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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Qatar foreign investment control: 2019–2020 reforms, GCC treatment, sectoral 100% ownership, free zone exclusions, QIPA approvals, mandatory suspension, penalties, confidentiality, and merger control interface

Practice notes
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1. What is the applicable legislation?

Qatar’s foreign direct investment (FDI) framework shifted in 2019/2020, aligning with the nation’s wider economic goals. For years it was highly restrictive. Under Foreign Investment Law 13/2000, non-Qataris were required to channel all investments via a Qatari entity, partnering with local nationals who had to own at least 51% of the vehicle. Although foreigners could petition the Minister of Commerce and Industry to raise their stake to 100%, approvals were seldom issued. The new Foreign Investment Law 1/2019 (FDI Law 2019) and its Executive Regulations, Resolution 44/2020 (Executive Regulations 2020), eased these ownership limits. From the FDI Law’s introduction, foreign investors may hold up to 100% of a Qatari private company operating in specified sectors, such as agriculture, selected industrial activities, health care, education, tourism, certain activities in the energy sector, mining, business consultancy, technical consultancy, information technology, cultural, sports, and entertainment. Beyond these areas, foreign participation remains capped at 49%. Furthermore, foreigners may generally only hold 49% in...

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Nicolas Bremer
Dr. Nicolas Bremer

Nicolas is a partner and attorney with the regional law firm BREMER where he heads the firm's Antitrust & Merger Control and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) teams. He oversees the firm's Riyadh and Cairo representations and has extensive experience in advising international and domestic clients on merger control and antitrust matters as well as mergers and acquisitions and joint venture transactions in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and the wider Near and Middle East. He works in English, Arabic and German language. Prior to joining BREMER Dr. Bremer worked for different international law firms in Berlin, Cairo, Dubai and London. He holds a PhD, which he obtained working on the regulation of large-scale fresh water development in the Near and Middle East under international and domestic law. Dr. Bremer frequently publishes on the law of the Near and Middle East and...

Asmaa Eldesoky
Asmaa Eldesoky

Asmaa is an associate of the regional law firm, BREMER, and part of the firm's Antitrust & Merger Control team. She advises international corporates and PE firms on merger control, antitrust as well as FDI matters including investment protection and general corporate matters in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the larger Middle East. She works in English and Arabic languages. ...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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