QatarWe assist global clients looking to do doing business in Qatar with the A to Z of business setup without the need for the client to travel to Qatar. Some of our services include:
Regulatory licenses across all sectors
Provision of nominee directors and shareholders
Recruitment and employee hiring
Virtual/Physical Office space solutions
Employment and residency visas
The most common corporate structures preferred by foreign investors setting up in Qatar include i) the limited liability company (LLC/LTD) and ii) the branch office. See detailed comparison below:
Advantages and disadvantages of setting up business in Qatar:
- This country has signed free trade agreements with other countries.
- Qatar has a territorial taxation system. Dividends received from other countries will be not subject to corporate tax in Qatar.
- Tax advantage. Qatar does not impose i) value added tax (VAT) ii) export tax or iii) capital gains tax. Furthermore, corporate tax is imposed at a relatively low rate of 10% and there is no withholding tax on dividends;
- Availability of cheap labour and existence of easy recruitment procedures in Qatar.
- Qatar has liberal immigration policies; it is easy to import skilled and unskilled labor.
- Highly developed infrastructure to aid imports and exports and other movements in the country.
- There are free zone company. There are two special free zones designed for foreign investment i) the Qatar Science and Technology Park, and ii) the Qatar Financial Centre, but also open to other services including: i) shipping services ii) management services and iii) professional services.
- Highly efficient in the English language.
- A vast majority of foreign companies must appoint a 51% Qatar national shareholder for ease of operations and majority of company visas and licenses are sponsored by Qatar nationals, giving the latter indirect control over the business
- Restriction in some lucrative sectors including aviation, insurance and telecommunications.
- Lack of skilled workers resulting in requirement to import workers for the work
- If a Qatar business cannot pay creditors, then the business owner must personally do so. Debt and financial irregularities are considered serious offences, and the owners may not be allowed to leave the country.
- Partiality in judicial system. In case of disputes over business and investments, Qatar business practices and laws favor Qatari nationals over foreigner.
Important links:
Company incorporation steps in Qatar:
- Name Reservation: Girimba Consulting reserves a unique company name through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI);
- Documents Preparation: Our Team prepares the incorporation documents and emails our client for signatures, notarization and postulation.
- Certificate of Incorporation: Our Team submits an application for company registration at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) and obtain a certificate of incorporation;
- Social Security Number: If the director is a foreign national, our team shall facilitate and assist with application for a Social Security Number (SSN) with a Social Security Office;
- Employer Identification Number: Our Tax Agent also submits an application to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the Employer Identification Number;
- Other Registrations: If the Client intends to hire local staff, our Team registers the company with The General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority (GRSIA) apply for visa quota
- Bank Account Opening: Girimba Consulting also assists our client to open a local corporate bank account with a top tier bank in Qatar.
Girimba Consulting conducts business with openness, transperancy and honesty.We respect and uphold our Clients’ confidentiality, we offer quality service at affordable rates. Contact us for professional solutions.
Clarence S. Carlos
Regional Cordinator
Clarence is our regional cordinator and head of business setup secretariat.