,558 (IMF, 2018)
Economic growth
0.1%
(IMF, 2019)
Time zone
GMT +3
Opportunities for exporters
There are opportunities for UK companies across a broad range of industries. Our trade advisers in the Qatar have identified particular opportunities for UK businesses in the following sectors.
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Sport
2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar has accelerated the need for major investment in areas such as infrastructure development, tourism, hospitality, and creative industries. Qatar is dedicated to becoming a global sport business hub and will be hosting several international sporting competitions in the coming years. This offers many opportunities for UK companies.
UK expertise in major sporting events
The UK has an excellent reputation for sport - both participating in and staging world-class events. UK companies are the partners of choice for local firms and organising committees in all major sporting events across the world.
Broad range of opportunities
There are opportunities for UK businesses in a range of areas including construction, security, event management, retail, hospitality, and the creative industries.
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Energy
Qatar has significant oil and gas reserves. Its energy production per head dwarfs the other Gulf countries. Many opportunities exist, including drilling, oil rig maintenance and servicing, supply of pumps and valves, and health and safety equipment.
Gas well extension
Shell's investment at the Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) plant at Ras Laffan is the single largest foreign investment in the country. There are supply-chain opportunities supporting Shell’s gas well extension.
Deployment of new rigs
There are further opportunities across the supply chain supporting the deployment of new Shell rigs.
New solar plans
Qatar’s ambitious solar plans, including a 700 MW solar power plant, offer supply chain opportunities to UK exporters.
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Infrastructure
Qatar has an ambitious infrastructure programme driven by its National Vision 2030. The upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, population growth, and development of new cities like Lusail have created the need to upgrade infrastructure across all segments including transport, utilities, water, and sanitation.
Opportunities for UK exporters
There are opportunities for UK businesses across a range of infrastructure projects including road, street and water infrastructure, transport, education, retail, healthcare and defence infrastructures.
Recognition of UK infrastructure expertise
The UK and Qatar enjoy strong political, cultural, and economic ties. UK businesses are respected for their quality and reliability and we have a strong reputation for delivering in Qatar.
2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar
The 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar is a key milestone for the country and a unique opportunity for UK exporters. The major construction projects like Stadia Qatar and the metro are close to being concluded. However, as heavy investment into general infrastructure and city development continues there are still many opportunities for UK companies.
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Healthcare
Qatar’s long-term ambition is to change its approach to healthcare from a reactive, hospital-based model to a more preventive, community care-based system. As in many countries, non-communicable diseases within Qatar’s population are growing, largely due to unhealthy lifestyle habits . These factors are all leading to increased demand for services.
Strong partnership
The UK and Qatar signed a bilateral agreement in 2017 to increase collaboration in the healthcare sector, building on the UK’s world-leading capability in this area. There are opportunities for both private and public sector. Qatar’s adaptation of the NHS model makes it easier for UK companies to propose their services.
Government priorities
There are many potential opportunities for UK businesses in Qatar’s healthcare sector. Government priorities include a new health insurance scheme, health facilities management, e-health and data management, technology and biomedical, development of diagnostic services, clinical education and knowledge transfer and exchange of expertise.
Private sector priorities
Opportunities for UK businesses also exist in Qatar’s private healthcare sector. These include a health facilities management, specialised clinical offerings, pharmacy and drug distribution, medical device development, e-health, design and build and consultancy.
Doing business in Qatar
Preparing to export
Taxation
The UK and Qatar have signed a double taxation agreement, meaning the same income is not taxed twice.
Qatari companies are exempt from tax. However, foreign companies and any business activity carried out in Qatar are subject to a corporate income tax of 10%. This includes any services or consultancy contracts within the state as well as any gains on property.
VAT
If you’re registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) you can zero-rate VAT on most goods you export to Qatar.
There is presently no sales tax in Qatar.
Import and excise duties
Qatar is part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) customs union. The rate of duty on most items imported into the GCC is 5%.
Goods that compete with locally manufactured products attract higher rates of duty, such as steel (20%), cement (20%) and urea (30%).
There is a 100% tariff imposed on alcohol and tobacco products in Qatar. You should check you have paid excise duty on any alcohol, alcoholic drinks, energy products, electrical or tobacco products you send to Qatar.
Standards
Most Qatari product standards are based on those developed by the Gulf Standardization Organization. They’re based to some extent on international standards but don’t necessarily conform.
There are Qatar-specific standards relating to building, mechanical and food products. The Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology is responsible for standards.
Food packaging and labelling
Qatar enforces strict food labelling and packaging laws, and GCC shelf-life standards for some products. Products must arrive with at least half the shelf-life remaining.
Labels must be in Arabic only, or Arabic with an English translation. Products with English-only labels may be approved for import on a case-by-case basis.
Trade barriers
Check for any reported barriers to trading with Qatar.
Report any trade barriers that are affecting your business so we can help fix them.
Operating in Qatar
Challenges
Challenges facing businesses operating in Qatar include bureaucracy, payment delays and a lack of transparency in the market. Foreign investment is restricted in some sectors.
You may wish to read the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Overseas Business Risk report for Qatar.
Intellectual Property
You should register your trademarks at the Qatar Intellectual Property Department - Trademark Office at the Ministry of Economy. Inventive designs or industrial models can also be registered under the Trade Mark Law.
Register at Qatar’s Copyright Office to protect inventions and literary and artistic works.
Payment terms
For advice about payment and finance in Qatar, talk to a bank or accountant. The DIT team in Qatar can help you find a financial adviser in Qatar.
Make sure you clearly specify payment terms in the contract with your customer or buyer. Any dispute will have to go through the Qatari legal system for resolution, which can be a lengthy, complicated process.
Partnership and agreements
You should sign a contract before undertaking any work or projects in Qatar.
To do business in Qatar you will need a local sponsor. There is also a requirement for a partnership split of 49% to 51% in favour of the Qatari national, with the foreign company bearing the greater risk.
Business culture
You’ll find some differences in Qatari and UK business culture, for example:
- Qatar is an Islamic country and follows sharia law
- although English is widely spoken, businesses in Qatar must use Arabic as the main language for issuing invoices, service lists, product labels and customer services
- establishing professional relationships is essential to securing business contracts
- the working week is Sunday to Thursday
Next steps
DIT can advise you on doing business abroad, and help put you in touch with other people who can help such as lawyers and distributors.