Dmitri Mihhailov
Managing Partner
Founder of Prifinance. 15+ years structuring international companies, banking and licensing for founders worldwide.
Register a company in Qatar, the gas colossus.
Set up a Qatari presence - the world's LNG superpower mid-way through the largest gas expansion on Earth, a financial centre running English common law at 10%, and free zones at zero for twenty years. Route first, everything else second: the classic route still defaults to a 51% Qatari partner unless approval opens 100%, the state is the market in most sectors, and three million residents make this a contracts economy, not a consumer one.A Qatari presence: the world's LNG superpower mid-expansion, a common-law financial centre at 10%, zones at zero for twenty years. Route first: the classic route defaults to a 51% partner, the state is the market, and three million residents make this a contracts economy.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
6,000+
companies servedcompanies served
Updated
Qatar · at a glance
Legal formLLC · QFC · QFZ
Time to set up2-6 weeks
Corporate tax10% foreign share
QFC regimeCommon law · 10%
QFZ0% - 20 years
Remote setupMostly - by POA
4.7
★★★★★
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Qatar in brief
A gas balance sheet with a state attached - and three doors in.
Qatar's economics are a single stupendous fact with consequences: the North Field holds the planet's greatest gas reservoir, Qatar ships LNG at the top of the world table, and the ongoing expansion - lifting capacity by most of a hundred million tonnes toward 2030 - is the largest energy construction programme anywhere. Around it: the world's richest per-capita population bracket, the QIA's sovereign wealth, post-World-Cup infrastructure a decade ahead of demand, and a contracts economy where QatarEnergy and the ministries are the clients that matter. The three doors are distinct: the classic LLC (51% Qatari partner by default, with the 2019 law opening up to 100% by ministry approval in most sectors); the Qatar Financial Centre - a jurisdiction within the jurisdiction, running English common law with its own courts, 100% ownership and 10% tax for services, HQ and financial firms; and the Qatar Free Zones at 0% for twenty years beside port and airport.
The terms: route selection decides everything, and the default still involves a partner unless approval or a special regime says otherwise - we screen the activity first, always; the domestic market is three million people, mostly expatriate, so consumer plays are boutique while contract plays are colossal; distribution runs through an agency regime with real protections for incumbents; Qatarisation is lighter than Saudi's but present in licensed sectors; costs run Gulf-premium; and the corporate tax mechanic mirrors Kuwait's - 10% on the foreign share of profits, nothing on the Qatari share, no personal income tax, VAT legislated in principle and pending in practice. For LNG-era services, QFC-based operations and zone logistics, Qatar pays like the balance sheet it is. We open the right door.
One stupendous fact with consequences: the North Field's expansion is Earth's largest energy build, QatarEnergy and ministries are the clients that matter, and the QIA's wealth backs every commitment. Three doors: the classic LLC (51% default, 100% by approval), the QFC's English-law island, and QFZ zones at 0%×20.
The terms: route decides everything - we screen first; the market is 3M mostly-expat people with colossal contract plays and boutique consumer ones; agency law guards distribution; Qatarisation is present, lighter than Saudi's; tax mirrors Kuwait - 10% on the foreign share only, no personal tax, VAT pending. The right door makes Qatar owned, not partnered.
Packages & pricing
Qatari company - cost & packages.
01 - LLC / QFC / QFZ · QATAR
Company
from$3,900USD · all-in
Establishment of a Qatari presence - route strategy across the three doors, incorporation, tax registration and the first year of the registered address included.
✓Route strategy - LLC, 100% approval, QFC or QFZ, first✓MOCI / QFC / QFZ incorporation✓Tax card & registrations✓Registered address in Doha - first year✓Partner framework with teeth, where the route needs one✓Free pre-incorporation consultation
Optional add-ons: QFC licence application - from $4,500 · QFZ establishment - scoped per project · work permits & residencies - from $1,200 · accounting - from $300/month · renewal - from $2,500/year.Add-ons: QFC from $4,500 · QFZ per project · residencies from $1,200 · accounting from $300/month · renewal from $2,500/year.
Start with Company →02 - LLC / QFC / QFZ · QATAR
Most popularCompany + Bank Account
from$6,400USD · all-in
A working Qatari presence with a local bank account - riyal and dollar balances with a major bank, on a file built for Gulf compliance.
✓Everything in Company✓Account with QNB, CBQ or Doha Bank✓Multi-currency - QAR, USD, EUR✓KYC file built for Qatari banking standards✓Compliance onboarding support✓Dedicated account manager
Start with Banking →Starting prices, confirmed before engagement. MOCI, QFC and zone fees are itemised.Starting points, confirmed first. MOCI, QFC or QFZ fees itemised in your quote.
What you can do
Popular uses for a Qatari company.
The expansion buys, the state contracts, the QFC administers, and the zones move goods. Four economies sharing one peninsula.The expansion buys, the state contracts, the QFC administers, the zones move goods.
LNG & energy serviceslicensed
The North Field buildout's contractor ecosystem. The decade's deepest order book.
QFC services & HQlicensed
Consulting, finance and regional headquarters under common law at 10%.
QFZ logistics & industrylicensed
Zero-for-twenty operations beside Hamad Port and the airport.
Construction & infrastructurelicensed
The state's pipeline. Stadium era finished, expansion era building.
Consumer & franchise
The richest baskets per capita. Structured through the agency regime, properly.
Tech & QSTP
The science-park track for R&D and digital ventures.
LNG & energy serviceslicensed
The decade's order book.
QFC services & HQlicensed
Common law at 10%.
QFZ logisticslicensed
0% beside port & air.
Construction & infralicensed
The state pipeline.
Consumer & franchise
Via agency, properly.
Tech & QSTP
The science-park track.
Why Qatar
Key advantages of the jurisdiction.
✓
The expansion
The largest LNG buildout on Earth. An order book measured in decades.Decades of order book.
✓
QFC common law
English-law courts and 100% ownership inside the Gulf.An English-law island.
✓
QFZ - 0% × 20
Two decades of certainty beside port and airport.Two decades certain.
✓
10% / 0% split
Tax touches only the foreign share. And no one's salary.Foreign share only.
✓
The balance sheet
QIA-era wealth behind every state commitment.QIA-backed commitments.
✓
No VAT - still
Legislated in principle, pending in practice.Pending in practice.
How it compares
Qatar next to the Gulf alternatives.
The UAE runs the open hub; Saudi the funded transformation; Kuwait the closed veteran; Bahrain the value play. Qatar sells the gas balance sheet with three defined doors. Figures current as of 2026.UAE: open hub. Saudi: funded transformation. Kuwait: closed veteran. Bahrain: value. Qatar: the gas balance sheet, three doors in. As of 2026.
| Country | Corporate tax | Foreign ownership | Signature edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar | 10% foreign share | 49% · approvals · QFC/QFZ 100% | The gas colossus |
| UAE | 9% · 0% QFZP | 100% most | The open hub |
| Saudi Arabia | 20% | 100% licensed | The funded transformation |
| Kuwait | 15% foreign share | 49% · KDIPA 100% | The closed veteran |
| Bahrain | 0% · DMTT | 100% onshore | The value play |
QatarColossus
Corporate tax10% foreign
Ownership49% → 100%
UAEHub
Corporate tax9% / QFZP
Ownership100% most
Saudi ArabiaFunded
Corporate tax20%
Ownership100% lic.
KuwaitVeteran
Corporate tax15% foreign
Ownership49% / KDIPA
BahrainValue
Corporate tax0% / DMTT
Ownership100%
Requirements
What Qatari law actually demands.
01
Ownership by route - LLC: 51% Qatari default, 100% by approval. QFC and QFZ: 100% by design.
02
One manager - Any nationality; residency follows the licence and premises.
03
Capital by route - LLC minimums modest; QFC and QFZ size to the business plan.
04
Registered address - Doha or zone premises. The licence follows the space.
05
Agency screening - Distribution models checked against the agency law before structuring.
06
Books & filings - Tax cards, Dhareeba filings and audits. Carried by our accountants.
How it works
From application to a live presence in weeks.
Three doors, three calendars: the LLC is quickest with a partner, approvals add weeks, QFC and QFZ run their own substantive tracks.Route first across three doors; MOCI in 2-4 weeks or QFC/QFZ in 3-6; tax card, Gulf-grade banking in 2-4, residencies in 3-8 - two months to operational.
01Same day
Free consultation
Route across the three doors. Settled first, candidly.
021-2 weeks
KYC & documents
Passports and corporate papers legalised; Arabic prepared.
032-5 weeks
Incorporation / licence
MOCI registration, or the QFC/QFZ application file.
041 week
Tax registration
Tax card and Dhareeba account opened.
052-4 weeks
Bank account
QAR and USD accounts with a major bank.
063-8 weeks
Residencies & staff
Work permits and residencies under the licence.
Quick facts
Legal formLLC · QFC · QFZ
Foreign ownership49% → 100% by route
Corporate tax10% foreign share
QFZ0% - 20 years
VATPending
Standard timeline2-6 weeks
Renewal & accountingFrom $2,500/year
The QFC is the underused door: English common law, own courts, 100% ownership and 10% tax - for services and HQ operations it converts Qatar from a partner market into an owned one.
On the ground
On the ground in Qatar.
Prifinance - Qatar
Doha
Doha, Qatar
01
Gulf specialists
Your setup is run with Doha counsel who file MOCI, QFC and QFZ work weekly.
02
Route discipline
Partner LLC, approval, QFC or QFZ. Recommended by fit, not by fee.
03
Contracts economy navigated
Prequalification and tender positioning for the expansion's order book.
04
Also in Tallinn, London, Dubai & more
A network of offices across Europe, the Gulf and the Americas. One team for your whole international structure.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
5/F, Yau Lee Centre, 45 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Berlin
Germany
Rankestraße 26
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Türkiye
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Toronto
Canada
1110 Finch Avenue West, suite 406
Singapore
Singapore
3 Church Street, #29-68 Samsung Hub
Bangkok
Thailand
Unit P01, Penthouse, VASU1, 1 Sukhumvit 25 Alley
Foshan
China
A-Tower, Yuneng Digital Plaza, 46 Lishui Avenue South
Almaty
Kazakhstan
Republic Square 13
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
32 Razzakov Street
Taxation 2026
Ten on the foreign share - zero in the zones, and no VAT yet.
State corporate tax is 10% on the foreign share of profits - the Qatari share pays nothing, the mechanic every JV prices. QFC entities pay 10% on local-source profits under their own rules; QFZ companies pay nothing for twenty years. There is no personal income tax; VAT is legislated in principle and pending in practice; withholding of 5% touches certain royalties and technical fees.10% on the foreign share only, QFC's own 10% regime, QFZ zero for twenty, no personal tax, VAT pending, 5% WHT on royalties - the JV maths every deal starts from.
Foreign share - 10%
The JV arithmetic. Only the foreign slice pays.The split mechanic.
QFC - 10%
Common-law regime, local-source basis, no withholding.Own regime.
QFZ - 0% × 20
Two decades of zero beside port and airport.Zone certainty.
No personal tax
Salaries and dividends reach individuals untaxed.Untaxed individuals.
Levies in 2026
Corporate tax (foreign share)10%
Qatari / GCC share0%
QFZ0% - 20 yrs
VATPending
WHT (royalties/fees)5%
Renewal & accountingFrom $2,500/year
Owners remain responsible for tax where they live - and contract retention against tax cards makes clean Dhareeba filings a cash-flow discipline here, as across the Gulf.
Your team
The specialists who'll handle your case.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
International Business Consultant
Guides clients from the first consultation to a working setup - companies, accounts and substance in 60+ jurisdictions.
Alex Danila
Corporate Services Specialist
Handles incorporation paperwork, KYC and bank introductions so your Qatari company launches without delays.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Watch: opening a company in Qatar with Prifinance
The gas colossus, entered through the right door - route, company, licence and bank in one prepared project. Full support, start to finish.
Talk to a specialist →FAQ
Qatar, route by route.
Can I open a Qatari company without visiting?+
Mostly - incorporation and licence applications run by power of attorney. Banks and residencies want presence eventually, and the contracts economy rewards being seen. One well-planned Doha trip completes the set.
How much does it cost?+
Setup from $3,900, or $6,400 with banking. A QFC licence adds from $4,500; QFZ establishment is scoped per project. Renewals with accounting run from $2,500 a year - Gulf-premium output at Gulf-premium cost.
Do I need a 51% Qatari partner?+
By default in the classic LLC - yes. The exits from the default: ministry approval under the 2019 law can open up to 100% in most sectors for a substantive application; the QFC grants 100% by design for services, finance and HQ activities; the QFZ likewise for zone operations. Route selection is the first strategic decision, and we make it with you candidly - including when the partner route, well-papered, is genuinely the best one.
What is the QFC exactly?+
A jurisdiction within the jurisdiction: the Qatar Financial Centre operates its own English-common-law legal system with independent courts and regulator, 100% foreign ownership, 10% tax on local-source profits and no withholding. Beyond finance it licenses consulting, services and headquarters - which makes it the quiet best answer for many operators who assume Qatar means partners. Applications are substantive; ours pass.
How do the free zones work?+
Ras Bufontas (airport-side) and Umm Alhoul (port-side) grant 0% corporate tax for twenty years, 100% ownership, customs-free operations and serious infrastructure. They suit logistics, manufacturing and tech serving the region. The zone authority negotiates like a landlord with anchor ambitions - real business plans get real terms.
What is the North Field opportunity for services?+
The largest LNG construction programme on Earth: trains, berths, drilling, accommodation, catering, marine services and every supporting trade, contracted through QatarEnergy and its EPC majors on order books stretching past 2030. Prequalification is the gate - vendor registration, standards, local presence - and companies positioned early ride a decade of demand. That positioning is precisely what we build.
What taxes apply?+
The mechanic mirrors Kuwait: 10% on the foreign share of profits, nothing on the Qatari share, no personal income tax anywhere. QFC entities run their own 10% local-source regime; QFZ companies pay zero for twenty years. VAT is legislated in principle and pending in practice - plans note it without depending on either outcome. Withholding of 5% touches royalties and technical fees.
How does the agency law affect distribution?+
Classically: consumer distribution and franchise run through registered Qatari agents with protections that make exits negotiated affairs. Brands enter with agreements drafted by people who have seen the disputes - term, performance, termination mechanics. For B2B and contract work the agency question rarely bites; for retail it is the structure conversation itself.
Is the market really that small?+
In people, yes - around three million, mostly expatriate; in money, no - per-capita wealth tops world tables and the state's contract pipeline dwarfs the consumer economy. Qatar is a contracts-and-services market with a boutique consumer layer, and business plans that respect that shape succeed. We say it plainly because the distinction decides strategies.
How long does it take?+
A partner LLC: two to four weeks. Ministry-approval 100% routes: add two to four. QFC and QFZ licences: three to six weeks of substantive application. Banking: two to four. Residencies: three to eight. A working, banked Qatari presence inside two months - through whichever door fits - is the working default.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
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Start your Qatari company today.
Tell us about the business, and a specialist replies within one business day: LLC, QFC, QFZ or a different flag, with a timeline and a fixed quote.A Qatar specialist will reply within one business day with a recommendation, a timeline and a fixed quote.
✓No obligation; the first consultation is free✓Route across the three doors settled first✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU speaking team