Types of companies in Qatar compared
Qatar’s company law, Law No. 11 of 2015, recognises seven forms of company: the general partnership, the simple limited partnership, the joint venture, the public and private shareholding companies, the partnership limited by shares and the limited liability company. Most new businesses choose the LLC. A sole proprietorship is not a company but an individual trader’s registration.
Company types at a glance
- In Article 4 of the company law
- 7 forms
- Partners in a limited liability company
- 1 to 50
- Least capital of a public shareholding or holding company
- QAR 10 million
- Least capital of a partnership limited by shares, paid in full
- QAR 1 million
From Law No. 11 of 2015 as amended by Law No. 8 of 2021, read in Arabic; see the sources at the end of the page.
The seven forms in the company law
| Form | Partners | Liability | Capital in the law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited liability company (LLC) | 1 to 50, people or companies | Each partner up to their share | No minimum set |
| General partnership | Two or more individuals | Joint, with all their assets | No minimum set |
| Simple limited partnership | General partners (individuals) and limited partners | General partners joint; limited partners up to their share | No minimum set |
| Joint venture | Two or more partners | No legal personality of its own | No minimum set |
| Public shareholding company | At least five founders | Up to each shareholder’s contribution | QAR 10 million |
| Private shareholding company | At least five founders | Up to each shareholder’s contribution | Official figures differ; we confirm for your case |
| Partnership limited by shares | General partners (individuals) and shareholders | General partners with all their assets; shareholders up to their shares | QAR 1 million, paid in full |
Why most choose the LLC
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry names the limited liability company as the most common form for foreign investors. It can have one owner or up to 50, each partner’s risk stops at their share, and the company law sets no minimum capital: the partners decide it and pay it in full.
The LLC in brief
- Name
- Must include “limited liability company”, or managers become liable
- One owner
- Allowed since the 2015 law
- Decision
- Within 15 days of a complete file
- Not allowed
- Raising money from the public or issuing shares
Other types of business in Qatar
Some types of business in Qatar sit outside the seven forms, under other laws or another authority.
Holding company
A shareholding company or LLC that owns more than half of its subsidiaries; capital of at least QAR 10 million.
Sole proprietorship
An individual trader’s registration, not a company; the Single Window allows it for Qatari and GCC nationals aged 18 or over.
Branch of a foreign company
Required for a foreign company carrying out a government contract, and limited to it.
Representation office
Promotes a foreign company’s products; it may not sell, import or export.
QFC structures
LLCs, holding companies, branches, partnerships and foundations under QFC rules.
Free zone companies
LLCs and branches licensed by the Qatar Free Zones Authority or QSTP.
The joint venture
A joint venture under the company law is a hidden arrangement between its partners. It has no legal personality and, in the law’s words, is not subject to any publicity procedure, so it does not trade in its own name.
A joint venture with a non-Qatari partner may not carry out activities closed to non-Qataris.
What we help with
Choosing the form
The form that fits your partners, risk and plans.
Foreign partners
What each form allows for non-Qatari owners.
The memorandum
Partners, shares and managers, in Arabic.
Holding structures
Group companies and the QAR 10 million rule.
Route
Mainland, free zone or QFC structures compared.
Registration
The Single Window steps for the form you choose.
Related pages
Common questions about company types in Qatar
What are the types of companies in Qatar?
Article 4 of the company law lists seven: the general partnership, the simple limited partnership, the joint venture, the public shareholding company, the private shareholding company, the partnership limited by shares and the limited liability company. Branches, representation offices and QFC or free zone companies are set up under other rules.
Source: Commercial Companies Law No. 11 of 2015, as amended (Al Meezan)
Which type of company is best for a foreigner in Qatar?
There is no single answer, but the Ministry of Commerce and Industry names the limited liability company as the most common form for foreign investors. A foreign company with a government contract opens a branch, and one that only promotes its products can open a representation office. The QFC and free zones have their own structures.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Local investor services
Can a foreigner have a sole proprietorship in Qatar?
The Single Window allows an individual establishment only for Qatari and GCC nationals aged 18 or over, one per person. A sole proprietorship is not a company form but an individual trader’s commercial registration. A foreigner who wants to own a business alone can look at a single-owner LLC instead.
Source: Single Window, Start your business (establishment service)
What is a holding company in Qatar?
A holding company is a shareholding company or an LLC that owns more than half of the capital of its subsidiaries. Its capital must be at least QAR 10 million, it may not own partnerships or other holding companies, and its subsidiaries may not own its shares.
Source: Law No. 8 of 2021 amending the Commercial Companies Law (Al Meezan)
Is a joint venture a company in Qatar?
Only on paper. The company law lists the joint venture among its seven forms, but gives it no legal personality and no publicity procedure. For anyone comparing structures, that makes it a private agreement between partners, not a company you can register and trade through.
Source: Commercial Companies Law No. 11 of 2015, as amended (Al Meezan)
Can I start a business in Qatar as a freelancer, without a company?
No Qatari law or official page we found sets up a freelance licence. A sole proprietorship is open only to Qatari and GCC nationals, and the home licence only to Qatari citizens. Expatriates who want to work alone usually set up a single-owner limited liability company instead, holding all of its capital themselves.
Source: Commercial Companies Law No. 11 of 2015, as amended (Al Meezan)
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.
- Commercial Companies Law No. 11 of 2015, as amended (Al Meezan)
- Law No. 8 of 2021 amending the Commercial Companies Law (Al Meezan)
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Local investor services
- Commercial Register Law No. 25 of 2005, as amended (Al Meezan)
- Commercial Law No. 27 of 2006 (Al Meezan)
- Single Window, Start your business (establishment service)
- Law No. 1 of 2019 on investment of non-Qatari capital (Al Meezan)
- Single Window, Commercial representation companies FAQ
- Single Window, Foreign companies contracting with the State FAQ
- Qatar Financial Centre, Legal structures and solutions
- Qatar Free Zones Authority, FAQ
How many partners, from which countries, doing what?
Send us those three answers and we will say which form fits and what registering it involves.