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Requirements for issuing different business activities licenses

Seeking to create a motivating investment environment and opportunities for entrepreneurs to encourage them to produce and invest, regulations and laws in the State of Qatar regulate the controls, conditions and procedures for granting different licenses.

The owners and occupants of facilities, the owners of commercial and industrial business, consultants, construction engineers and contractors, and other business owners have to meet the conditions and rules set by the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Civil Defense Department and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The following are the most important of such rules and procedures:

Requirements of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry

There are many general requirements that must exist in the commercial, industrial and public shops when practicing their activities. They are as follows:

• The location should be suitable for the type of shop, with a legal title to occupy the shop, and to provide the evidence.
• Issuing the building completion certificate for the site that requires the license or what replaces it based on the approval of the competent authority.
• The shop has to be suitable for the type of activity, as determined by the competent department.
• The size of the shop should be sufficient and suitable for the activity, and according to the standards determined by the relevant department in coordination with the competent authority.
• Meeting the security, safety and civil defense conditions, and health requirements as determined by the competent authority.
• Obtaining the approval of the competent authority to practice the activity.
• The shop should not be directly linked to housing, and housing should not be a part of it.
• The shop shall have a banner with the trade name, in accordance with the conditions and controls specified by the competent department.

The following table shows the requirements for the types of activities practiced by the different shops:

Shop type	Specific requirements
Business Centers	Preparing a plan for the distribution of offices and areas for common services as specified by the competent department. Showing the trade name of each shop inside the business centers.
Shops based on means of transport (tourist boats and mobile cars)	The means of transport to be licensed for commercial purposes shall have the serviceability from the relevant authorities. Adhere to the location or routes specified for the vehicle to be licensed commercially. The trade name banner has to be appropriate as determined by the competent department.
Self-service machines and ATM	There must be a main valid license in place.
Shops and workshops of blacksmithing, aluminum, carpentry, metal welding with electrolyte, acetylene, oxygen, shops for repairing motorcycles, and car electricity shops	To be established in industrial areas, commercial streets and other sites, as specified by the competent department in coordination with the relevant authorities.
Shops and workshops for repair and painting cars. Shops and workshops of marble, stones, public presses, laboratories and warehouses	To be established in industrial areas and outside cities, and other areas as specified by the competent department in coordination with the relevant authorities.
The shops of washing, lubrication, oil change, and repair tires of cars	To be established in the industrial zones, in the oil stations or in the other sites, as determined by the competent department in coordination with the competent authority. A break area for the comers to the station has to be provided, as determined by the competent authorities. To allocate sufficient parking spaces
Non-therapeutic public health facilities	There must be separate spaces within the saloons for the various services that are allowed including (massage, non-therapeutic massage, henna, hair dyes, oriental bath service, steam bath, Jacuzzi, swimming pools, sale of accessories and cosmetics, and other appropriate activities as determined by the competent authority). Place a (for women only) banner on the entrance from the outside, for activities provided for women only. Place a barrier to the front of the shop, or using the hidden glass so that the shop from the inside cannot be shown, for activities related to women's services. It is prohibited to provide any cosmetic medical services.
Public bakeries	Shall have a glass façade. Containing a baking hall, a room for dough, and a store for flour. Shall have a place to ventilate the bread and a place for showing and selling.
Cafes (which do not provide shisha service)	Shall have a glass façade. Preparing a place for the customers to sit, a place for preparing the used materials, and a third to store such materials. There must be adequate washbasins and toilets. There must be separate smoking areas with a sign showing this.
Shops preparing and selling sweets	Should have a glass façade and a showroom. They must have suitable places for preparing the sweets separate from the showing areas.
Dairy factories and ice cream	To be established in the industrial areas, farms and other sites, as specified by the competent department in coordination with the relevant authorities.

The requirements of the General Directorate of Civil Defense

The General Directorate of Civil Defense is seeking to facilitate the process of inspecting sites as a contribution to speed up the procedures for issuing licenses to the owners of companies and establishments, after verifying compliance with the preventive conditions and ensuring the validity of the firefighting systems, in addition to reviewing all the security and safety measures stipulated in the Civil Defense Law, stating that:

Approving the architectural drawings, fire alarm firefighting systems before starting construction.	Approving the architectural drawings for ventilation systems based on the requirements of the relevant authority.	Contacting the relevant authority to renew the certificate on meeting the requirements of prevention and firefighting within a maximum of (7) days before the license expiry.
The use of the building shall not be changed without the approval of the relevant authorities.	The need to contact the relevant authority and take the necessary approval in the case of amending, adding, or deleting the previously approved designs after consulting the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning.	The need to put the certificate of the validity and compliance of the fire prevention system, issued by the relevant authority, in an apparent place of the institution.
The need to comply with the requirements of periodic maintenance of firefighting systems in the relevant authority.	The need to install fire prevention and firefighting systems and fire resistant materials by engineers and technicians accredited with the relevant authority.	Periodical maintenance of all fire prevention and firefighting systems through one of the approved companies with the relevant authority.
Maintenance of fire prevention and firefighting systems and fire resistant materials by engineers and technicians approved by the relevant authority.	The approved company shall provide an alternative when removing any of the firefighting systems, devices, or materials from any site for the purpose of maintenance.	Contacting the relevant authority upon request in case of notification about the excesses.
There must be an evacuation plan and a gathering point for workers and others.	Not to offer services for the institution without the relevant authority's approval.	The need to have a fire-stop in air conditioning connections based on the approval issued by the relevant authority.
The need to separate shops from stores with a wall and fireproof door.	Gas refueling pipes should be painted with yellow.	The need to implement the exits and entrances of the sites according to the plans approved by the competent authority, the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning's Urban Planning Department, and the Roads Projects Department at the Public Works Authority.
No obstructions at the entrances that cause delays in the arrival of vehicles and civil defense equipment.	The need to protect columns, structures, internal partitions, and ceilings with fire-resistant materials as approved by the competent authority.	The consultation office has to supervise and attend the installation of fire extinguishing and safety equipment.
The necessity to put fireproof doors between the parts of the building according to the plans approved by the competent authority.	Adhering to the escaping spaces between the parts of the building according to the plans approved by the competent authority.	Adhering to the barriers that prevent and resist the spread of fire and smoke horizontally and vertically.
Checking the validity and efficiency of fire hoses when used.	Do not use the wet fire net for purposes other than firefighting.	Do not use skylights for the purposes of waste collection or storage.
No storage in service rooms such as (generators, services, pumps, electricity rooms, ventilation, air conditioning, information systems, etc.).	Adhering to the technical observations of the competent authority, whether in the stage of approving the engineering plans or inspection, and not to repeat the observations issued in the reports of the competent authority.	To separate between establishments of different uses in the event of their presence in the same environment according to the approvals issued by the relevant authority.
Compliance with the specifications of the emergency exits according to the approval issued by the competent authority.	Emergency exits should lead to outside the place or protected passageway.	To put signs indicating the emergency exits according to the approvals issued by the competent authority.
To put and illuminate the guiding signs of emergency exits according to the requirements of the competent authority.	Emergency lighting should be provided in corridors, vaults and emergency exits.	To install fire-resistant doors and smoke-insulated barriers according to specifications set by technicians certified by the competent authority.
To install fire resistant materials by technicians certified by the competent authority.	To install manual barriers to the stairs leading to the exits according to the specifications approved by the competent authority to protect against falling during the escape.	Providing non-slip materials from stairs or emergency exit floors.
To install emergency exit doors in the right direction according to the drawings approved by the competent authority.	To install self-locking system for fire-proof doors and exits.	To carry out periodical maintenance and repair of exit doors and fire-proof doors according to the requirements of the competent authority.
Adhering to the specifications of escape corridors according to the engineering drawings approved by the competent authority.	To maintain and repair elevators and conveyor belts periodically according to the requirements of the competent authority.	No drilling or damage in the floors of escape corridors.
Giving the relevant authority a copy of the keys of elevators.	Do not put materials in the corridors that obstruct the process of eviction and escape. (door lock).	The need for a panel showing the responsible for elevator maintenance and emergency phone numbers.
Providing natural or mechanical ventilation for emergency exits according to the approval issued by the competent authority.	The need to cover and protect electrical wiring.	To maintain and repair the ventilation system periodically according to the requirements of the relevant authority.
The need for a lightning rod.	Provide evacuation plan for the residents of the building according to the approval issued by the competent authority.	The need for a special register of the building showing the periodic maintenance of all fire protection systems.
Providing a gathering point for the residents of the building according to the approval issued by the competent authority.	The need to install an automatic insulator for the main electric current.	Do not close the windows of the upper buildings (above the ground floor) with an iron fence without the approval of the competent authority.
Do not overload the electrical outlet.	Providing hardware and equipment to bring down and open elevators.	No water leakage in the wet or dry extinguishing network.
The need for warning signs in elevators.	The point of supply in dry or wet extinguishing network should be obvious for use by civil defense teams.	Do not use flammable materials within the building materials used in warehouses.
The need to comply with safety requirements when demolishing buildings.	Mark stored materials to identify their contents.	Do not leave combustible waste in the waste room.
The electrical wiring must comply with the approved standard specifications.	Ensure that the floors of the corridors are free of oil, grease, waste and combustible materials.	The need for discharge of any materials leaking from the stores.
Fuel tank must comply with the approved standard specifications.	The lighting lamps must comply with the approved standard specifications.	There must be valves for the liquid fuel at the beginning and end of the pipeline.
Not to install firefighting equipment that do not meet the technical specifications approved by the competent authority.	Place the fuel tanks in separate underground rooms.	The need to install an automatic network of fire extinguishers with other materials in places of danger, especially where water is not used, and in places specified by the competent authority.
The need to place gas leak detectors in fuel tank pumps.	The need for slopes in buildings (for persons with disabilities) according to the license.	The need for natural or mechanical ventilation holes in fuel stores.
To save the fire extinguishing and safety equipment in specified boxes painted in red.	The need for a fire elevator if the height of the building exceeds 6 floors or 20 meters.	There must be a source of the electrical current in buildings that require a fire elevator and a ventilation system according to the specifications of the competent authority.
The need for two fire elevators, if the height of the building exceeds (28) meters.	The need for automatic extinguishing system in the vaults according to the designs and consents issued by the competent authority.

The following is a list of measures and conditions for shops with all commercial activities:

The need to obtain the approval of the relevant authority in the temporary indoor trade fairs.	Use of suction fans.	Not to create or allocate a kitchen inside the shop contrary to the approval.
The main suction fans and blowers should be cleaned continuously.	The need for emergency exits.	The need to place an insulator around the convection oven in restaurants and bakeries.
Do not leave exposed electrical wires or random electrical installations, and put them in insulating pipes.	The need to place copper pipes between gas cylinder and oven in restaurants and bakeries.	The need for indicative signs of emergency exits according to the approval.
The need to follow the proper storage conditions in warehouses according to the requirements of the competent authority.	The fire extinguishers must be suitable for the existing commercial activity according to the approval.	Gas cylinders should be placed in a safe place outside the kitchen.
Not to move safety equipment and fire protection from one place to another without the consent of the competent authority.	There must be boxes to keep gas cylinders in a safe place outside the kitchen.	To place safety and fire prevention equipment in the right place according to the approval.
To place signs showing how to use safety equipment and evacuation plan during fire, in a prominent place in the shops specifying the gathering point.	Do not store in the corridors and mezzanine inside the shop without leaving sufficient distance in the corridors, and adhering to the permitted storage rate according to the approval.	There mustn't be barriers to the use of safety and fire protection equipment.
Suitable ventilation should be provided in accordance with the approval.

The following are the measures and conditions for fuel stations operating in Qatar:

To ban smoking for 24 hours a day.	To specify safe perimeter with iron barriers around fuel tanks.	Place plates (no smoking) and (stop engine).
Parking in the reservoir area is prohibited, with guiding banners to show this.	Not to use gas in the shops surrounding the fuel station according to the competent authority’s approval.	Place guiding banner showing how to deal in case of fire or leakage of flammable materials.
Do not store any flammable materials within the boundaries of the station without the approval of competent authority.	The need to comply with the requirements of the competent authority when maintaining public fuel stations.	Do not supply unauthorized petroleum tanks.
Connect the alarms of the surrounding shops to the main alarm panel of the station.

The following are the measures and requirements for central gas tanks:

Do not change the location of the central gas tank without a prior approval of the competent authority.	Safety of the extensions of the central gas tank.	There must be guiding banners for central gas systems in the building.
No flammable materials near the central gas tank.	To install valves and water sprinklers on the central gas tank according to the approvals issued by the competent authority.	Cleaning the location surrounding the central gas tank.
To install central gas alarms linked to the main control panel approved by the competent authority.	Filling the central gas system reservoir based on a prior approval from the competent authority.	Do not separate, remove, cover or damage any component of the firefighting and alarm system of the central gas reservoir.
There must be a license from the competent authority or the certificate of compliance with the requirements of fire protection in respect of the central gas system.	The need for a risk study in case of increasing the size of gas tanks to 4000 gallons.

The following are the measures and requirements for educational buildings:

Classes for children under grade 4 should not be placed in the basement or above ground.	The classrooms should be directly visible on the building's front.	The classrooms should be directly visible on the building's front.
No obstruction to the use of windows in rescue works.	Classrooms and laboratories should not be placed in the basement.

The following are the measures and requirements for stores and warehouses:

The height of stored materials should not exceed the allowed limit.	Ventilation should match the nature of stock and the space of warehouse.	An enough space should be left between stores and warehouses to allow the Civil Defense vehicle to enter.
Adhering to safety manual for materials when stored.

The following are the measures and requirements for filling and distributing LPG cylinders and tanks:

Adhering to the protective conditions for storage sites of liquefied petroleum gas cylinders.	Adhering to the protective conditions for storage sites of liquefied petroleum gas cylinders.	The LPG cylinders should not be stored in residential areas or in locations not approved by the competent authority.
The name of the distribution company shall be written on the doors of the liquefied gas cylinder transport vehicle in coordination with the relevant authorities.	Adhering to a maximum of 5 gas cylinders in commercial areas.	No parking for the LPG cylinders vehicles in the residential areas for purposes other than loading and lowering.
Complying with the approved protective requirements related to storage method of cylinders.	Do not fill the petroleum gas cylinders in unauthorized places.	Placing warning signs in both Arabic and English showing that the building is dedicated to storing LPG.
Install a valve for LPG cylinders approved by the relevant authority.	Place warning signs (dangerous - no smoking) in the building.	Place the liquefied gas cylinders in a correct position, loading and bringing them down properly.
Place warning signs on LPG cylinders transport vehicles in coordination with the relevant authorities.	Complying with the protective requirements for the fittings of the cylinders or tanks of LPG or industrial gas.	Using the gas cylinders transport vehicles approved by the competent authorities.

The following are the measures and requirements for temporary and under construction buildings:

Temporary buildings shall not be used for housing purposes, offices or storage without prior permission from the competent authority.	No smoking in temporary buildings, either inside or on the roof of the building.	There shouldn't be waste, grass, or flammable materials close to the temporary building at a distance not less than (3) meters.
Do not cook or use other cooking stoves in temporary buildings.	The number of floors in the temporary offices should not exceed two floors (ground + first) unless there is a prior approval from the relevant authority.	The hazardous materials, flammable liquids and gases must not be stored in a way that violates the requirements of the relevant authority.
The number of floors in the temporary housing should not be more than one.	The buildings under construction shall not be used as workers' housing.	Protecting the electrical wiring.
24-hour monitoring for the under construction buildings.	Keeping the temporary buildings away from sources of heat or ignition.	There must be an evacuation plan and a collection point for workers in temporary and under construction buildings.
There must be hand fire extinguishers with signs showing their location in temporary and under construction buildings.	Gas cylinders should not be stored inside the under construction building.	There must be guiding and warning signs in the site.

Conditions for the work of sea freight agents:

The company's address should match the provided data.	The freight workers should have safety and first aid courses.	The number of employees shall be sufficient to carry out the obligations of the shipping agent.
Providing the relevant department with a copy of the contract concluded between the agent and the party it represents.	Providing experience in the work of the shipping agencies to the employees and giving them qualified courses	Commitments to the port that the goods owners will receive their goods directly.
The staff shall fully perform their tasks and responsibilities	Providing the port management and cargo owners with the exact dates of the cargo arrival.	The official work throughout the day shall be with alternation.
Providing the navigational agent with pamphlets including the types and weights of goods, the number of parcels and containers, the status of the goods and their specifications, within sufficient time before the arrival of the vessel.	Commitment to work all weekdays, public holidays, and Eids.	Inform the port management about the damaged and missing goods or the ones that were not shipped from the exporter.
There must be a person in the office, in the port, or on phone throughout the day.	Giving a statement of goods that do not have a delivery note, within 15 days.	Providing medical insurance for workers
Determining the number of navigational agents which the shipping broker is dealing with.	Providing life insurance

Conditions for the work of navigational agents​

The company's address should match the provided data.	Sending a notification to the port management (before 48 hours from the ship arrival) including: the ship's name, nationality, data, date and time of arrival, type and weight of cargo, number of parcels and containers, status and specifications of goods, quantities of goods to be unloaded at the port, storage place and destination.	The number of employees shall be sufficient to perform the obligations of the shipping agent.
Identifying the equipment or mechanisms for transporting goods before their arrival by 48 hours, in order for the loading and unloading process to be easy.	Providing expertise in the work of the shipping agencies to the staff and giving them qualified courses.	Determining the processing time of the ship for loading and unloading.
The staff should perform their tasks and responsibilities fully.	Submitting a copy of the certificates and documents of the ship to the competent department after the arrival of the ship.	The official work throughout the day shall be with alternation.
The participation of the specialists in the stocktaking and counting the parcels for each shipment.	Commitment to work on all weekdays, public holidays, and Eids.	Informing the port management about the damaged and missing goods or the ones that were not shipped from the exporter.
There must be a person in the office, in the port, or on phone throughout the day.	Giving a statement of the goods for which no delivery note has been issued, within 15 days.	Provision of medical insurance for workers
Reporting to the port management on the processes of loading, unloading, inspection, and repair of damaged parcels	Providing life insurance	Providing ships with the necessary supplies and fuel
The shipping workers should have safety and first aid courses	Completing the formal procedures of leaving before unloading or loading the ship	Providing the necessary equipment for the safety and protection of the port's workers
Commitment to clean the port and the berths and to remove the wastes that the ship causes.	Providing the competent department with a copy of the contract concluded between the agency and the supplier, and the amendments, if any.	Notifying the goods' owners with the ship's data immediately after leaving the port.
Providing the port management with the commitments of goods' owners that they receive their goods.	Obtaining the licenses from the competent authorities to supply the ships	Submitting the received and issued goods' data (Manifest) to the Port management
Bearing the delay expenses in the case of the delay of a ship sailing	Providing the port management with accurate data on the dates of the movement of ships, their arrival, and about the owners of goods	Notifying the competent authorities in Qatar upon the arrival of goods whose release requires the approval from them
Providing an office inside the port so that it can carry out the required obligations