Qatar - Market Entry Strategy

Market Entry Strategy

Last published date: 2025-08-20

If you are a new-to-export company, contact your local U.S. Commercial Service office first for free export counseling and a discussion about the 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 look up potential local holidays or observances, that may make doing business more difficult, such as the month of Ramadan or Eid holidays.
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 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 make 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

The Ooredoo Group is one of the world’s largest mobile telecommunication companies, with a customer base of 118 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 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 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.
Hamad International Airport (formerly known as New Doha International Airport or NDIA) opened in April 2014 and has become a major international gateway to the region.
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
Email: contactus@americanarab.com

U.S.-Qatar Business Council
1220 L Street NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 457-8555
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
President: Mr. David Hamod
Email: INFO@NUSACC.ORG

New York Office:
420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2034
New York, NY 10170
Tel: (212) 986-8024
Contact: Mr. Fawaz Almudhaf
E-mail: hfalmudhaf@nusacc.org

Los Angeles Office:
8921 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 206
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: (310) 646-1499
Contact: Ms. Huda Salman
E-mail: hsalman@nusacc.org

Bilateral U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce
5721 Memorial Dr. Suite 206
Houston, TX 77007
Phone: (713) 880-8168
Contact: Aida Araissi, Founder and CEO
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

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

Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI, includes International Chamber of Commerce)
P.O. Box 402, Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 4455 9111
Chairman: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani
Email: info@qcci.org, qcci@qatar.net.qa

Qatari Businessmen Association
P.O. Box 24475, Doha, State of Qatar
Tel: +974 4435 3120
Chairman: Sheikh Faisal Bin Qasim Al Thani, Chairman
Email: qba@qataribusinessmen.org

Country Government Offices Relating to Key Sectors and/or Significant Trade Related Activities

Government and Quasi-Government Organizations

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 the Reports Office, USDA/FAS, Ag Box 1052, Washington, D.C. 20250-1052 and via the FAS Home Page. https://www.fas.usda.gov/

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. Also, view 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.