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Qatar Customs

The Qatar Customs and Ports General Authority has responsibility for customs matters.

A person or entity wishing to import goods into Qatar for sale must be:

• Registered in the Importers Register
• Approved by the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The standard rate of duty is 5% (ad valorem) of the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value in accordance with GCC Customs Union tariffs.

Goods that compete with locally manufactured products attract a higher rate of duty, such as steel (20%), cement (20%) and urea (30%).

Goods manufactured in GCC countries are exempt from customs duty provided they are accompanied by a certificate of origin issued by the Chamber of Commerce in the GCC State of origin.

There are also rules on temporary imports and samples. You should enquire with the Customs Department via the Qatar Government portal for further information.

You can find more about import tariffs in the Market Access Database (MADB).

Export Documentation

To release imports from customs zones the following documents are required:

• Certificate of origin
• Invoice and shipping document
• Full description of goods
• Health and quality certificate, if applicable

In Qatar, the letter of credit (LC) is the most common instrument for controlling exports and imports. When an LC is opened, the supplier is required to provide a:

• Certificate of origin
• Certificate from ship’s captain of the ship or shipping agency stating that the ship is allowed to enter Arab ports

Both documents should be notarised by an Arab embassy or consulate, or an Arab Chamber of Commerce in the exporting country.

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