Country Data
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Qatar |
| Capital | Doha |
| Area | 11,586 sq. km |
| Population | 2,568,426 (2025 estimate) |
| Official Language | Arabic |
| GDP | US$359.6 billion (PPP, 2024 estimate) |
| Currency | Qatari Riyal (QAR) |
| Work Days | Sunday – Thursday |
Conventions/ Treaties
- Paris Convention – effective since July 5, 2000
- WIPO Convention – effective since September 3, 1976
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) – effective since August 3, 2011
- Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances – effective since April 28, 2020
- Berne Convention – effective since July 5, 2000
- Marrakesh VIP Treaty – effective since January 24, 2019
- WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) – effective since October 28, 2005
- WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) – effective since October 28, 2005
- Rome Convention – effective since September 23, 2017
- Budapest Treaty – effective since March 6, 2014
- Brussels Convention – effective since July 12, 2023
- Madrid Protocol – effective since August 3, 2024
- Nice Agreement – effective since February 10, 2026
- TRIPS Agreement / WTO – Qatar has been a WTO member since January 13, 1996
- GCC Trademarks Law – implemented in Qatar through Law No. 7 of 2014
National Legislation
- Law No. 7 of 2014 promulgating the Law (Regulation) of Trademarks in the GCC Countries, together with the applicable Executive Bylaw
Basic Information
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Creation of rights | Registration-based system. A person who registers a trademark in good faith acquires ownership, although prior use may give rise to a cancellation claim in specified circumstances. |
| Basis for filing | A mark may be registered for goods or services; prior use is not generally required as a prerequisite to filing. |
| Prior use | A person claiming prior use may seek cancellation within five years from registration, subject to the statutory exceptions. |
| Well-known / famous marks | Famous marks receive enhanced protection, including protection against registration for dissimilar goods or services where the statutory conditions are met. |
| Types of marks | The GCC Trademark Law recognizes distinctive signs including names, words, signatures, letters, symbols, numbers, titles, seals, drawings, images, packaging, shapes, colours and combinations thereof, as well as smell, sound and movement marks and combinations of signs. Collective and control/certification-type marks are also provided for. |
| Priority | Six-month priority may be claimed based on an earlier application filed in a qualifying convention country. |
| Madrid System | Qatar has been a member of the Madrid Protocol since August 3, 2024. |
| Filing system | Single-class filing; an application may not cover more than one category/class. |
| Classification | Nice Classification. Qatar became a member of the Nice Agreement on February 10, 2026. The current Nice Classification is the 13th Edition, version 2026 (NCL 13-2026). |
| Exclusions / restrictions | Marks lacking distinctive character, marks contrary to public order or morality, national or international emblems, religious symbols, misleading marks, certain geographical names, third-party names/images without consent, and marks identical or confusingly similar to earlier marks are among the categories that cannot be registered. Famous marks also receive special protection. |
| Who can be Applicant | Individuals and legal entities meeting the eligibility requirements under the GCC Trademark Law. Foreign applicants may generally apply where they fall within the categories recognized by the law, including nationals of states party to relevant international conventions. |
| Examination | Examination is conducted by the competent authority, including examination of the application against statutory registration requirements and earlier rights. |
| Publication | Accepted applications are advertised prior to registration. |
| Opposition period | 60 days from the date of advertisement. |
| Response to opposition | The applicant generally has 60 days from notification of the opposition to submit a written response. |
| Duration of registration | 10 years. |
| Renewal | Renewable for successive periods of 10 years. A renewal application may be filed during the last year of the registration period. |
| Renewal grace period | Six months following expiry, subject to the prescribed requirements. |
| Use requirement | A registration may be cancelled upon request of an interested party where the mark has not been actively used for five consecutive years, unless the owner establishes an acceptable justification for non-use. |
| Official search | Trademark searches are available through the Qatar Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Ministry states that a trademark search service normally takes 1–2 working days. A free self-search facility is also available for registered and published marks through the Ministry’s database/Global Brand Database interface. |
| Straightforward registration timeframe | The Ministry’s service information indicates processing of approximately 7–30 days, but the overall period to registration may be longer because accepted applications must be published and remain open to opposition for 60 days. |
Search
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Search | Available. |
| Scope of search | Includes all applied-for and registered marks. |
| Turnaround time | 2 working days. |
Ways to obtain protection
- Filing a national trademark application in Qatar, with or without a priority claim under the Paris Convention.
- Filing through the Madrid System, designating Qatar
Filling Requirements
New Applications
- Power of Attorney from the applicant – duly notarized and legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
- A simple copy of trade license, if the applicant is a Qatar company,
- A certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
Renewal of Registration
- Power of attorney from the trademark owner – duly notarized and legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
- A copy of certificate of registration of the mark.
Change of Name / Address Recordation
- Power of attorney stating the new name/ address of the trademark owner – duly notarized and legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
- Change of Name / Address document – duly legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
Assignment Recordation
- Power of attorney from the Assignee – duly notarized and legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
- Deed of Assignment, duly signed by both the assignor and the assignee – notarized/ legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
- A copy of certificate of registration of the mark.
Merger Recordation
- Power of attorney from the surviving entity – duly notarized and legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
- Merger document – duly legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
- A copy of certificate of registration of the mark.
License Recordation
- Powers of attorney from the Licensor and the Licensee – duly notarized and legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
- License agreement, duly signed by both the parties – notarized/ legalized up to the Qatar consulate.
- A copy of certificate of registration of the mark.
National Legislation
- Decree-Law No. 30 of 2006 promulgating the Patent Law
Ways to obtain patent protection:
- National filing in Qatar.
- PCT national phase application in Qatar.
- A GCC patent route should not be treated as a unitary GCC-wide patent route for obtaining current Qatar protection; Qatar protection should be pursued through the Qatar national system or the applicable PCT national phase route
Basic Information
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Patentable subject matter | Products, industrial processes and manufacturing techniques, subject to the exclusions and requirements of the Patent Law. |
| Novelty | Required. |
| Inventive step | Required. |
| Industrial applicability | Required. |
| Priority | Convention priority is available where the applicable requirements are satisfied. |
| PCT national phase entry deadline | 30 months from the priority date. |
| Examination | The Patent Office examines patent applications and may request documents necessary for grant. |
| Publication | Accepted patents are registered and announced in accordance with the Executive Regulations. |
| Opposition / grievance | Any interested party may submit a written grievance against an accepted patent within 60 days from publication/announcement. |
| Protection term | 20 years, with the statutory wording providing that the patent term begins from the date the patent is obtained. The law also provides protection during the period from filing until grant. |
| Annual fees | Annual fees are payable for maintaining patent applications/patents. For PCT national phase applications, WIPO’s current Qatar guide specifies annual fees from the second year following the international filing date. |
| Late annual-fee payment | For PCT national phase applications, annual fees may be paid within 12 months after the due date subject to a 10% surcharge. |
| Compulsory licensing | A compulsory licence may be requested after three years from grant where, among other grounds, the patent has not been seriously and effectively exploited, exploitation has ceased for two consecutive years without acceptable justification, or refusal to license is prejudicing industrial or commercial activities. |
| PCT national-phase language | Arabic is the language of proceedings. Non-resident applicants must appoint an agent resident in Qatar. |
Requirements
-
Power of Attorney / authorization, where applicable.
-
Complete patent specification, including:
-
Title of the invention;
-
Description;
-
Claims;
-
Abstract; and
-
Drawings, where applicable.
-
Arabic translation of the specification, claims and other required technical material.
-
Applicant’s corporate documents, where the applicant is a company.
-
Assignment from the inventor(s), where the applicant is not the inventor.
-
Certified priority document, where priority is claimed.
-
Inventor details and other documents required by the Patent Office.
-
For non-resident applicants, appointment of a Qatar-resident patent agent is required.
For PCT National Phase Application
-
Copy/details of the international application.
-
Arabic translation of the required portions of the international application.
-
International publication and related PCT documents, where required.
-
Appointment of a Qatar-resident agent where the applicant is not resident in Qatar.
-
Inventor details if not already supplied in the international application.
-
Assignment or change-of-applicant documentation where applicable.
-
WIPO’s current Qatar PCT guide confirms that Arabic translations are required and that a non-resident applicant must appoint an agent in Qatar.
National Legislation
- Law No. 10 of 2020 on the Protection of Industrial Designs
Ways to obtain protection for design:
- National filing in Qatar.
- National application claiming priority from an earlier application in a qualifying foreign country under the applicable international convention
Basic Information
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Types of designs | Two-dimensional or three-dimensional configurations of lines or colours that give an industrial or handicraft product a special and new appearance. |
| Novelty | Novelty is required. |
| Grace period for disclosure | Disclosure at national or international exhibitions during the six months preceding filing does not destroy novelty, subject to the statutory requirements. |
| Priority | Six-month priority may be claimed from an earlier foreign application in a qualifying country. |
| Functional features | A design dictated solely by technical or functional considerations is not registrable. |
| Public order / symbols | Designs containing religious symbols, state or international organization emblems, or matter contrary to public order are excluded. |
| Conflict with trademarks | A design identical or similar to a registered or famous trademark cannot be registered. |
| Applicant | The creator/originator or a person to whom the rights have been transferred. |
| Non-resident applicant | A non-resident or applicant without a real and effective residence in Qatar must file through a Qatar-resident agent accompanied by a notarized Power of Attorney. |
| Examination | The Office examines the application and accompanying documents for compliance with the statutory and regulatory requirements. |
| Publication | Accepted designs are published in the prescribed industrial-property publication before registration. |
| Opposition period | 60 days from publication. |
| Protection term | Five years from the Qatar filing date, renewable for two additional periods of five years, giving a maximum protection period of 15 years. |
| Renewal | Renewal may be requested during the last year of the relevant protection period. |
| Renewal grace period | Six months after expiry, subject to an additional fee and an acceptable justification. |
| Annuities | No annual annuity system applies in the same manner as for patents; design protection is maintained through five-year renewal periods. |
| Registration timeframe | The law does not prescribe a fixed overall registration period. The practical timeframe depends on examination, publication and any opposition. |
Requirements
- Representations/drawings or photographs of the design.
- Applicant details and identification/corporate documents.
- Assignment document from the creator/originator where the applicant is not the creator.
- Power of Attorney / notarized authorization where required, particularly for non-resident applicants.
- Certified copy of the priority document, where priority is claimed.
National Legislation
- Law No. 7 of 2002 on the Protection of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights
Basic Information
- Works protected: Copyright protection covers original literary and artistic works, irrespective of their value, quality, purpose or mode of expression. Protected works include: Books, pamphlets and other writings; Lectures, addresses, sermons, poems and similar oral works; Dramatic and dramatico-musical works; Musical works; Choreographic works and pantomimes; Audiovisual works; Photographic works; Works of applied art; Drawings, paintings, architecture, sculpture, decorative arts, engravings and sketches; Three-dimensional geographical and topographical works; Computer programs; and Original titles of works.
- Derivative works: Translations, summaries, adaptations, explanations and other modifications, as well as creative databases and collections, may also receive protection.
- Exceptions to copyright protection: Protection does not extend to: Laws and legal provisions; Administrative decisions; International treaties; Official documents and official translations; Purely media-related daily news; Ideas, procedures, operational methods, mathematical concepts, principles and uncollated data.
- Registration: Copyright arises independently of registration. Failure to register a work does not affect the copyright protection available under the law.
- Copyright registration/deposit: The Ministry provides a voluntary registration/deposit service and issues a certificate when the application is accepted. The current Ministry service information indicates a processing period of approximately 7 working days.
- Duration of copyright: Copyright generally continues during the author’s lifetime and for 50 calendar years after death. For joint works, protection lasts for 50 years from the death of the last surviving co-author. Audiovisual and collective works are generally protected for 50 years from first publication, subject to the statutory rules.
- Applied art: The law provides a specific shorter protection period for applied-art works.
- Neighbouring rights: The law also provides protection for performers, producers of sound recordings and broadcasting organizations.
Requirements
- Typical requirements include:
- Completed copyright registration/deposit application.
- Copy of the work to be deposited.
- Details of the author and/or copyright owner.
- Assignment or authorization document where the applicant is not the author/right holder.
- Power of Attorney, duly authenticated where an agent is filing.
- Copy of the applicant’s identification document or, for companies, commercial registration/establishment documents.
- The Ministry’s current service information confirms that applications are submitted electronically, accompanied by a copy of the work and the relevant identification/corporate documents. For literary works, audiovisual works, photographs, applied art and computer programs, the Ministry specifies the relevant form of the work to be deposited.
