QFC: Proposed New Rules for Wholesale Advisory Firms

The Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) has issued a consultation 2025/03 proposing amendments to the Investment Management and Advisory Rules 2014 (INMA), which would introduce a dedicated regime for Wholesale Advisory Firms (WAFs).

These WAFs would provide advisory services exclusively to the largest, most sophisticated customers.

The aim is to create a transparent and proportionate regulatory regime for firms serving wholesale clients, which reflects their lower risk profile and reduces unnecessary compliance burdens.

The new wholesale customer category would be restricted to government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and Qatar Stock Exchange-listed companies with assets exceeding 20 billion Riyals.

WAFs would have to operate as QFC branches, leveraging home jurisdiction oversight and existing risk management frameworks.

The full anti-money laundering rules would be replaced with a simplified framework in these cases, with basic reporting, an AML policy, training, and an MLRO required, but no deputy needed. The customer protection rules would also mostly be disapplied, except principles on fair treatment, client classification, conflicts of interest, and record keeping.

In terms of governance, there would be reduced controlled functions (senior executive, MLRO, senior management), simplified internal control requirements, and a reliance on head office systems. On the competency rules, core competency would be retained for key roles, but training requirements would be removed.

The Investment Management and Advisory Rules 2014 would mostly apply, but there would be exemptions for professional indemnity insurance and prescriptive investment research requirements.

The consultation ends on 8 February 2026, and comments should be sent to consultationpapers@qfcra.com

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Qatar: Launches Digital Platform for Disability Services Access

Qatar’s Ministry of Social Development and Family has unveiled a new national digital platform designed to provide comprehensive information and services for people with disabilities, their families and care providers.

The platform incorporates artificial intelligence technologies and meets international digital accessibility standards to ensure compatibility with assistive technologies.

Minister launched the service at a ceremony attended by people with disabilities and key stakeholders, implementing provisions of Qatar’s Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, particularly regarding technology access and social participation.

The new system provides a centralised digital hub for disability-related services and information, featuring enhanced accessibility features and user-friendly interfaces. It has been designed to work seamlessly with existing assistive technologies used by people with disabilities.

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Qatar: Cabinet Approves New Regulations for Online Business Operations

The Peninsula, 26 November 2025: The Qatari Cabinet has approved new regulations governing commercial activities conducted through websites, establishing formal requirements for digital-only businesses that do not require physical premises.

Ministers endorsed a draft decision by the Minister of Trade and Industry outlining conditions and controls for online commercial activities.

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Qatar: Car Export Rules Tightened for Newly Registered Vehicles

Qatar has implemented stricter controls on the export of newly registered vehicles through a fresh regulatory mechanism, vehicles must complete a full year of registration before they can be exported from the country.

The recently approved mechanism, developed jointly by commerce officials and customs authorities, enforces provisions outlined in Circular No. 3/2025. The regulation creates an exception for automobile dealers to export vehicles that were not directly imported from manufacturing nations and fall outside the country’s new vehicle quota system.

Commerce officials report that the mechanism was finalised after extensive consultation with industry stakeholders and car showrooms, whilst considering current market conditions. The announcement maintains existing export restrictions but introduces specific provisions for certain vehicle categories.

The ministry has issued a stern warning to automobile dealers regarding compliance, stating that enforcement action will follow any breach of the new requirements. Dealers must now ensure vehicles remain registered within the country for a minimum of 12 months before any export arrangements, except where specifically permitted under the new mechanism.

Officials emphasised that the regulation would be strictly enforced to maintain proper market operations. The ministry has pledged to monitor implementation closely and take necessary legal measures against any violations of the new requirements.

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Qatar: New Property Owners’ Draft Law Under Review

The Peninsula, 17 November 2025: Qatar’s Shura Council has referred a new draft law on Owners’ Association to its Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee for detailed examination.

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Qatar: Updates Customs Duty Exemption Rules for Travellers and Residents

The Peninsula, 2 November 2025: Qatar’s General Authority of Customs has outlined comprehensive duty exemption policies covering personal luggage, postal parcels, and household relocations, establishing clear guidelines for different categories of arrivals into the country.

Under the new regulations, travellers can bring personal items and gifts duty-free, provided individual gifts do not exceed QR3,000 in value. The policy permits specific allowances for tobacco products, including up to 400 cigarettes or 20 cigars, with a total value cap of QR3,000.

For postal items, the authority has set a duty-free threshold of QR1,000 for personal parcels and mailings. The exemption applies only to unrestricted items imported under an individual’s name.

The framework includes special provisions for household relocations. Qatari citizens returning from abroad may import used personal effects and household goods duty-free for personal use. Non-Qatari residents must import their household items within six months of arrival and provide employer documentation and residence permits.

New residents must also sign an agreement not to sell imported items for at least one year after entry, with penalties and duties applying for breaches. The authority notes that new household appliances or furniture may not qualify for exemption.

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Qatar: Mandates Digital Price Registration for All Retail Businesses

Mubasher, 26 October 2025: Qatar’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has issued a new directive requiring all commercial, industrial, and general retail establishments to register their product and service prices through the ministry’s online portal.

The mandate introduces compulsory digital price registration for all businesses operating in the Qatari market. Shop owners must now upload and maintain current pricing information for their goods and services on the official government platform.

Under the new regulation, businesses are required to input pricing data through the ministry’s website, making this information publicly accessible. The system aims to create a centralised database of retail prices across the country’s commercial sector.

The directive establishes a standardised approach to price transparency, requiring all retail establishments to comply with the digital registration process. This marks a significant shift from previous practices where price reporting mechanisms varied across different business sectors.

The ministry has confirmed that the new system will be mandatory for all commercial establishments, including retail shops, industrial facilities, and service providers. This

The implementation timeline and specific technical requirements for businesses to comply with this new digital registration system have been outlined in the ministry’s circular to affected establishments.

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Qatar: Approves New Law on International Treaties and Agreements

Qatar Tribune, 16 October 2025: The Qatari Cabinet has approved new legislation governing the procedures for international treaties and agreements, alongside several bilateral cooperation deals with foreign nations.

The draft law establishes a comprehensive framework for managing international agreements. It outlines specific procedures for concluding treaties and defines the roles of various government authorities in the process.

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