- The right choice depends on what you will do and who you will sell to, not on the price of the licence.
- QFC fits consulting, professional and financial services, and holding companies.
- MOCI (mainland) fits trading, contracting, retail and any business selling goods or services across the local market.
- QFZ fits logistics, manufacturing and re-export, with 0% corporate tax for up to 20 years.
- All three allow 100% foreign ownership (MOCI: in most sectors, with approval).
- A cheaper licence is not a cheaper company: MOCI's lower fees are offset by a more expensive office, so the yearly cost is practically the same.
- Many groups combine them, for example a QFC holding company that owns a MOCI operating company.
The short answer
Ask yourself two questions: what will the company do, and who will pay its invoices?
- If you sell advice, expertise or financial services, to clients in Qatar or abroad, start with the QFC.
- If you sell goods, or services that need a mainland licence (contracting, retail, hospitality, trading), you need MOCI.
- If you store, assemble, manufacture or re-export goods and need the port or the airport, look at the QFZ.
If your project combines several of these, you may need more than one entity. That is common, and it can be planned from day one.
Side-by-side comparison
| QFC | MOCI (mainland) | QFZ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Consulting, professional and financial services, holdings, family offices | Trading, contracting, retail, hospitality, local services | Logistics, manufacturing, re-export, aviation and maritime |
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% in most sectors, with approval | 100% |
| Corporate tax | 10% on locally sourced profits | 10% on profits attributable to non-GCC shareholders | 0% for up to 20 years (renewable) |
| Legal framework | English common law, own courts | Qatari commercial law | QFZA regulations |
| Where you can sell | Qatar and abroad, within your licensed activities | The whole local market | Mainly from the zone and abroad; local sales go through customs |
| Office | QFC-approved office; a dedicated desk is accepted | Leased office approved by Civil Defense, with a minimum floor area | Office, warehouse or plot inside the zone |
| Government fees | USD 500 application + USD 5,000 a year | About QAR 3,200 in year one, then about QAR 1,700 a year | Set by QFZA, depending on premises and activities |
| Licence timeline | About 1 week with complete documents | About 1 week with complete documents | Depends on QFZA's review of the project |
Government fees for one activity, excluding office, visas and audit. MOCI fees under Minister's Decision No. 60 of 2024, Qatar Chamber and establishment card included.
The real cost: almost the same
Looking only at the table above, MOCI seems much cheaper. In practice, it rarely is. MOCI has lower fees but a more expensive office; the QFC has higher fees but a cheaper office. A mainland company needs premises approved by Civil Defense with a minimum floor area, while a QFC company can work from a desk. The office usually costs about twice as much on the mainland, and that offsets the difference in fees.
| Recurring cost per year | QFC | MOCI (mainland) |
|---|---|---|
| Government fees (licence, registration, chamber) | About QAR 18,200 (USD 5,000) | About QAR 1,700 |
| Office | From about QAR 12,000 (QAR 1,000 a month) | From about QAR 30,000 (QAR 2,500 a month) |
| Total | About QAR 30,000 | About QAR 32,000 |
Starting prices for one activity, before visas, audit and professional fees. Office prices vary with the building and the size you need.
QFC: for services, holdings and finance
The Qatar Financial Centre is an onshore business and financial centre with its own legal system, based on English common law, and its own courts. It is the natural home for firms that sell knowledge rather than goods.
Why companies choose it
- 100% foreign ownership for all permitted activities, with no local partner.
- A familiar legal framework for international investors, banks and partners.
- Simple office rules: a dedicated desk in a QFC-approved office is accepted, from around QAR 1,000 a month.
- The preferred route for holding companies and family offices.
What to watch
- The annual licence costs USD 5,000 (the application fee was cut to USD 500 in February 2025). It is the highest fixed fee of the three.
- The QFC is built for services. If you sell or import goods into the local market, you need a mainland company.
- Some activities, such as banking, insurance and asset management, are regulated and need a separate authorisation from the QFC Regulatory Authority.
MOCI: for the local market
A mainland company licensed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry can do business across Qatar, with no restriction on who its clients are.
Why companies choose it
- Full access to the local market, including trading, contracting, retail and hospitality.
- The lowest government fees of the three: about QAR 3,200 in the first year for one activity, then about QAR 1,700 a year.
- 100% foreign ownership in most sectors since Law No. 1 of 2019, subject to approval.
What to watch
- The office is the main constraint. It must be approved by Civil Defense and meet a minimum floor area, and its size affects how many visas you can obtain. Budget from around QAR 2,500 a month. Online-only (e-commerce) licences are exempt.
- Some sectors remain closed to full foreign ownership, such as banking, insurance and commercial agencies.
- Each additional activity adds an annual fee, so choose your activities carefully from the start.
QFZ: for logistics, manufacturing and re-export
The Qatar Free Zones Authority runs two zones: Ras Bufontas, next to Hamad International Airport, and Umm Alhoul, next to Hamad Port.
Why companies choose it
- 0% corporate tax for up to 20 years, renewable, subject to QFZA's terms.
- Customs duty exemptions on goods brought into the zone.
- Direct access to the airport or the port, with space for warehouses and production.
What to watch
- You need real premises inside the zone: an office, a warehouse or a plot, depending on your activity.
- Goods sold into the local market leave the zone through customs, usually through a local distributor or a mainland company.
- The tax holiday is not a reason on its own: your activity must fit the zone and you must keep real operations there.
Still unsure which one fits?
Tell us what you plan to do and we'll tell you which jurisdiction and structure fit, in a free 20-minute call.
How to decide: five common cases
| Your business | Usually the best fit |
|---|---|
| Consulting, engineering or IT services firm working with clients in Qatar and the region | QFC |
| Company importing and selling products, or bidding for local contracts | MOCI |
| Regional distribution hub, light manufacturing or re-export | QFZ |
| Holding company for investments in Qatar and abroad | QFC |
| Group with services and local operations | QFC holding + MOCI operating company |
Mistakes that are expensive to undo
- Choosing the QFC to sell goods locally. You will need a mainland company anyway, and you will pay twice.
- Comparing licence fees only. The office, visas and audit often weigh more than the licence. Compare the full first-year cost.
- Signing a mainland lease before checking it. If the premises are not approved or too small, you cannot get the visas you need.
- Choosing a free zone for the tax holiday alone. Without real activity in the zone, the benefit does not hold.
- Thinking you can switch later. Changing jurisdiction usually means a new company. Decide with your three-year plan in mind.
Frequently asked questions
Can a QFC company work with clients in mainland Qatar?
Yes. A QFC company can serve clients in Qatar and abroad, within the activities on its licence. What it cannot do is operate as a mainland business, for example by importing and selling goods in the local market.
Which jurisdiction is the cheapest?
In practice, neither. MOCI has the lowest government fees but needs a larger, more expensive office; the QFC has a higher licence fee but a cheaper office. Once the office is included, the yearly cost is practically the same, around QAR 30,000 to 32,000 before visas and audit.
Can I change jurisdiction later?
Usually not directly. Moving from one regime to another generally means setting up a new company and transferring the business, so it is worth choosing well from the start.
Can I have companies in more than one jurisdiction?
Yes, and it is common. A frequent structure is a QFC holding company that owns a MOCI operating company.
Is the 0% tax in the free zones automatic?
No. The tax holiday of up to 20 years is granted under QFZA's terms, and the company must keep real operations in the zone, keep accounts and meet its filing obligations.
Do I need a Qatari partner in any of them?
Not for most activities. The QFC, QFZ and QSTP allow 100% foreign ownership, and so does the mainland in most sectors. A local partner is needed only in the few mainland sectors closed to full foreign ownership.
Alfonso is a Partner at Encircle Business Solutions (EBS) in Doha. He has helped dozens of international companies set up and operate in Qatar under the QFC and MOCI.