Employing Workers in the Qatar
Employing Workers in Qatar
Country Snapshot
- Population: ~2.8 million (2024 est.)
- Expatriates: ~88%
- Emirati Nationals: ~12%
- Capital: Doha
- Major Cities: Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Lusail
- Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR)
- Official Language: Arabic (English widely used in business)
The State of Qatar is a sovereign emirate, with its capital, Doha, serving as the nation’s primary commercial and financial hub. While governed by a central authority, Qatar offers several distinct economic jurisdictions with their own independent regulatory and employment regimes, including the prominent Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA)
Hiring & Compliance: Overview
MasdarEOR is a fully licensed, in-country Employer of Record (EOR) provider in Qatar. We manage all employment obligations on behalf of clients—ensuring full compliance with local labor and immigration laws.
- A valid Qatari commercial registration (trade license) is required to directly sponsor employees.
- Expatriates must be sponsored under a registered Qatari entity—either a client’s own license or an EOR platform such as Masdar.
- Non-compliance with sponsorship and labor laws may result in fines, bans, or deportation.
Why Use an EOR in the Qatar?
MasdarEOR offers a strategic alternative for companies that:
- Do not have a legal entity in Qatar.
- Face limitations with visa quota availability.
- Prefer to outsource local hiring, payroll, and compliance management.
- Seek to meet Qatarization obligations without direct headcount.
MasdarEOR can legally employ both expatriates and Qatari nationals on our license, giving clients immediate access to workforce deployment without establishing a local entity.
Qatarization Quotas & Support
The State of Qatar encourages private sector companies, with specific mandates in certain industries (such as energy and finance), to hire a minimum number of Qatari nationals under its Qatarization policy.
- Quota requirements primarily vary by industry sector, company size, and specific government regulations.
- Penalties apply for non-compliance within these regulated sectors.
MasdarEOR can manage Qatarization on the client’s behalf by:
- Employing eligible Qatari candidates on our EOR platform.
- Ensuring full Ministry of Labour (MoL) registration and pension compliance through the General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority (GRSIA).
- Providing local talent sourcing and quota tracking support.
Employment Contracts
- Dual language: Arabic and English (Arabic text prevails in case of any dispute)
- Currency: Salary must be stated and paid in Qatari Riyal (QAR)
- Contract Type: Fixed-term only (≤ 5 years, renewable)
- Job Titles: Subject to availability in Qatar systems and tied to academic qualifications and Qatarization policies. Not all titles are available and changes can occur without prior notice.
- Must define: job title, start date, salary and allowances, probation period, and termination terms
Working Hours & Public Holidays
- Standard: 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week
- Workweek: Sunday to Thursday
- Ramadan: Working hours are reduced to 6 hours/day (36 hours/week) for all employees.
-
Overtime: 125% for regular overtime.
150% for night/weekend/holiday work
Paid public holidays include:
- Hijri New Year
- National Sports Day
- Eid Al Fitr
- Eid Al Adha
- Qatar National Day
Leave Entitlements
Annual Leave
30 calendar days (after 1 year), pro-rated in first year
Sick Leave
- First 2 weeks: full pay
- Next 4 weeks: 50% pay
- Next 6 weeks: Unpaid
Maternity Leave
50 days paid (pre & post natal combined)
Parental Leave
No statutory requirement.
Hajj Leave
21 days paid Hajj leave, for Muslim employees with ≥2 years of service
Probation & Termination
Up to 6 months of probation
- Employer-initiated termination:
→ Requires 3 days’ written notice. - Employee resignation while remaining in Qatar:
→ Requires 30 days’ notice. - Employee resignation while returning to home country:
→ Requires 30 days’ notice, or as specified in the employment contract, but shall not exceed 2 months.
Post-Probation Notice
30 Days
End of Service (EOS) Gratuity
- Under 1 year: No gratuity
- After 1 year: 21 days’ salary for each year of service
Payroll Compliance
- Salary Payment: QAR only
- WPS (Wage Protection System): Mandatory for all salaries
- Payslips: Issued monthly
- Frequency: Monthly salary cycle
- No income tax in Qatar
- Repatriation: Mandated by law, unless the employee transfer employment
Health Insurance
- Mandatory under the Qatar law
Why Choose MasdarEOR?
- MoHRE-licensed entity with authority to sponsor expatriate and national workers
- In-house visa, PRO, HR, legal and payroll infrastructure across Qatari jurisdictions
- End-to-end onboarding, documentation, payroll, and offboarding
- Qatarization quota solutions via direct EOR employment of nationals
- No hidden third-party costs — all services managed by Masdar directly