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Ministry of Commerce and Industry launches provisional commercial licence service The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has joined forces with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour on a new initiative, launching a service to issue provisional commercial licences. This is available for all commercial activities except for 'administrative offices', such as contracting, limousine and cleaning services. The initiative is part of national efforts to support the private sector and ease the procedures for doing business in Qatar, while also allowing investors time to establish their business, complementing new online services and streamlined procedures. According to the Ministry, the following conditions should be noted for the issuance of a provisional commercial licence: • The provisional licence is valid for one year only, and it can only be renewed with the approval of the relevant authority. • The provisional licence is issued without external approvals, so long as all necessary approvals are obtained when the final commercial licence is issued. • The provisional commercial licence is not a permit to begin operating, but offers a period of time to establish business sites and obtain approvals from third parties – registration of the establishment, receiving labour approvals, provision of raw materials for the commercial project, adhering to any bank procedures and requirements, etc. • A note will be placed in the title description, to the above condition's effect: 'a provisional licence, valid for one year from the date of issuance of the commercial licence. Practising the commercial activity is prohibited before all requirements are met.' There are two stages for the issue of a provisional licence. Under Stage I, these requirements must be met: licence application form (provisional licence); lease agreement acknowledgment form; construction completion certificate, a building permit, or a contract with the State; and a copy of the applicant's ID card. A provisional commercial licence can then be issued. Stage II takes effect after the expiry of the provisional commercial licence, ie after one year, when applicants must submit the Civil Defence Certificate and the construction completion certificate (if not submitted in Stage I). Applicants must also abide by certain provisions of Law No 5 of 2015 on Commercial, Industrial and Similar Public Stores and Street Vendors. Article No 7 states that: • The relevant department will decide on the licence application, informing the applicant of its decision the same day, providing the applicant has provided all requested documents. • The applicant must fulfil any and all general and special requirements, as per the type of licensed activity, before practising the commercial activity. Additionally, Article No 19 states that the licence shall be revoked if there are changes to the business site or licenced activity without receiving prior approval, if the business becomes inoperable, or does not meet the conditions stated in the licence. Under Article No 20 'the licence shall be revoked in cases other than those stipulated in the previous article, if the public interest so requires.' Any violations of Law No 5 of 2015 will attract penalties: imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, and a fine of not more than QAR50,000, or either of these penalties, shall be imposed.

For more information on government tenders, visit monaqasat.mof.gov.qa, The Unified Website of State Procurement. For setting up business in Qatar, see Investment and Trade in this section, and visit moci.gov.qa and investor.sw.gov.qa m