Hire in Qatar
State of Qatar — 2.9 million population, $87,660 GDP per capita. Everything you need to know about employment law, tax, compliance and hiring in Qatar.
Capital
Doha
Currency
Qatari Riyal (QAR)
Languages
Arabic, English
Time zones
UTC+3 (AST)
Hiring overview
- Typical time to hire
- 2-4 weeks for contractor, 4-6 weeks for full-time (plus visa)
- Entity requirement
- Qatar LLC (WLL) or QFC entity. Local partner requirements apply outside free zones.
- EOR available
- Yes — from $399/employee/month through a Corpshore entity
- Contractor of record
- Yes — from $39/worker/month
Employment law
- Standard workweek
- 48 hours (36 during Ramadan)
- Maximum weekly hours
- 48 hours
- Minimum annual leave
- 21 days (30 after 5 years)
- Public holidays
- 7 per year
- Maternity leave
- 50 days at full pay
- Paternity leave
- 3 days
- Notice period
- 1-2 months depending on contract
- Severance
- End of service gratuity: 3 weeks per year of service (after 1 year).
- Probation
- 6 months
- Overtime rules
- 25% premium (regular), 50% (night). Friday work: regular wage + 150%.
Tax overview
- Income tax range
- 0% (no personal income tax)
- Corporate tax
- 10% flat rate
- Social contributions
- Qatari nationals only: employer and employee contributions to retirement fund.
- VAT / GST
- No VAT
- Tax year
- Calendar or fiscal year
- Treaty network
- Over 70 tax treaties
Compliance landscape
- Worker classification
- Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 (amended). Kafala system reforms ongoing.
- Data protection
- Law No. 13 of 2016 on Personal Data Privacy. Ministry of Transport and Communications oversees. QFC has separate data protection regulations.
- Right to work
- Work visa required. Kafala system partially reformed: workers can change jobs and leave the country without employer permission (since 2020).
- Non-compete
- Enforceable if reasonable under Qatari Civil Code.
- Collective bargaining
- Trade unions not permitted for most workers. Workers' committees in large companies.
Payment rails
QAR pegged to USD. Qatar National Payment System (QNPS) handles clearing. Wage Protection System (WPS) mandates electronic salary payment.
Key considerations for hiring
- No personal income tax and no VAT make Qatar extremely attractive for high earners
- Kafala system reforms (2020) improved worker mobility and exit rights
- Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) offers 100% foreign ownership and common-law framework
- Post-2022 World Cup, Qatar is diversifying into tech, finance, and education
Business and cultural context: Qatar
Business culture
Formal and hierarchical. Qatari business culture values patience and relationship-building. Expats form the vast majority of the workforce (~85%).
Key industries
Talent pool strengths
Historical context
Qatar is the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), giving it the highest GDP per capita globally. The 2022 FIFA World Cup catalysed massive infrastructure investment and global visibility. Education City hosts campuses of Georgetown, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, and other leading universities.
Ready to hire in Qatar?
Use our EOR service from $399/month and we handle employment law, payroll, tax and compliance in Qatar for you.