Qatar Amends Labour Law Under Law No. (9) of 2026

On June 25, 2026, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, promulgated Law No. (9) of 2026, introducing a comprehensive set of amendments to Qatar's Labour Law, originally issued under Law No. (14) of 2004. The amendments entered into force on July 1, 2026. Among the most significant changes is a new Article 23 bis, which requires workers in designated vocational and technical professions to obtain a training and examination certificate from a Ministry of Labour-accredited centre before starting employment. Employers may also require workers in specified professions to hold professional licences and pass recognised competency tests prior to practising their roles. The Ministry of Labour is expected to publish the official list of covered professions, along with further decisions on licensing requirements and grounds for suspension or revocation of certification. The law also revises provisions governing non-compete clauses and introduces expanded flexible-working arrangements, reflecting an effort to modernize the labour market and balance the interests of employers and workers. For companies operating in Qatar, the amendments call for a review of onboarding procedures for technical and vocational hires, updated employment contract templates to reflect the revised non-compete rules, and continued monitoring of Ministry of Labour announcements for the finalized list of licensed professions.