Required certification · Qatar
Qatarization (Law No. 12 of 2024)
Law No. 12 of 2024 on localising private-sector jobs for Qatari nationals
Market position
Law No. 12 of 2024, issued by the Amir in 2024 and taking effect six months after its October 2024 publication, requires private employers in Qatar to give priority to Qatari nationals, according to a Crowell & Moring summary. Employers must notify the Ministry of Labour of vacancies and salaries, fill jobs the Ministry designates with Qataris only and use Ministry employment templates. Companies owned fully or partly by QatarEnergy and companies in petroleum operations are excluded, and incentives and quotas are left to Council of Ministers decisions.
Qatar-specific note
Contractors hiring in Qatar need records of vacancies, salaries and which roles are held by Qatari nationals, because the law requires vacancy and salary notifications to the Ministry of Labour. The rules differ from Saudi Nitaqat and UAE Emiratisation, so check that HR or payroll software built for those countries can report on Qatar's terms.
Pros
- + Written legal framework administered by the Ministry of Labour
- + The Council of Ministers is to set incentives for employers who comply
- + A national localisation award recognises private-sector employers
Cons
- − Vacancies and salaries must be reported to the Ministry of Labour
- − Some jobs can be filled only by Qatari nationals
- − Fines up to QAR 100,000, and up to QAR 1,000,000 or prison for fraudulent compliance
- − Quotas and incentives depend on later Cabinet decisions
Typical Qatar pricing
No fees found; the obligation is a legal duty. Penalties range from warnings to fines of up to QAR 100,000 (up to QAR 1,000,000 and prison for fraud), per Crowell & Moring.
Why this matters for Qatar trades
The Ministry of Finance’s Monaqasat portal requires classification, with an audited balance sheet, before a company can take part in government tenders. The General Tax Authority administers income tax (10%), withholding tax and excise tax through its Dhareeba portal; Qatar has no VAT as of September 2026, and EY reports that the GTA will run e-invoicing under the draft law. Law No. 12 of 2024 requires employers to report vacancies and salaries to the Ministry of Labour and to fill designated jobs with Qatari nationals. The Ministry of Municipality issues building permits through an AI-based system launched in October 2025; QCS 2014 applies to all buildings under construction, according to The Peninsula, with Ashghal adding Interim Advice Notes on its own projects; and Kahramaa publishes lists of authorized electrical and water contractors and licenses solar PV contractors.
Qatar construction and trades software selection is shaped by Monaqasat classification for government tenders, the Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS 2014), Ashghal’s tendering and prequalification for public works, the Qatarization law (Law No. 12 of 2024), and the tax position: Qatar has not introduced VAT, and a draft e-invoicing law approved on 6 May 2026 had no official go-live date by 30 September 2026.
Frequently asked
Is Qatarization (Law No. 12 of 2024) a good fit for Qatar trades?
Law No. 12 of 2024, issued by the Amir in 2024 and taking effect six months after its October 2024 publication, requires private employers in Qatar to give priority to Qatari nationals, according to a Crowell & Moring summary. Employers must notify the Ministry of Labour of vacancies and salaries, fill jobs the Ministry designates with Qataris only and use Ministry employment templates. Companies owned fully or partly by QatarEnergy and companies in petroleum operations are excluded, and incentives and quotas are left to Council of Ministers decisions. Contractors hiring in Qatar need records of vacancies, salaries and which roles are held by Qatari nationals, because the law requires vacancy and salary notifications to the Ministry of Labour. The rules differ from Saudi Nitaqat and UAE Emiratisation, so check that HR or payroll software built for those countries can report on Qatar's terms.
What does Qatarization (Law No. 12 of 2024) cost in Qatar?
No fees found; the obligation is a legal duty. Penalties range from warnings to fines of up to QAR 100,000 (up to QAR 1,000,000 and prison for fraud), per Crowell & Moring. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Qatar pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other Qatar vendors
Monaqasat (Govt Procurement)
Required certification
General Tax Authority (GTA)
Required certification
Qatar E-Invoicing (draft)
Required certification
Ministry of Municipality (Building Permits)
Required certification
Ashghal & Qatar Construction Specifications
Required certification
Kahramaa (Electricity & Water)
Required certification