Gulf Times, 7 January 2026: Qatar has adopted major amendments to its foreign investment framework, aiming to attract greater non‑Qatari capital and boost private‑sector participation in the national economy.

The Cabinet stated it had examined and approved a draft law amending certain provisions of Qatar Law No. 1/2019 regulation of the Investment of Non-Qatari Capital in the Economic Activity on non‑Qatari capital in economic activity, with aims tied to attracting foreign investment and raising private‑sector GDP contribution under the Third National Development Strategy 2024‑2030. However, neither the Cabinet note nor related reportage specifies what provisions are being changed—such as ownership limits, sector eligibility, or listing rules.

Qatar Law No. 1/2019 regulation of the Investment of Non-Qatari Capital in the Economic Activity is well‑documented and already permits up to 100% foreign ownership in many sectors (subject to exclusions), alongside incentives (e.g., tax and customs‑duty exemptions; repatriation rights). Any new amendment would therefore matter most where 2019 left boundaries—for example, excluded sectors or residual approvals. Without the draft text, it is impossible to confirm whether the reform adjusts these boundaries or simply streamlines processes.

Officials and earlier policy briefings suggest a broader reform programme (bankruptcy, PPP, and commercial registration), signalling that procedural simplification is also on the table (e.g., single‑window, automated tax IDs, wider activity lists). But the current Cabinet note remains high‑level and does not enumerate article‑by‑article changes.

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