Qatar Company Registration Shareholder Director Requirements

1. Shareholder requirements

Number of shareholders:

Limited liability companies (LLC): at least 2 shareholders and a maximum of 50 shareholders.

Stock companies (QSC): at least 5 shareholders.

Free zone companies: at least 1 shareholder.

Percentage of Qatari resident shareholders:

For companies registered in Qatar, Qatari resident shareholders usually need to hold 51% or more of the shares, and foreign shareholders can hold up to 49%.

However, companies in free zones can be 100% foreign-owned.

Identity and residence requirements:

Shareholders must hold a residence permit (if they are natural person shareholders).

At least one shareholder must be a resident of Qatar.

2. Director requirements

Number of directors:

Limited liability companies and stock companies require at least 1 director.

Free zone companies require at least 1 director, and shareholders and directors can be the same person.

Identity and residence requirements:

Directors can be natural persons or legal entities. Natural person directors must hold a residence permit, but legal entities do not have this requirement as directors.

Directors do not have to be Qatari residents.

Other requirements:

When registering a company in the Qatar Free Zone, if the shareholder or director is a natural person, a residence permit is required. When opening a bank account, a local person must be authorized as the signatory, and the signatory must cooperate in going to the bank to handle relevant procedures.

Things to note when registering a Qatar company

1. Careful selection of company type: Qatar has a variety of types, including limited liability companies (LLC) and joint stock companies (QSC). LLC has at least two shareholders, at least one of whom is a Qatari resident, and is more suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises to operate cooperatively; QSC requires at least five shareholders, has higher requirements for capital and operating scale, and is suitable for large-scale commercial projects. Entrepreneurs should carefully select the appropriate company type based on their own resources, business planning and development goals.

2. Reasonable planning of registered capital: LLC has a minimum registered capital of 200,000 Qatari riyals, while QSC is as high as 10 million Qatari riyals. Although LLC does not need to be paid in full, it is necessary to consider the company's operating capital needs, business expansion plans, etc., and reasonably plan capital injection to ensure the stability of the company's operating capital chain and avoid affecting business advancement due to capital shortages.

3. The name is compliant and recognizable: The company name must be unique, avoid duplication with existing companies, and cannot contain misleading information or violate public ethics. Before submitting the name, be sure to search in detail through the official website or the Ministry of Commerce application to ensure that the name is available, and reserve multiple alternatives to improve registration efficiency.

4. Strict preparation of registration documents: All kinds of registration documents are indispensable and must be accurate and complete. Materials such as passports, power of attorney, business plans, etc. must be prepared strictly according to the requirements. In particular, the company's articles of association, translation and notarization must be treated rigorously to ensure legal effectiveness and avoid delays in the registration process due to document defects.

5. Know the industry license in advance: Different industries correspond to different licensing approval departments. Before registration, you must clearly know the industry licenses required for your business, communicate with relevant departments in advance, understand the approval process, conditions and cycle, and prepare in advance to avoid the company's inability to conduct business on time due to licensing issues.

6. Equity structure and compliance: Under normal circumstances, the upper limit of foreign shareholding is 49%, unless special permission is obtained, while free zones allow 100% foreign shareholding. Enterprises must weigh the pros and cons and reasonably design the equity structure. At the same time, strictly follow Qatar's labor laws, tax laws and other laws and regulations to ensure that the company operates legally and in compliance with regulations.

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