If you are a new-to-export company, contact your local U.S. Commercial Service office first for free export counseling and a balanced assessment of your company’s potential for success overseas, including in Qatar.
- Come visit: As in many Middle Eastern countries, personal engagement with potential agents and partners is key to successfully conducting business in Qatar. Before booking travel, please confirm you meet entry requirements with the Qatari government, particularly given strict testing, quarantine, and pre-arrival entry permit requirements due to Covid-19.
- Get a lawyer: Acquiring good legal representation in Qatar is an important first step to entering the market. Hiring a lawyer is especially important before concluding commercial agreements to ensure U.S. businesses have the necessary legal protections. Occasionally, American firms report difficulties, including delayed payments with their local business partners once their company starts making a profit. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of law firms currently operating in Qatar.
- Feasibility study: U.S. firms already established in the market recommend that new entrants carefully conduct a feasibility study. This study should be based on factors such as existing competition, market channels and local tastes. The Commercial Service offers various industry market research reports, as well as Customized Market Research that can form a strong basis for a viable feasibility study. Please contact the Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy in Doha for more information.
- Vet partners: The Commercial Section at the U.S. Embassy offers several services to help you thoroughly vet and identify prospective Qatari business partners. These services include the International Company Profile, the International Partner Search, and the Gold Key Service. These services are described here in more detail: U.S. Commercial Service Qatar.
- Maintain independence: Having a reliable local partner can mean the difference between success and failure in Qatar. While local partners are an indispensable part of a market entry strategy, U.S. firms should be sure to check with subject matter experts locally on specific and technical areas that may be outside the local partner’s area of expertise.
- Adapt: Successful U.S., European, and other foreign companies understand that doing business internationally always creates challenges and doing business in Qatar is no exception. Learn to live with new procedures and laws by injecting a healthy dose of flexibility into your business plan. The Commercial Service suggests U.S. firms insist on payment by letter of credit to avoid costly payment delays.
Resources
Telecommunications
Ooredoo Group (https://www.ooredoo.com/en/who_we_are/)
Ooredoo Group is one of the world’s largest mobile telecommunication companies, with a customer base of 115 million across ten markets, including: Algeria (33% of the market), Indonesia (22%), Iraq (37%), Kuwait (32%), Myanmar (18%), the Maldives (50%), Oman (43%), the West Bank and Gaza (30%), and Tunisia (41%). Over two thirds of Qatari residents use Ooredoo. Ooredoo Group is 68% owned by the Qatari government, with the remaining share listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
Vodafone
Vodafone Global Enterprise division provides telecommunications and IT services to multinational corporate clients in over 65 countries, partly owned by the Qatar Foundation.
Transportation
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, it operates a hub-and-spoke network, linking over 173 international destinations from its base in Doha, using a fleet of over 235 aircraft.
Hamad International Airport
Formerly known as New Doha International Airport (NDIA), Hamad International Airport opened in April 2014. It has become a major international gateway to the region and is currently undergoing a major expansion, expected to be operational by Fall 2022.
Mowasalat
Mowasalat, popularly known as the “The Transport Company” in Qatar, started its activities by providing land transport services and solutions in October 2004.
Utilities
Kahramaa
Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation “Kahramaa” is the sole transmission and distribution system owner and operator (TDSOO) for the electricity and water sector in Qatar.
Bilateral Business Councils
American Arab Chamber of Commerce
12740 West Warren, Suite 101
Dearborn, MI 48126
Phone: (313) 945-1700
Fax: (313) 945-6697
Contact: Fay Beydoun, Executive Director
Email: faybeydoun@americanarab.com
1220 L Street NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 457-8555
Fax: (202) 457-1919
Contact: Mohammed Barakat, Managing Director & Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Email: programs@usqbc.org
National U.S. -Arab Chamber of Commerce
Main Office – Washington, D.C.:
1023 15th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 289-5920
Fax: (202) 289-5938
President: Mr. David Hamod
Email: INFO@NUSACC.ORG
Houston Office:
1330 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1600
Houston, TX 77056
Phone : (713) 963-4620
Fax : (713) 963-4609
Contact : Ms. Rand Zalzala
E-mail : rzalzalah@nusacc.org
New York Office:
420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2034
New York, NY 10170
Tel: (212) 986-8024
Fax: (212) 986-0216
Contact: Mr. Gilbert Hage
E-mail: ghage@nusacc.org
Los Angeles Office:
8921 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 206
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: (310) 646-1499
Fax: (310) 646-2462
E-mail: eatallah@nusacc.org
Bilateral U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce
5721 Memorial Dr. Suite 206
Houston, TX 77007
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 571870
Houston, TX 77257-1870
Phone: (713) 880-8168
Fax: (713) 880-8278
Contact: Aida Araissi, Founder and Managing Director
Email: info@arabuschamber.org, aida@bilateralchamber.org
Washington Contact Information
Trade Assistance and Promotion Office (TAPO)
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Ag Box 1052
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Tel: (202) 720-7420
Fax: (202) 690-4374
Country Trade or Industry Associations in Key Sectors
American Chamber of Commerce Qatar (Amcham Qatar)
The Gate Mall, Tower 2, Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 4020 6038
Contact: Ms. Brooke Holland, Executive Director
Email: bholland@amchamqatar.org
Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI, includes International Chamber of Commerce)
P.O. Box 402, Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 4455 9111
Fax: +974 4466 1693; 4466 1728
Contact: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman
Email: info@qcci.org, qcci@qatar.net.qa
Qatari Businessmen Association
P.O. Box 24475, Doha, State of Qatar
Tel: +974 4435 3120
Fax: +974 4435 3834 / 4435 3847
Contact: Sheikh Faisal Bin Qasim Al Thani, Chairman
Email: qba@qataribusinessmen.org
Country Government Offices Relating to Key Sectors and/or Significant Trade Related Activities
P.O. Box 81, Doha, State of Qatar
Tel: +974 4445 7457
Fax: +974 4441 4959
Email: questions@customs.gov.qa
P.O. Box 3000, Doha, State of Qatar
Tel: +974 4455 7333
Fax: +974 4455 7105
Email: info@caa.gov.qa
Ministry of Ministry of Commerce
P.O. Box 1968, Doha, State of Qatar
Tel: +974 4494 5001, 4494 5555
Fax: +974 4494 5000
P.O. Box 83, Doha, State of Qatar
Phone: +974 4441 3300/3131
Fax: +974 4443 1177 / 4443 5370
Qatar Energy (formerly Qatar Petroleum)
P.O. Box 3212, Doha, State of Qatar
Phone: +974 4484 6444 / 4449 1444
Fax: +974 4483 2024
Government Communications Office
Council of Ministers, Corniche Street P.O. Box 636 Doha, Qatar
Email: media@gco.gov.qa
P.O. Box 2433, Doha, State of Qatar
Tel: +974 4434 8070 / 4434 8888
Fax: +974 4472 7828
Email: info@moi.gov.qa
P.O. Box 22332, Doha, State of Qatar
Tel: +974 4045 1111
Fax: +974 4499 4655
Email: info@motc.gov.qa
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Al Nassr Tower B, opposite to Qatar Post, Corniche St., Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 4406 9999; +974 4473 3333
Fax: +974 4406 9998
P.O. Box 1966, Doha, State of Qatar
Tel: +974 4449 2666
Fax: +974 4432 2002
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Tel: +974 4434 8038
P.O. Box 42, Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 4407 0000
Email: info@moph.gov.qa
Government and Quasi-Government Organizations
Hamad General Hospital, A Member of Hamad Medical Corporation
P.O. Box 3050, Doha, State of Qatar
Phone: +974 4439 4444
Fax: +974 4439 1118
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development
P.O. Box 5825, Doha, State of Qatar
Phone: +974 4454 0000
Fax: +974 4480 6117
Email: info@qf.org.qa
Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa)
P.O. Box 41
Doha, State of Qatar
Phone: +974 4484 5555
Fax: +974 4484 5496
Email: pof@km.com.qa
Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC)
P.O. Box 22046
Doha, State of Qatar
Phone: +974 4485 8585
Fax: +974 4483 1116
Email: Welcome@qewc.com
P.O. Box 217
Doha, State of Qatar
Phone: +974 4440 0400
Fax: +974 4447 6231
Email: investor@ooredoo.qa
Market Research
View market research reports produced by the U.S. Commercial Service..
Please note that these reports are only available to U.S. citizens and U.S. companies. Registration to the site is required and is free.
Note: Agricultural reports are available via https://www.fas.usda.gov/the Reports Office, USDA/FAS, Ag Box 1052, Washington, D.C. 20250-1052 and via the FAS Home Page.
Trade Events
Please View information on upcoming trade events.
Guide to Our Services
The U.S. Commercial Service offers customized solutions to help U.S. exporters, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, successfully expand exports to new markets. Our global network of trade specialists will work one-on-one with you through every step of the exporting process, helping you to:
- Target the best markets with our world-class research
- Promote your products and services to qualified buyers
- Meet the best distributors and agents for your products and services
- Overcome potential challenges or trade barriers
- Gain access to the full range of U.S. government trade promotion agencies and their services, including export training and potential trade financing sources
To learn more about the Federal Government’s trade promotion resources for new and experienced exporters, please visit https://www.trade.gov website.
For more information on the services the U.S. Commercial Service in Qatar offers to U.S. exporters.
To the best of our knowledge, the information contained in this report is accurate as of the date published. However, the Department of Commerce does not take responsibility for actions readers may take based on the information contained herein. Readers should always conduct their own due diligence before entering business ventures or other commercial arrangements. The Department of Commerce can assist companies in these endeavors.