Welcoming visitors across the globe, His Excellency Sultan Bin Rashid Al Khater, undersecretary of... the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated the Qatar Pavilion on October 1st at Expo 2020 Dubai which is being held from October 1st 2021, until March 31st 2022 under the Slogan: “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.” The opening was attended by a number of dignitaries, officials and elite businessmen and investors from different Countries worldwide.
The Qatar Pavilion themed “Qatar. The Future is Now.” is a distinguished platform for strengthening commercial, industrial and investment cooperation relations with the various countries participating in the exhibition.
His Excellency, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry toured Qatar’s pavilion, which highlights the country’s achievements across various fields, showcases the most pioneering projects that are being developed in accordance with the National Vision 2030 and Spotlights Qatar as the upcoming host of 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Qatar Pavilion was designed by internationally renowned architect, Santiago Calatrava Qatar, who represented a modern interpretation of the four elements presented in the Coat of arms of Qatar and paid tribute to Qatar’s cultural heritage.
Spanning over about 960sqm, with a built-up area of 620sqm, Qatar’s pavilion includes two main galleries and exhibition spaces showcasing Qatar’s history and culture, using the latest virtual reality technologies.
Qatar’s pavilion reflects a number of sub-themes of Expo 2020 Dubai’s main Slogan referring to sustainability, mobility and opportunity.
Through its participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, Qatar seeks to consolidate its role as a safe and leading global hub for tourism and business
Services
PRO Services
In Qatar, the sphere of ministry of Interior (MoI) is huge. Without any compromise in “the safety...and security of homeland “, the ministry as whole is concerned about keeping public order and public moral. Even if so, your interactions with the MoI in Qatar are likely to be more normal.
The MoI takes in charge of various legal formalities every day. You may have to track the application of your residency permit, or to check up on the traffic violations. You might be checking on the status of Police clearance certificate request, or applying to activate electronic service on your smart card.
The MoI in Qatar makes your dealings with the ministry much smoother by persistently improving its facilities. For that purpose, MoI has its Metrash app through which all services are done online.
Let’s have a look at services you could do by using MoI’s e-service function.
Visa Services
Visa services is a substantial one for most expats. Using the portal, you can follow up visa approvals on work or visit visa applications, print or reprint visas issued online. You can also track visa application through Qatar visa center and access the visa extension service.
If you are considering to begin a business in Qatar, the term “PRO Services” might have caught your attention. So what do PRO Services Precisely mean and why does it becomes an essential factor in a country like Qatar. In this post, we will analyze the term “PRO Services” to ascertain what they are, what they provide, and why utilizing them could become the right call of new business venture in Qatar.
Traffic enquiries
You can enquire about recorded traffic violations and vehicle violation by using the portal and print out
Traffic accidents reports to get permission for the quick repair of damaged vehicles.
Exit and Entry Permits
The MoI’s portal enables you to complete and print out leave notification application form, and ask about the expiry date of current leave notification.
You can also complete and print out entry permits for the airports and seaports at Rowais and Hamad. This is also place to complete and print out Abu Samrah border entry permits, Qatar media corporation entry permits and diplomatic entry permits.
Residency Permits
You can follow up on your residency application or renewal, or check your eligibility for permanent residency
Other Enquiries
You can enquire about expiry dates on official documents, such as your QID, passport residency permit and driving license. You can also complete and print out smart card applications and apply to activate electronic services on smart cards as well.
Q – Post Services
Working in association with Q – Post the MoI permits you to enquire about the Q Post via its Portal and you can easily Track the status of documents such as residency permit application, license renewal or Qatari documents (eg : your lost or damaged Qatar ID)
Police Clearance Certificate Enquiries
Another advantages services on MoI e- service portal lets you to examine the status of your police clearance certificate request.
Metrash
Why Ayam?
Metrash
The MoI is continuously expanding its Metrash application to easily access its services .... You get much of the service online now via Metrash.
The Metrash and app can be used on any smart device by citizens, residents, companies and institutions 24/7 anad you can smoothly utilize any of 174 services offered by MoI. You can also make the payment for the services directly through this app without the interference of directorates of the ministry.
Even if all these facilities are available through MoI e – service portal, you still have to confront certain issues like language, lack of time to go through necessary paper works or lack of knowledge about the documents needed
In such a hassle, AYAM is here to assist you. As an expert we can provide the guidance you require in Qatar without any complications. To know further, you can approach us today without any hesitations.
What are PRO Services?
When we discuss about PRO Services in Qatar, we mention about variety of activities that are attached to the processing of governmental documents and paper works. A number of legal formalities fall into the category of PRO Services like clearing up trade license, renewing your company registration, applying for visas for your employees.
Let’s take a quick view at most commonly enquired PRO Services in Qatar:
• Commercial registration application, amendments and renewals.
• Application and assistance in relation to share transfers.
• Obtaining or amending Trade license
• Obtaining or amending Labor Quotes
• Applying for renewing and cancelling visas for employees and their families.
• Acquiring and renewing regulatory approvals.
• Company sponsorship (also known as individual sponsorship)
• Organizing custom clearance.
Why do you require PRO Services?
Every company in Qatar necessitates the services of Public Relation Officer or PRO (Sometimes referred to as Government liaison officer).
Bearing in mind the necessities during start up and its developing stage - the PRO ensures that the company remains dutiful to the Qatar Government handling all the essential Government paper works in a punctual way and as an outcome, the company can always stay on the fair side of Qatar law.
While some companies may choose to have their own PRO, others decide to depend on the professionals, who propose PRO Services, for meeting their PRO requirements such as Ayam. This results in a numerous benefits.
Vital role of PRO Services
Professional who offer PRO Services deal with them every day. That indicate they are well aware of the needs and necessities, even if rules and regulations change year by year, or even month by month.
Your business in Qatar will be established in a proper manner, with your PRO Services Professionals ensuring all required license are applied for and all approvals are obtained from the exact ministry or department.
You, your employees and family members visiting or setting in Qatar will have the correct visa with visa renewals and cancellation all being made in manner.
Your company will remain obliging confirmable as you persist to do business in Qatar, with your PRO Services professionals ensuring all renewals and amendments are well organized where necessitated.
Your company in Qatar will have guidelines it requires, from an expert in company formation.
Your company will be enabled to concentrate on what’s prominent and need not to worry about the paper works to be done and where to apply and all.
Your company can move forward by enjoying a cost effective solutions, avoiding unnecessary fines that may come in your path due to lack of professional by your side. Moreover you and your employees will be assisted. in everything from opening a bank account and gaining a Qatari ID Card, to signing a residential lease and connecting to utilities such as electricity.
Why prefer AYAM for PRO Services?
By offering PRO Services in reliable mode for many years and by the experience, we acquired, we can proudly say that AYAM is the expertise you are searching for as you start a business in Qatar. Dealing with PRO Services every day the professionals at AYAM are well informed about the requirements and its right time, making you secure by relieving the stress entirely out of your hands.
To know more about what AYAM could provide as you initiate a business in Qatar, contact us today for a free consultation.
QBWA
The ladies Super Club
The most exclusive female networking platform, The Ladies Super club was launched at St Regis Hotel...in Qatar. A successful evening that gathered female ambassadors, international and Qatari business lady managers in the fields of real estate, consulting, media, sport, tourism, marketing, fashion as well as owners of prime retail businesses and restaurants in Qatar.
Organised by the International Business Network in Qatar, in cooperation with Qatari Business women Association (QBWA), the Super Club, is an ‘by only invitation’ event and all attendees are carefully selected to guarantee a match making platform of very high profile. The strategic partner of the event was the real estate UK Company International Investments.
Palma Libotte, head of the newly established International Business Network addressed the gathering. She welcomed the diplomats from the Austrian, Italian, Spanish, British, Guinea, Dominican republic VIP guests and business ladies, by saying that as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is just a year away, the Ladies Supper Club will strengthen the cultural and business exchange between Qatari and international females working in Qatar.
“Women business networks are strong and our natural multitasking abilities allow us to have fun in a friendly environment whilst developing interesting leads to grow our businesses. We are caring yet determined, compassionate and creative and our emotional intelligence is a driving force to improve and innovate the business environments where we interact and initiate community activities,” said Libotte.
The International Business Council of Qatar is also working on another important project: the Business women Building a Sustainable Future that will link international female business projects to Qatari entrepreneurs.
The support of Qatari Business women Association is crucial for the success of such events and programs as they are the leading association for business women in Qatar and their organization is long term established and renowned worldwide.
Online Business
Company formation
Doha: In 2021, because of pandemic, trade and business of the whole world especially Middle East...rgely happens online. The shift to remote work and corporate digital transformation ambitions has greatly accelerated this trend, in addition to work-from-home requirements and remote learning. Moreover, the region’s mobile industry has supported almost one million jobs and contributed to the funding of the public sector.
An estimate from the World Economic Forum puts the potential value associated with the digitalisation of society and industry at over $100 trillion worldwide in 2025.
The subsea cable networks that integrate Qatar with the global digital economy today, also lays the foundation for continued growth via global trade and investment, local startups, and an influx of international companies looking to set up business in Qatar.
Already a key commercial and financial hub, with developments like the Qatar Internet Exchange Point (QIXP), Qatar is also becoming a global connectivity hub, driven by the state-of-the-art communications infrastructure that emerges from our oceans at the click of a button.
World cup 2022
The Big Opportunity
Doha: According to a report released by real estate consultancy firm-ValuStrat, by the end of next...ear, shoppers will have more options to choose from as more new malls are set to open in the country in coming months. Qatar’s retail market will witness the entry of new companies as six new malls are expected to open in the country.
Around 6 malls are going to open in Lusail, Msheirib, Ummsalal etc .Doha Festival City announced 35 new stores across fashion, leisure, entertainment, jewellery, café and pharmacy areas. According to UDC, 40 new retail and F&B brands have opened in The Pearl in 2021.
LuLu opened its new mall at Abu Sidra with organised retail stock comprised 1.96 million sq m Gross Leasable Area. Also Lulu hypermarket to open in Giardino Mall covering 13,000 sq m and supermarket in Gewan Island across 700 sq m by 2022,” said the report.
The report added, Eid holidays, shopping festivals, re-opening of schools and further removal of social mobility restrictions have led to a boost to footfall across all malls compared to the second quarter of 2021. There has been increase in take up of retail outlets across Lusail, Fereej Bin Mahmoud, Ain Khaled, Al Aziziya and Najma compared to last quarter.
There was marginal addition of 700 units during the third quarter of 2021, with total housing stock of 307,215 units. Around 600 apartments were delivered from completion of Abraj Bay tower 2 in The Pearl and three residential Towers in Lusail.
About the hospitality sector, Katara Hospitality, owning 42 hotels and 25,000 rooms, announced plans to expand to 60 hotels by 2030.
Average occupancy of hotel and hotel apartments (excluding keys being used for quarantine) as of August year-to-date 2021 was at 61 percent and 63 percent respectively, up by an average of 7 percent compared to same period in 2020.
World Cup 2022
The best time to begin
Qatar has a solid and irrepressible economy which is evident from its strong financial ... position . The FIFA World Qatar Cup 2022 is the energy for growth and investments from all the regions in all sectors in Qatar are welcome, said a senior official during ‘The Year Ahead in the Middle East: Building World Cup Momentum’ summit.+ Qatar maintains a very strong fiscal position relative to GPD growth and the fiscal support has been strong throughout the pandemic,” he added.
Al Thani said,” We believe that transition to endemic phase can trigger the investment appetite, accelerate business activities heading towards pre-pandemic levels while maintaining the secular trends like digitisation, supply chain resiliency and localisation. Qatar is maintaining its drive towards economic diversification and greater private sector participation in these efforts.”
Speaking during the event, he said investments from all the regions in all the sectors are welcome in Qatar. “Most of investment into Qatar comes from the US; and Europe remains Qatar’s single largest foreign investor. We have also seen growth in Southeast Asia and South Asia as well and we look to promote it in our strategic markets and there are many sectors we look to promote within Qatar that complements this geographic approach.”
“We have a business-friendly environment, strong connection to markets in Africa and Asia, and strong investment protection ties global. Qatar has a strong and resistant economy which is evident from our strong financial position which will continue to outperform our GDP growth and we are looking to maintain it which will be at the forefront of the GCC forecast with about 4 percent GDP growth in 2020 and 5.7 percent in 2022, according to the recent IMF report.”
Responding to a query about the new sectors that Qatar is targeting he said, “Agritech is the new area that Qatar is currently is witnessing significant growth in. Also technology, electric vehicles, automation, professional services and sports which is not only limited to the World Cup but also other large sports events like the Formula 1, Asian Games 2030 and also the growth of sports tech as a sector within Qatar. Tourism and hospitality have seen significant growth coming to kind of post pandemic phase, also now with the ESG and circular economy. There are so many opportunities around these sectors which we look to promote.”
Al Thani added, “The new sectors we are targeting for FDI promotion and the growth of digital economy are software development, data centers, cloud computing, ICT digital health, AI, and machine learning. The favorable business environment, availability of skills and talent in the region, we see that as being a beneficial value proposition for Qatar.”
Elaborating about the post World Cup investments into Qatar, he said, “Going into 2022 we have a strong pipeline, Qatar’s North Field expansion will lead to significant growth and investment opportunities, new legislative reforms such as the PPP law, greater private sector participation and also effective government incentive and economic management, we believe that will be the motivation for greater FDI growth going into 2022 and beyond.”
11JAN
What are the steps for opening a company in Qatar?
Foreign companies that want to expand their business to Qatar can
open a branch or incorporate a new business entity. A requirement for doing business in
the country for foreign corporations is to appoint a representative. One of our company
registration agents in Qatar can help by answering your questions about the steps for
business incorporation in the country ... A few
steps are mandatory for all investors who decide to open a company in Qatar:reserve
a company name with the Commercial Registry and Trademark Department;
open a bank account and deposit the paid-up capital;
draw up the Articles of Association and submit them for approval from the Commercial
Companies Control Department;
authenticate the Articles of Association;
submit the documents and register with the Commercial Registry belonging to the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
register for tax purposes and make a company seal;
a trade license and signage license are obtained from the Municipality of Doha.
Other special permits and licenses may be needed, as per the company’s activities.
The procedures described above are a summarized description of the steps that need
to be achieved in order to have a registered and operational legal entity. We
recommend seeking advice from our Qatar company registration firm. Our team of
experts can help you understand the process and abide restrictions imposed in
respect to foreign ownership.
MAIN REASONS TO OPEN A COMPANY IN QATAR
Easy Registration
FAST FORMALITIES
Companies in Qatar can be easily incorporated, as there are no harsh formalities involved. One of our
company formation agents in Qatar can provide assistance throughout the registration process.
Simplified Documents
REQUIREMENTS TO CONSIDER
The articles of association are the company’s main documents that have information about the
owners,the business address, the representative of the firm, the activities and many more.
Fast approvals
AUTHORITIES IN QATAR
The ministry of economy and commerce in Qatar issues the necessary approvals for businesses in this
country. If all the formalities are respected, the approvals are received in a fast manner.
Appealing tax structure
TAXATION IN QATAR
The tax system in Qatar is attractive to foreigners, as there is no withholding tax on dividends and
no real estate property tax.
Attractive business sectors
INVESTMENTS IN QATAR
Qatar is a top investment destination in western asia, chosen by businessmen of any kind. The oil and
gas sector, tourism, real estate and manufacturing generate huge profits each year.
What types of companies can I open in
Qatar?
The most common types of companies in Qatar are the limited liability company, the public
shareholding company, and the branch. Partnerships, joint partnerships, and limited
partnerships, as well as joint ventures, are available business forms. Foreign investors in
Qatar commonly choose to open a limited liability company. The majority of the business (51%)
needs to be owned by a Qatari national or by a group of Qatari national shareholders.
The Qatar Financial Centre and the Qatar Science & Technology Park are two special investment
zones where foreign company incorporation is encouraged and where investors benefit from a
special tax regime and regulatory framework. Companies incorporated in the Qatar Financial
Centre are subject to a parallel legal framework, modeled after the English Common law. Full
foreign ownership is permitted here and companies incorporated under this special regime can
access the Qatar local market. One of our company formation agents in Qatar can give you more
information about this special Centre.
Registering LLC in Qatar
The registration of a limited liability company in Qatar is made with the Ministry of Economy
and Commerce. The incorporation is not complex, however, it is recommended to pay attention to
the following aspects:
A name verification and reservation need to be made before the documents are prepared.
The Articles of Association and the Memorandum of Association need to be drafted in Arabic and
then notarized.
QAR 200,000 represent the minimum share capital which must be deposited in a local bank account.
Depending on the business, special licenses and permits are needed.
It is important to know that foreign investors in Qatar cannot have more than 49% ownership in
the company. This is why a local partner is needed for opening a company in Qatar.
Can I establish a branch in Qatar?
Yes, you can establish a branch in Qatar, respecting a few conditions in this direction. For
instance, the first thing to do is to obtain a decree from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce
in Qatar. The incorporation of a branch in Qatar is a complex process, however, the procedure
involves a series of documents to prepare, plus the approvals of the authorities. Among these,
the declaration showing the intention of establishing a branch, made by the parent company, is
needed. Moreover, The Articles of Association and the Memorandum of Association, a power of
attorney and the certificate of registration for a foreign shareholder of the company from
abroad are among the documents which need to be drafted at the Commercial Registry in Qatar. If
you would like to set up a branch in Qatar, you should seek advice from our team of company
formation agents in Qatar.
