Qatar Launches QR500 E-Commerce Licence Covering 194 Business Activities

On September 17, 2026, Qatar's Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) announced the launch of a dedicated e-commerce licence under Ministerial Decision No. 25 of 2026, issued by H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry. The licence allows individuals and companies to establish and fully operate e-commerce activities online by obtaining a licence tied to the website through which the activity is conducted. The new licence covers 194 approved commercial activities, including fashion design and related products, consulting services, digital design, AI consulting and solutions, photography, and translation services. The issuance fee is set at QR500, with applications submitted electronically through MOCI's Single Window platform. To obtain the licence, applicants must register an electronic domain ending in ".qa" or ".com.qa" through one of eight service providers approved by the Communications Regulatory Authority. MOCI said the initiative supports the growth of the e-commerce sector, encourages entrepreneurship and investment, enhances trust and transparency in digital transactions, and advances digital transformation in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. For companies and entrepreneurs operating in Qatar, the new licence offers a streamlined route to formalize online retail and service operations without a separate physical commercial licence, reducing setup time and cost for digital ventures.