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Working Hours
Normal work week runs from Sunday through Thursday, with a
Friday-Saturday weekend. Previously, and still the case in most
other Middle Eastern countries, the work week ran from Saturday
through Wednesday, with a Thursday-Friday weekend. The one-
day shift was made, in part, to allow Doha businessmen to
communicate more efficiently with market partners in the West
and the Far East. Friday remains a weekend day because it is the
Islamic holy day.
Before heading to a particular business or
government office, check first on its operating hours. Many
companies open as early as 7 a.m., but close between the noon
and late afternoon prayers. In the traditional souqs, doors may
never open before 4 p.m. Some organizations serving primarily
Western interests may have weekend work hours to facilitate
communications with businesses, clients or home offices in
North America. Mall businesses, major grocery stores, and petrol
stations are open during the expected hours; but 24-hour
businesses are extremely rare.
Types of business established in
Qatar
The commercial companies Law No. 5 of 2002 governs the
rules and regulations for establishing a business in Qatar and
classifies several types of business enterprise.
Limited Liability Company(LLC)
The limited liability company is an association having
a minimum of two and maximum of 30 partners. Each partner is
liable only to the extent of his/her share in the company’s
capital, and the term limited liability together with the capital
must be mentioned on all letterheads and correspondence. The
capital of a limited liability company must not be less than
QR200,000 ($55,000), divided in to equal shares of a nominal
value of QR10($2.75) or more each.
Public Shareholding Company
(PSC)
Public shareholding companies should be established in
accordance with the commercial companies law and by virtue of
a ministerial decree. Shares are offered to the public and only
Qataris may be shareholders in such companies with three
exceptions:
· Where the company is incorporated under a
special decree which allows for foreign shareholding
· Where a shareholder is a national of another
Arab country which has a reciprocal agreement with Qatar
allowing Qataris the same privileges in that country.
· Where there is a need for foreign capital or
experience, provided a license from the Ministry of Economy and
Co9mmerece is obtained.
The minimum capital of a public shareholding
company is QR10m ($2.75m) and the nominal value of each
share in a public shareholding companies is QR10 ($2.75) each.
A closed shareholding company requires a minimum of QR2m
($550,000) in capital.
Partnership
A general partnership company is an association of two or
more persons formed under a specific name in order to carry out
commercial business. It is a separate legal entity, but its
partners are jointly and severally liable for its obligations.
A foreigner may be a partner in a Qatari
partnership company subject to the restrictions of the
Commercial Companies Law No.25 of 1990.
Partnership in Commendum
A partnership in a commendum, company is similar to a general
partnership, but it also has non-active partners with limited
liability. The law governing this partnership is the same as the
one governing general partnership’s obligations only to the
extent of their share in the capital. The names of non-active
partners may not be included in the name of the partnership.
Commendite Partnership By
Share
A commendite partnership by share company is a partnership
formed between joint partners and 10 or more non-active
shareholdings partners whose liability is limited. The minimum
capital of a commendite partnership by share company is
QR200,000 ($55,000).
Joint Venture
A joint venture consists of two or more parties formed to carry
out certain businesses and does not acquire separate legal
status. It does not have to be registered in the commercial
register, nor does its existence have to be made public. The
joint venture should specify its objectives, the rights and
obligations of th partners and the method of distributing profits
and losses among those partners.
Branch
A branch of a foreign company may be registered in Qatar to
execute certain contracts or to carry our certain operations after
obtaining the required ministerial decision is issued allowing
non-Qatari persons or companies to be engaged in contracting
business in accordance with the provisions of Commercial
Companies Law No. 25 of 1990. Furthermore, foreign companies
or persons may invest in Qatar in business activities relating to
the development of the economy or to support the public
services and utilities in the country relating to industry,
agriculture, minerals, mining, utilities or tourism, subject to
obtaining the required ministerial decision.
Representative Office
A Foreign company can open a representative office
in Qatar. The representative office is similar to a branch with the
exception that it cannot do businesses in Qatar. The
representative office will be wholly owned by its head office.
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