Qatar: Excise tax warehouse service launched to support business cash flow

2 April 2026: Qatar’s General Tax Authority (GTA) has launched an excise tax warehouse licensing service as part of efforts to enhance the implementation of excise tax and support business cashflow. The service enables licensed premises to produce, process, store or receive excise goods—whether locally manufactured or imported—under a tax‑suspension regime, allowing excise tax liability to be deferred while goods remain in approved warehouses.

The new regime will allow businesses to suspend tax payments until excise goods are released into the local market. By permitting the import and storage of excise goods and raw materials under tax suspension, the service will improvs cash‑flow efficiency, support production planning and enhances supply‑chain stability. Authorities have said the new framework will also contribute to improved inventory management and more efficient operational planning for registered taxpayers.

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Qatar: Tax Authority Clarifies Capital Gains Exemption for Group Restructurings

Qatar’s General Tax Authority clarified the scope of capital gains tax exemptions introduced for corporate restructuring transactions within the same group.

The General Tax Authority issued official clarifications on the application of capital gains tax exemptions for intra‑group corporate restructuring, confirming that qualifying transactions could proceed without triggering tax liability. The clarification followed the introduction of Qatar Cabinet Resolution No. 3/2026, which had expanded relief under Qatar’s Income Tax framework.

The Authority explained that capital gains arising from the transfer or exchange of assets between companies within the same corporate group could be exempt where the restructuring served a genuine economic, commercial, or financial purpose. The exemption applied to transactions conducted between related parties that met ownership and continuity thresholds defined under the Income Tax Law and its Executive Regulations.

The Authority confirmed that the exemption recognised transfers of tangible and intangible business assets, shares, and ownership interests, including transactions undertaken to improve financial efficiency or facilitate listings on the Qatar Stock Exchange. It also clarified that the relief complemented existing exemptions available to individuals and non‑Qatari investors in respect of securities and real estate not connected to taxable business activities.

The Tax Authority stressed that eligibility for the exemption remained conditional on compliance with prescribed requirements, including group‑relationship duration and ongoing ownership continuity.

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Qatar: QatarEnergy Declares Force Majeure On LNG Contracts

The Peninsula, 24 March 2026: QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on several long‑term LNG supply contracts after Iranian missile strikes damaged LNG Trains 4 and 6, cutting 12.8 MTPA of production—around 17% of Qatar’s exports.

The force majeure affects counterparties in Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China, with supply disruptions expected to last three to five years, the estimated period needed to repair the damaged facilities. The company confirmed that the outage has forced a halt in production of LNG and downstream products, including urea, polymers, methanol and aluminium.

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Qatar: MoI issues evacuation and safety guidelines for educational institutions

The Peninsula, 23 March 2026: Qatar’s Ministry of Interior issued updated evacuation and safety procedures to strengthen emergency preparedness across educational institutions.

The Ministry has assessed existing emergency‑response practices before outlining measures intended to help students, staff, and administrators respond safely during crises. The guidance requires institutions to familiarise all occupants with exits and assembly points, keep evacuation routes unobstructed, and ensure that safety equipment is properly identified and understood. Age‑appropriate awareness training forms part of these preparations.

When an alert is issued, activities must stop immediately, with individuals remaining calm and following instructions from the National Warning System and on‑site safety officers. The guidelines distinguish between internal hazards—where immediate evacuation is required—and external threats, where shelter‑in‑place procedures must be followed. During evacuation, the Ministry stressed the need to use stairs only, avoid returning for personal belongings, and proceed directly to assembly points without pushing or overcrowding.

Teaching and administrative staff are responsible for orderly evacuation, conducting headcounts, reassuring students, and reporting missing individuals. The instructions also detail tailored approaches for kindergarten pupils, school learners, and university students. At assembly points, individuals must remain until further official direction is given. The Ministry reiterated that calm adherence to official instructions remains essential for collective safety as institutions prepare for the gradual resumption of full in‑person learning.

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Qatar: Private sector ordered to resume on‑site work

Gulf News, 24 March 2026: Qatar’s Ministries of Labour and Commerce & Industry have lifted the remote‑work mandate for all private‑sector institutions, ordering a full return to on‑site operations in line with guidance from the Council of Ministers Secretariat General.

The directive restores standard workplace obligations and ends the exceptional remote‑work arrangements previously in force, with authorities emphasising continuity of business operations and adherence to regular labour‑regulatory frameworks.

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Qatar: Five arrested over violations of national drone‑use ban

9 March 2026: Five individuals have been arrested in Qatar after they violated the nationwide prohibition on operating drones.

The Qatari Ministry of Interior had previously issued a directive prohibiting the use, operation, or launch of drones of any type across all regions of Qatar. The authorities arrested five people who had operated unmanned aerial vehicles despite the restrictions.

The ministry has that the ban is intended to enhance public safety and protect the community, and it has stressed that the rule applies to citizens, residents, visitors, and all governmental and semi‑governmental entities, companies, and institutions. Any attempt to use or facilitate the operation of drones during the suspension will constitute a clear violation. The ministry has said it will not hesitate to take further legal action against anyone who has breached the decision.

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Qatar: Qatar Energy declares force majeure

QatarEnergy has announced a declaration of force majeure after an unforeseen external event led to a temporary halt in liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at one of its facilities.

QatarEnergy has confirmed a temporary halt in LNG production due to external circumstances outside its control, prompting them to activate force‑majeure provisions under its contractual obligations. Technical teams have secured the affected site and initiated inspection, assessment and safety‑verification procedures to determine the timeline for restoring operational capacity. The company has stated that some supply commitments may be delayed until production resumes. Official updates will be issued once the technical review is completed.

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Qatar: Financial regulator shifts to remote work

Gulf News, 3 March 2026: Qatar’s Financial Markets Authority has shifted its operations to remote work, instructing all licensed entities under its supervision to do the same until further notice.

The authority has confirmed that the remote‑work requirement would begin on Tuesday and remain in place until further notice. In its announcement, it stated that each institution would determine which employees must attend on‑site based on the nature of their duties.

Officials noted that this step aligns with earlier guidance issued on flexible working arrangements. The regulator said the decision forms part of general precautionary measures being adopted across several sectors, ensuring business continuity and safeguarding staff while operational conditions are reassessed.

Institutions were advised to continue following official updates and ensure internal procedures support uninterrupted service delivery during the remote‑work period.

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Qatar: MoCI Rolls Out 36 New E‑Services

The Peninsula, 24 February 2026: Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has launched 36 new e‑services to simplify licensing procedures and accelerate the country’s digital‑government agenda.

The Ministry said the newly introduced services cover a wide spectrum of commercial and regulatory activities, including licensing for prize draws, annual and seasonal sales, loyalty programmes, “Scan and Win” campaigns, special offers, festivals, initiatives, promotional campaigns and final‑clearance sales. The platform also expands brokerage‑activity services, enabling the issuance, renewal, amendment, cancellation and replacement of broker licences and cards, all completed electronically.

The initiative targets full digitalisation of government services, enhanced business efficiency and stronger innovation within the commercial, industrial and investment sectors.

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