Business setup cost in Qatar
Government fees for a mainland company in Qatar come to about QAR 1,700 to 2,200 for a full Single Window setup, depending on which official page you read and on your activities. On top of that come office rent, attestation and translation, visas and the first year’s running costs. Each fee below names its official source.
Company setup costs and registration fees at a glance
- Full company establishment through the Single Window
- QAR 1,700 to 2,200
- Commercial registration with one activity
- QAR 500
- Each extra activity on the CR
- + QAR 300
- Qatar Chamber fee, set by capital
- QAR 500 to 5,000
Company setup costs start with these government fees. The Single Window service page shows about QAR 1,700 and Invest Qatar’s guide about QAR 2,200; the portal shows the exact figure for your case. Checked 21 Oct 2026.
Mainland company formation and registration costs, line by line
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | Free inside the establishment service; QAR 1,000 on its own | Reserved for 180 days; one extension of 180 days costs QAR 1,000 |
| Commercial registration | QAR 500 for one activity | Plus QAR 300 for each extra activity |
| LLC articles of association | QAR 500 to attest, QAR 500 to notarise | In Arabic; the Ministry of Justice notarises |
| Qatar Chamber | QAR 500 to 5,000 | The amount depends on capital |
| Establishment ID | QAR 200 | Issued by the Ministry of Interior |
| Commercial permit (trade licence) | Shown by the portal for your case | Two Single Window pages show it differently; a home permit is QAR 300 |
The capital of a limited liability company is not a fee: it is paid in full into a bank in Qatar and released to the managers after registration.
Costs after setup
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CR renewal | QAR 500 for one activity, QAR 300 for each extra | Renew for one to five years; QAR 100 for each branch CR |
| Commercial permit renewal | QAR 500 (home permit QAR 300) | The permit cannot run longer than the CR |
| Changing the CR | QAR 300 per request, QAR 300 per added activity | QAR 100 to change the commercial permit |
| E-commerce licence | QAR 500 | To sell online, for the approved online activities |
| Putting a company under liquidation | QAR 300 | Deleting the main CR with all branches has no fee |
Of the fees above, the e-commerce licence is new in 2026; it came in with Decision No. 25 of 2026 for companies that sell online. The other 2026 changes, on wages, leases and tax, are listed with their decision numbers in our guide to the year’s rule changes.
Attestation and documents
- MOFA attestation of most personal and educational documents
- QAR 100
- MOFA attestation of commercial documents, such as contracts
- QAR 150
- MOFA completion service, plus the Qatari mission abroad
- QAR 150 + 120
- Ministry of Justice attestation of a lease, three copies
- QAR 100
From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. Attestation abroad and certified translation are paid to the offices that do them, at their own rates.
Free zone and QFC costs
The Qatar Financial Centre publishes its fees; the Qatar Free Zones and QSTP do not. In the free zones, the licence application fee is charged with the application and rent is agreed during it, based on the land, utilities and location you need.
QFC fees
- Application
- USD 500 (USD 2,000 for designated non-financial businesses and professions)
- Annual licence
- USD 5,000 for one activity
- Each extra activity
- USD 50
- Office
- Rent in a QFC-designated location, paid separately
Running costs to plan for
These are not setup fees, but every first-year budget in Qatar has to carry them next to the startup costs above.
Minimum wage
QAR 1,000 basic a month, plus QAR 500 housing and QAR 300 food if not provided.
End-of-service gratuity
At least three weeks’ basic wage for each year of service.
Income tax
10% of taxable income on the foreign share; the Qatari and GCC share is exempt.
Office rent
Set by the market and the location; the licence needs an approved site.
Visas and residence
Charged by the Ministry of Interior for each employee and family member.
Audit
An LLC appoints an auditor every year, at the auditor’s own fee.
Related pages
Common questions about business setup costs in Qatar
How much does it cost to start a small business in Qatar?
Roughly QAR 1,700 to 2,200 in government fees, for a mainland company. Which end applies depends on the page: the Single Window service page shows the lower figure, Invest Qatar’s guide the higher one. A CR with one activity is QAR 500; a Qatari on a home licence pays QAR 300 instead. Rent, attestation, visas and wages are extra.
Source: Single Window, Start your business (establishment service)
How much is a trade licence in Qatar?
QAR 500 for a commercial registration with one activity, and QAR 300 more for each extra activity, says the Single Window. People often call the commercial permit the trade licence. Its fee appears on the portal for your case, while a home permit is QAR 300. Renewal fees stay close to the first ones.
What does it cost to keep a company running in Qatar?
Every year the CR and permit come up for renewal, at QAR 500 for a CR with one activity, QAR 300 per extra activity and QAR 500 for the permit. Wages start at the QAR 1,000 basic minimum a month, with housing and food on top unless you provide them. An LLC also pays an auditor.
How can I keep company formation and registration affordable in Qatar?
Start with fewer activities. Each one after the first adds QAR 300 to the CR, while the rest of the government fees do not change from one applicant to another. The Qatar Chamber fee (QAR 500 to 5,000) is set by capital. Capital is paid into a bank, not to the government, and goes to the managers after registration.
Source: Single Window, Start your business (establishment service)
How much does a QFC company cost?
On the QFC’s fee list, an application costs USD 500 and the annual licence USD 5,000 for one activity, with USD 50 for each extra one. Office rent in a QFC-designated location is paid on top. Neither the Qatar Free Zones nor QSTP publishes a fee list.
Source: Qatar Financial Centre, Digital, AI and technology (setup and fees)
Did not find your question? Ask an adviser. We reply with what applies to your case.
Sources
Official sources for the facts on this page, last checked 21 Oct 2026.
- Single Window, Start your business (establishment service)
- Invest Qatar, Setting up your business in Qatar (guide hosted by MOCI)
- Single Window, Comprehensive renewal
- Single Window, Comprehensive update
- Single Window, Company closure
- Single Window, Extending the reservation of a trade name
- Minister of Commerce and Industry Decision No. 25 of 2026 on the e-commerce licence (Al Meezan)
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry, News: e-commerce licence, Qatar Business Map and new app services (17 Sep 2026)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legalization fees
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Complete attestation outside Qatar
- Ministry of Justice, Attestation of a real estate lease contract
- Qatar Financial Centre, Digital, AI and technology (setup and fees)
- Qatar Free Zones Authority, Set up a new company
- Ministerial Decision No. 25 of 2020 on the minimum wage (Al Meezan)
- Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 (Al Meezan)
- General Tax Authority, Investors guide
Tell us your activity, your legal form and how many staff you plan in the first year.
We set out every government fee line that applies to you, with its source.