Setting up in the Qatar Financial Centre or a Qatar Free Zone, and registering for QFC tax

We compare mainland, QFC and QFZ for your activity, prepare the application, and after licensing set up QFC tax registration and the first tax calendar, so you get the regime's benefits without missing filings.

QAR 12,000One time

For: Investors choosing a special regime: QFC for financial, professional and holding activities, and QFZ (Ras Bufontas, Umm Alhoul) for logistics, technology and industry.

What we need from you

Business plan and activity description
Authority checks fit with target sectors
Shareholder passports and KYC
Application
Legalised documents of corporate shareholders
Application
Proposed directors and senior executive
Licence conditions
Group structure and revenue
Pillar Two may still apply to large groups
Premises needs
QFZ lease or QFC office

What we discuss

Is the activity regulated by the QFC Regulatory Authority?
Regulated firms need extra approval and different fees
Will you sell into the Qatar local market?
Free zone entities may need a mainland route for local sales
Is the group in scope of Pillar Two?
A tax holiday may not shield top-up tax
How many staff and visas?
Immigration via MOI after licensing

What we file

Submit QFC application or QFZ expression of interest
Submit legalised incorporation documents
Register with QFC Tax Department and set the tax accounting period
Plan first QFC tax return
Example: period ends 31 December 2026, return due 30 June 2027; extension up to four months on request before the deadline

What you get

Regime comparison note
Licence, CR and tax registration
First year tax and filing calendar

The law

QFC Tax Regulations and Rules: QFC entities pay QFC tax; returns due six months after period end; extension up to four months on request Source
QFC application fee for non-regulated activities: Application fee cut from USD 5,000 to USD 500 for non-regulated activities Source
Qatar Free Zones regime (QFZA): 100 percent foreign ownership and a tax holiday of up to 20 years on QFZA terms Source
Law No. 22 of 2024 amending Law No. 24 of 2018 (global minimum tax): IIR and DMTT at 15 percent for MNE groups with EUR 750 million revenue in two of the four prior years, for years from 1 January 2025 Source

Questions people ask

Online payment in QAR is not open yet. Send us a message and an adviser for Qatar confirms the scope and the fee before any work starts.