Foreign investors may only invest in Qatar in accordance with the provisions of the foreign investment law which limits the foreign ownership of a company up to 49 % only, and investor have been exempt from the 49% capital ownership rule only if they were involved in agriculture and some other limited business areas.

However, on the 1st of Feb 2010, the law number 1 of 2010 was issued to extend and to amend some key provisions of law No 13 of 2000 regulating the investment of non-Qatari capital in key economic sectors.

According to this law the Minister of Business and Trade may now issue a resolution to allow the foreign ownership limit to exceed 49% and up to 100 % foreign ownership in certain sectors as for agriculture, industry, healthcare, education, tourism, exploitation and development of natural resources energy or mining, in addition to the Consultant business, information technologies, culture sport and distribution services.

LLC's proposed articles of association must be drawn up in Arabic, the AOA must complies with the provisions of the Qatar Law and the ministry of business and trade in Qatar.

The articles of association must be signed by duly authorized representatives of the LLC's shareholders before the legalization department at the Qatar ministry of justice.  
 
In addition the company is required to subscribe to the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and to obtain a membership certificate.

After completing the company registration and issuing the certificate of incorporation and the certificate of the chamber of commerce the company must issue the trade license from the municipality.

•    Step 1: Name search
•    Step 2: Temporary bank account
•    Step 3: Deposit capitals
•    Step 4: Approval for incorporation documents
•    Step 5: Authentication of articles of association
•    Step 6: Further documents (Pre-approval)
•    Step 7: Commercial registration
•    Step 8: Registration with Qatar Chamber Of Commerce.
•    Step 9: Company seal
•    Step 10: Municipal trade license
•    Step 11: Signage license
•    Step 12: Immigration card

•    Branch office
•    Representative office
•    Single person company
•    Limited lability company
•    Shareholding company
o    Private shareholding company
o    Public shareholding company
•    Company under article 68

•    It’s a kind of business vehicle where a foreign company can operate and do business in Qatar without the need of a Qatari sponsor.
•    Typically used where a foreign company is performing a specific government related contract in Qatar.
•    Authorized by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce where the project is “government qualified”.
•    The branch is registered to perform the specific government contract for which it is registered and cannot undertake work for the private sector.
•    The branch will be fully taxable unless it is granted a special exemption.