Qatar rolls out support for foreign companies

• 40% support on local expenses
• Rent waivers and payment deferrals
• Flexible tax deadlines

Qatar has rolled out support measures to provide immediate financial, regulatory and operational relief to foreign businesses affected by disruptions arising from the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Commerce and industry minister Sheik Faisal bin Thani Al Thani said the government is prioritising support for companies in Qatar and safeguarding business continuity to reinforce confidence.

The initiatives focus on close cooperation with the private sector to help companies navigate uncertainty and sustain growth, Al Thani, who is also chairman of Invest Qatar, said in a statement.

As part of the relief package, Invest Qatar, which oversees investment promotion, will continue to offer up to 40 percent support for eligible local expenses through its national incentives programme. 

To date, the scheme has supported QAR2.8 billion ($768 million) in investment projects, creating more than 900 jobs.

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) have activated rent waivers, payment deferrals and lease extensions for affected tenants.

The QFC has extended the time limit for filing audited financial reports and will allow flexible tax deadlines on a case-by-case basis, citing “exceptional circumstances”.

The ministry is offering operational assistance through more than 500 digital e-services and consumer protection oversight.

Invest Qatar is maintaining investor outreach through weekly seminars and a 24/7 hotline, while QFZ has set up dedicated investor channels, logistics facilitation and crisis preparedness across free zones.

These measures are in place and will be adjusted if needed, the statement said.

In March, the Qatari central bank confirmed that domestic liquidity remains strong and that capital buffers exceeded regulatory requirements.

The financial system is operating from a position of strength, it said, adding that the banking system showed resilience during prior periods of global market stress.

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AGBI reported last week that Qatar’s sudden swing into a trade deficit in March offers one of the clearest early indicators of the economic impact of the Iran conflict for Gulf exporters.

The disruption is tied directly to damage at Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export hub. A March report by Rystad Energy said the site could take up to five years to recover fully after Iranian strikes destroyed two LNG trains. 

In its latest World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund forecast that Qatar’s economy would shrink by nearly 9 percent in 2026.