Qatar’s commitment to economic diversification and its ambition to become a regional centre for international business have been facilitated by a series of legal reforms that are reshaping the country’s investment landscape. At the heart of this transformation is Law No. 1 of 2019 on Regulating Non-Qatari Capital Investment in Economic Activity, a landmark law that permits 100% foreign ownership in a range of sectors. This reform has removed a historical barrier to foreign participation in the local economy, opening the door to more agile and autonomous business structuring by non-Qatari investors while simultaneously encouraging further economic diversification.
The new investment law is part of a broader, dynamic legal framework that is moving Qatar towards its objective of building a competitive, innovation-driven economy, guided by the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. Foreign ownership is permitted in most sectors, subject to certain licensing requirements, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry introduced a process to approve foreign capital participation based on a project’s potential to positively contribute to Qatar’s economic and business environment.
The effects of this shift are already evident. There is increased foreign investment in technology, infrastructure, construction, education and logistics – sectors that are both aligned with Qatar’s diversification goals and attractive to international investors seeking scalable, long-term growth. The ability to retain full ownership of operations allows foreign investors to better protect intellectual property, streamline internal governance and reinvest profit in strategic growth areas.
However, the country’s attractiveness as an investment destination is not only a function of market access and ownership rights. Legal certainty, predictability and enforceability of contracts is equally critical. In recognition of this, Qatar has taken concrete steps to simplify commercial enforcement procedures and increase the protections afforded to foreign and domestic investors.
A prime example of this progress is the development of new enforcement mechanisms through the recently enacted enforcement law, Law No. 4 of 2024, which now allows certain financial instruments – such as cheques and settlement agreements – to be enforced directly, without the need to obtain a separate court judgment. Previously, delays and procedural ambiguities in enforcement posed a significant challenge within the Qatari legal sphere and often served as a deterrent to foreign investors when assessing the legal risks of entering the domestic market. The new, more streamlined recovery procedures enhance creditor confidence and support the reduction of transaction costs associated with doing business in the country.
Another impactful reform is the growing prominence and institutional strength of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC). Located within Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), the QICDRC provides a common law court system that operates independently from Qatar’s civil law judiciary. The court comprises internationally recognised judges, including former senior judges from the UK and other common law jurisdictions, and adjudicates disputes in English – and/or Arabic, upon the request of the parties – which is a considerable advantage for foreign investors who may be more accustomed to English-language contracts and proceedings, as well as the application of common law principles in the settlement of disputes.
The jurisdiction of the QICDRC covers civil and commercial disputes involving QFC-licensed entities, but its appeal extends further. Importantly, as clarified by the recent judgment in University of Cambridge v. The Holding WLL (2025), the QICDRC is not an opt-in jurisdiction when no party to the dispute is incorporated in QFC. Foreign investors and counter parties are able to choose to have their disputes resolved by an independent, English-language court that applies internationally recognised commercial principles while still operating within the domestic legal framework.
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