Qatar now has a dedicated licence for selling online. If your business sells products or services through a website, an app or social media in Qatar, this licence affects you, and it also affects how your website or online store has to be built. In this guide I explain what the licence is, who needs it, and the exact things your store must show before you apply.
This guide is part of the WooCommerce & E-commerce section. It focuses on the website side of the licence, based on my work with companies in Doha.
Quick summary: Under Ministerial Decision No. 25 of 2026, selling through a website or social media in Qatar requires an e-commerce licence from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The licence covers 194 approved activities and costs 500 QAR. Your store must use a .qa or .com.qa domain, show your commercial registration and licence numbers, offer electronic payment, and publish return and complaints details.
Last updated: October 2026
Important: I am a WordPress developer, not a lawyer. This guide summarizes what has been published about the decision and explains how to prepare your website. Confirm the details of your own case with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry before you apply.
What is the Qatar e-commerce licence?
The e-commerce licence is a permit issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) under Ministerial Decision No. 25 of 2026. It allows a business to carry out approved commercial activities electronically, through its own website, without the need for a physical shop.
The Ministry announced the licence in September 2026 with 194 approved activities. The examples it gave include fashion design, consultancy, digital design, AI solutions, photography and translation services. The goal is clear: more trust and transparency in online buying, and an easier path for entrepreneurs to start a digital business in Qatar.
Qatar e-commerce licence at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Ministerial Decision No. 25 of 2026 |
| Issued by | Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) |
| Approved activities | 194 activities |
| Licence fee | 500 QAR (other costs such as the commercial registration, domain and website are separate) |
| Domain | Must end in .qa or .com.qa, registered through a provider approved by the Communications Regulatory Authority |
| Where to apply | Online, through the Ministry's single window platform |
| Number of licences | A separate licence for each website used for selling |
Who needs the licence?
According to the published summaries of the decision, commercial activity through websites is not allowed without an e-commerce licence. The definition of a website is broad. It covers online stores, apps and social media accounts used to sell.
To apply, you generally need:
- A commercial registration with the Ministry
- An activity that matches one of the 194 approved activities
- Any extra approvals your activity requires (for example food or health products)
- A clearly identified website or channel that you will sell through
Personal sales that are not in commercial quantities are outside the decision. Businesses registered under other systems, such as the Qatar Financial Centre, may follow different rules, so check your case.
What your website or online store must include
This is the part that matters most for your website. A licensed store must show certain information and offer certain functions. Here is what each requirement means on a WordPress or WooCommerce site:
| Requirement | What it means on your website |
|---|---|
| A .qa or .com.qa domain | Register the domain through an approved provider and connect it to your site and company email |
| Commercial registration and licence numbers | Show both clearly, usually in the footer and on the contact or About page |
| Electronic payment | A working payment gateway at checkout, such as a Qatari provider integrated with WooCommerce |
| Contact details | A phone number, an email address and customer service contacts that are easy to find |
| Product or service details | Clear descriptions, prices and conditions on every product or service page |
| Return and exchange policy | A dedicated policy page, linked from the footer and the checkout |
| Consumer protection and complaints | A clear way to submit a complaint, such as a form, with a defined process to handle it |
In my experience with Gulf stores, most existing websites already have some of these items, but very few have all of them. The licence number, the complaints process and the return policy are the items that are missing most often.
How to get ready, step by step
- Define your activity precisely: what you sell, to whom, and through which channels.
- Check that your activity is on the list of 194 approved activities.
- Get or update your commercial registration with the Ministry.
- Register a .qa or .com.qa domain through an approved provider.
- Build your store, or update your current one, to include every item in the table above.
- Connect electronic payment and test it on mobile with real orders.
- Publish your return policy and your complaints process in Arabic and English.
- Apply for the licence through the single window platform.
- Once the licence is issued, add the licence number to your website.
What if you sell on Instagram or WhatsApp?
Many small businesses in Qatar sell through Instagram and WhatsApp only. The published summaries say the definition of a website includes social media platforms used for selling, so these sellers are also expected to be licensed.
For many of them, this is a good moment to move to a real store. A licence already asks you to show your details, offer electronic payment and publish clear policies. A simple WooCommerce store does all of this in one place, and it gives you something social media never will: a store and customer data that you own.
Already have a store? A quick check
Open your website on your phone and check these points:
- Does the domain end in .qa or .com.qa?
- Can a visitor find your commercial registration number?
- Is there a place ready for your licence number?
- Can customers pay electronically, and does it work on mobile?
- Is there a clear return and exchange policy?
- Is there a clear way to submit a complaint?
- Are your phone and email visible on every page?
If you answered no to any of these, your website needs work before or right after you apply.
How I can help
I work with companies in Qatar remotely. Silver Coast in Doha has been my client since 2023: I built their WordPress website on a .qa domain and I still manage their hosting, domain renewal, company email and search improvements. I have also built websites for IMC Qatar and PSC Qatar.
For the e-commerce licence, I prepare the technical side of your store:
- New WooCommerce stores built with every required item from day one
- Updates for existing stores: licence details, policy pages and a complaints form
- A .qa domain connected to your website and company email
- Payment gateway integration and testing
- Arabic and English pages with correct right to left layout
You can see how I work with companies in Doha on my WordPress developer in Qatar page, or read about my WooCommerce development service. If you are planning the budget, my guide to WordPress website costs in Saudi Arabia and Qatar has clear price ranges.
Frequently asked questions
Does my online store in Qatar need an e-commerce licence?
If you sell goods or services through a website, an app or social media in Qatar, Ministerial Decision No. 25 of 2026 requires an e-commerce licence from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Personal sales that are not in commercial quantities are outside the decision.
How much does the Qatar e-commerce licence cost?
The licence fee is 500 QAR. The commercial registration, the .qa domain, the website and payment processing are separate costs.
Can my store stay on a .com domain?
The published rules say the licensed website must use a .qa or .com.qa domain. If your store runs on .com today, plan the move to a .qa domain with proper redirects so you keep your Google rankings, and confirm your case with the Ministry.
Does WooCommerce support electronic payment in Qatar?
Yes. WooCommerce works with payment providers that operate in Qatar, through official plugins or a custom integration. The gateway should be tested on mobile before you launch.
Does a developer apply for the licence for me?
No. You apply through the Ministry's single window platform. A developer prepares the website so it meets the requirements and is ready when you apply.
Start with a clear step
The licence is a good reason to fix what your store is missing. Send me your current website, or your idea for a new store, and I will reply with a clear list of what it needs to meet the licence requirements and what it will cost. Book a 30-minute consultation.
