Includes typical use of agents and distributors and how to find a good partner, e.g., whether use of an agent or distributor is legally required.
Last Published: 8/15/2019

In certain circumstances, foreign companies doing business in Qatar may elect to have a local commercial agent.  A commercial agent generally acts as the exclusive provider of services of the foreign principal or exclusive seller in Qatar for foreign produced goods.  U.S. firms are strongly advised to avoid appointing one regional agent for a number of countries. 

U.S. companies with agency agreements or planning agency agreements with Qatari firms are encouraged to review Law No. 8/2002 as amended by Law No. 2/2016 (the “Commercial Agents Law”). The law consists of 28 articles, enshrining two basic principles:

  1. The business of commercial agents is exclusively restricted to Qatari nationals or to companies wholly owned by Qatari nationals, and they must be registered with the Qatari Commercial Agents Register to receive the benefits.
  2. Any Qatari agency is to be considered as an exclusive agency.


It should be noted that the Commercial Agents Law mandates certain outcomes with respect to the expiration or termination of agency contracts and these provisions should be reviewed carefully when entering into an agency or distribution agreement.

When finally approved by both parties, the Arabic text of agency or representation agreements should be registered with the Commercial Affairs Department of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).  Local agents usually follow up on the routine work required by MoCI registration regulations.  Article 23 of the law states that courts of the State of Qatar shall be competent to deal with any dispute arising between the principal and the agent for the execution of the agency contract, provided there is no agreement otherwise.  In the event that the parties select arbitration, Article 24 of the law states that any arbitral award in the dispute arising out of the agency agreement shall be deemed final. 

The Commercial Agents Law allows for the importation and sale of brand name products by other local entities; however, the commercial agent is permitted to request commission from the foreign principal in accordance with their commercial agency agreement where the products have been imported for the purpose of trading, as opposed to personal use or exportation, which are exempt from commission. 

To find a reliable agent, U.S. companies are encouraged to take advantage of services offered by the Commercial Section at the U.S. Embassy in Doha.

Other resources for finding a local agent include international auditing firms, accounting firms and law offices.  Even in these cases a visit to the Commercial Section of the United States Embassy in Doha is encouraged for additional information and insight.

The Commercial Agency Law can be complex in its application and U.S. companies are encouraged to consult counsel prior to hiring an agent or selling goods or services into Qatar.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.