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Resource No. 002 · Licences & Permits

Opening a restaurant, café or cloud kitchen in Qatar

Activity codes, the commercial permit, Civil Defence and Municipality approvals, MOPH food-safety registration, documents, costs and contacts, in one workflow.

1
Company & CR
Pick the activity code, then trade name and commercial registration
MOCI · Single Window
2
Premises
A unit that allows food use, with a building completion certificate and registered lease
Landlord · Municipality
3
Fire safety
Approved drawings, fire-system contracts and inspection
Civil Defence (MOI)
4
Commercial permit
The licence for the premises; food-establishment approval runs inside it
MOCI + Municipality
5
Food safety
Register the outlet and every food handler in Watheq
MOPH
Golden rule: before you sign a lease or start fit-out, confirm the unit is allowed for food and beverage use and has a building completion certificate. The commercial permit cannot be issued without it, and premises problems cause most of the delays.
Updated Oct 2026Compiled from official Single Window, MOCI, MOPH, Ministry of Interior and Qatar Chamber sources plus Qatari press.
A new food safety law passed the Shura Council in June 2026, so confirm current rules before applying.
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Resource No. 002
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Restaurant & Café Licensing Guide · October 2026addressgateway.com2 / 12
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Resource No. 002
Overview

The big picture

There is no single "restaurant licence" in Qatar. A food outlet needs a company, a commercial permit for its premises, a Civil Defence approval, a Municipality food-establishment approval and a MOPH food-safety registration. MOPH registration only starts once the trade licence exists.

The part most guides get wrong

Two ministries, two different steps

  • For restaurants, cafeterias, coffee shops and fast food, the Single Window lists one pre-approval: the Ministry of Municipality (Municipal Audit Department) "Approval to License Food Establishments". It runs automatically inside your commercial permit application.1
  • The Ministry of Public Health then registers the establishment and each food handler in its Watheq system. That registration asks for the trade licence first.8,9
  • Both ministries inspect, and both can close an outlet under the food law.16,19
Changing in 2026

A new food safety law is on the way

The Shura Council passed a new food safety law in June 2026, alongside plans for a General Authority for Food Safety.18 We found no sign it has been issued yet, so Law No. 8 of 1990, as amended, still applies.16

Practical effect: the steps in this guide are the current route, but who inspects and licenses food outlets may change. Confirm with MOPH before you apply.

Who does what1,5,7,8,10

MOCI · Single WindowTrade name, company, commercial registration (CR) and the commercial permit for each outlet
Ministry of MunicipalityFood-establishment approval inside the permit, zoning, signage, lease registration and health-control inspections
Civil Defence (MOI)Approves engineering drawings, inspects fire and life-safety systems, issues the safety approval for the premises
MOPH Food SafetyWatheq registration of the outlet and food handlers, inspections, food-safety ratings and closures
YOUR OUTLETRestaurant · Café · Cloud kitchen

Contents

Choose your path: decision flowchart4
Document checklists8
Step-by-step routes and activity codes5
Opening and staying open9
Fire safety and food-safety registration6
Costs, penalties and contacts10
Timeline and lead times7
Email template and action plan11
Sources · 1 Single Window activity pages (investor.sw.gov.qa, 19 Oct 2026) · 5 MOCI cloud-kitchen guide, Jun 2025 · 7 MOI: Civil Defence department · 8 MOPH: food establishment registration (gov.qa) · 9 MOPH: food handler registration (gov.qa) · 10 MOPH Food Safety Department · 16 Amiri Diwan: Law No. 20 of 2017 · 18 Gulf Times: Shura passes food safety law · 19 Peninsula and Qatar Living: 2026 closures
Restaurant & Café Licensing Guide · October 2026addressgateway.com3 / 12
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Resource No. 002
Step 0

Choose your path

Start at the top. Your activity code decides which approvals the Single Window will ask for, so settle it before anything else.

START What will you run? Look up the code at investor.sw.gov.qa Dine-in or takeaway Restaurant 561010 · Cafeteria 561020 Fast food 561031 · Coffee shop 563011 Open to 100% foreign ownership Cloud kitchen Delivery only, no dining area Operation of Cloud Kitchen 562904 Open to 100% foreign ownership Special cases Shisha café 563013: add MOPH licence Food truck, mobile cart, bar: listed as Suspended Municipality food approval Routed automatically inside your commercial permit application Confirm the code with MOCI MOCI's 2025 guide used 562901 and still lists premises approvals Ask MOCI before you invest No active food-truck activity was found on the Single Window Where is the unit? Inside a mall or complex, or standalone Mall or commercial complex A first licence can rely on the complex's Civil Defence certificate (confirm) Standalone unit Your own Civil Defence drawings, fire contracts and inspection Commercial permit (MOCI) QR 500 a year · needs an approved, leased unit MOPH Watheq registration The outlet, then every food handler · free OPEN: permit valid, staff registered, signage approved Then expect unannounced MOPH and Municipality inspections
Ownership: every activity above shows "Allowed for Foreigners" on the Single Window, so you do not need a Qatari partner.1 Foreign-capital companies apply through the Invest in Qatar Center under Law No. 1 of 2019.4 Some older Single Window FAQs still mention a 49% cap; that wording is out of date.
Sources · 1 Single Window activity pages, 19 Oct 2026 · 2 Single Window: Issue Commercial Permit · 4 moci.gov.qa: investment steps · 5 MOCI cloud-kitchen guide, Jun 2025 · 8 MOPH: food establishment registration
Restaurant & Café Licensing Guide · October 2026addressgateway.com4 / 12
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Resource No. 002
Steps 1–6

Step-by-step routes

Follow the column that matches your outlet; page 6 covers fire and food safety.

Restaurant, café or fast food

1
Confirm the activity

Check the code, ownership flags and pre-approvals on the Single Window.1

2
Company and CR

Reserve the trade name, form the company, get the CR in 1–2 days with a tax number and Establishment ID.5 Join Qatar Chamber (QR 500 a year for an LLC).12

3
Secure the premises

A unit zoned for food use with a building completion certificate. Register the lease (QR 250 per unit under Law No. 8 of 2026).2,14

4
Fit-out and Civil Defence

Approved drawings, fire-system maintenance contracts, then the free "New Request – Commercial" on MOI e-services.2,6

5
Commercial permit

QR 500 a year. The Municipality food-establishment approval is routed automatically.1,2

6
MOPH Watheq

Register the outlet, then every food handler. Both are free.8,9

Cloud kitchen (delivery only)

1
Choose the model

Segmented (units leased to different brands) or unified multi-brand (one kitchen, shared staff and equipment).5

2
Company and CR

The Single Window now lists 562904 "Operation of Cloud Kitchen".1 MOCI's 2025 guide used 562901, so confirm with MOCI.5

3
Premises rules

Separate preparation, cooking, storage and packaging areas; separate delivery entrance; vehicle access; separate utilities; no link to housing.5

4
Approvals

Municipality technical approval, plus final Civil Defence and health approvals.5

5
Commercial licence

QR 500, and QR 500 for each internal sub-kitchen.5

6
Watheq, then platforms

Register in Watheq like any outlet.8 Delivery apps set their own onboarding rules, so ask them.

Activity codes at a glance (Single Window, 19 Oct 2026 · CR and permit QR 500 each)1

CodeActivity (Single Window name)Pre-approval listedStatus
561010Restaurants with serviceMunicipality: food establishmentsActive
561020 · 561031Cafeterias · Fast-food restaurantsMunicipality: food establishmentsActive
563011 · 563020Coffee shops · Fresh juice and cold drinksMunicipality: food establishmentsActive
562904Operation of Cloud KitchenNone listedActive
562901Food processing / catering companiesNone listedActive
563013Shisha cafésMOPH tobacco licence, before permit and each renewalActive
561060 · 563030Mobile food carts · Barsn/aSuspended
Sources · 1 Single Window activity pages · 2 Single Window: Issue Commercial Permit and FAQ · 5 MOCI cloud-kitchen guide · 6 Hukoomi: Civil Defence commercial permit · 8,9 MOPH Watheq registration (gov.qa) · 12 Qatar Chamber fees · 14 The Peninsula: Law No. 8 of 2026
Restaurant & Café Licensing Guide · October 2026addressgateway.com5 / 12
Business ResourceThe Gateway Library
Resource No. 002
Premises approvals

Fire safety and food-safety registration

The order matters: the commercial permit needs an approved building, and MOPH's Watheq registration needs the commercial permit.2,8

1Right premisesFood use allowed, building completion certificate, registered lease
2Civil DefenceApproved drawings, fire contracts, inspection
3Commercial permitMunicipality food approval runs inside it
4MOPH WatheqOutlet first, then every food handler
Civil Defence · Ministry of Interior

Fire and life-safety approval

  • Apply on the MOI e-services portal: Civil Defence, then "New Request – Commercial". No fee is charged for the request.6
  • Civil Defence studies the architectural drawings and inspects commercial premises before issuing its approval.7
  • Attachments include building photos, the lease, annual maintenance contracts for fire alarm and extinguishing systems, safety data sheets for hazardous materials, and the approved engineering designs.2
  • Fire-system contractors must be on Civil Defence's approved list.7
  • In a mall, a first licence can rely on the complex's certificate; a renewal needs one in your company's name. Confirm
Commercial kitchens: plan for a hood fire-suppression system. Civil Defence certifies these systems, but we could not retrieve the exact clause, so confirm the specification with Civil Defence before fit-out.
Ministry of Public Health · Watheq

Food establishment registration

Free, about 2 days. Needs a valid CR with a food-trade activity.8

All outletsRestaurants also need
CR and establishment cardTrade licence (commercial permit)
Company stamp and logoPest-control contract
Owner's QIDMenu
Responsibility letterFood-safety certificate, e.g. HACCP
Risk analysis and process flow diagram

Food handlers

  • Register each handler in Watheq (free, about 1 day) with a photo and a valid health certificate; the supervisor also needs a food-safety certificate.9
  • MOPH has licensed food handlers since 2021 and plans to make its professional practice licence mandatory.11
Tip: write the risk analysis and process flow diagram while the kitchen is still on paper. The same flow (delivery, storage, preparation, cooking, service, waste) drives your layout, your drawings and your Watheq file, so rework is far cheaper before fit-out.
Sources · 2 Single Window: Commercial Permit FAQ · 6 Hukoomi: Civil Defence commercial permit · 7 MOI: Civil Defence department · 8 MOPH: food establishment registration (gov.qa) · 9 MOPH: food handler registration (gov.qa) · 11 QNA: food handler licensing, Sep 2026
Restaurant & Café Licensing Guide · October 2026addressgateway.com6 / 12
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Resource No. 002
Planning

Timeline and lead times

No authority publishes an end-to-end timeline. The government steps take days; fit-out and inspections take weeks. Setup advisers commonly estimate two to six months from start to opening.13

Weeks 1–2
Weeks 3–4
Weeks 5–6
Weeks 7–8
Weeks 9–10
Weeks 11–12
Activity check, company, CR
CR 1–2 days
Find premises, register lease
site checks first
Design, drawings, fit-out
longest stage: varies with the unit
Civil Defence approval
drawings, then inspection
Commercial permit
QR 500
Watheq: outlet + handlers
~3 days
Staff health certificates
book in parallel
OPENING ▶

An illustrative 12-week plan for a straightforward unit. CR time is from MOCI; Watheq times from MOPH's gov.qa service pages. Premises, fit-out and Civil Defence durations are estimates and vary widely.5,8,9

Lead-time cheat sheet

1–2 days
Commercial registration

CR, tax number and Establishment ID5

~2 days
Watheq registration

Free; food handlers about 1 more day8,9

2–6 mo
Realistic total

Adviser estimate, driven by fit-out13

The biggest delays come from the premises: a unit not allowed for food use, a missing completion certificate, or ventilation, drainage and storage changes after inspection. Settle these before you commit to fit-out.13
Sources · 5 MOCI cloud-kitchen guide, Jun 2025 · 8 MOPH: food establishment registration · 9 MOPH: food handler registration · 13 Qatar Living: opening a restaurant, Aug 2026
Restaurant & Café Licensing Guide · October 2026addressgateway.com7 / 12
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Resource No. 002
Paperwork

Document checklists

Tick off each item before you submit. Scan everything to PDF and name files clearly (for example "Lease-Unit12.pdf").

Company and CR
  • Passport copies of owners4
  • QIDs of applicant, owner and manager2
  • Trade name reservation (must reflect the activity)20
  • Real Beneficiary Declaration4
  • Incorporation document, notarised4
  • Corporate partners: home CR, notarised and translated4
  • Qatar bank account4
  • Qatar Chamber membership5,12
Premises and permit
  • Building completion certificate2
  • Registered lease, or a recognised substitute2
  • Sublease declaration (if subleased)2
  • Sign plate model with trade name, max 120 cm high2
  • Civil Defence: building photos2
  • Fire alarm and extinguishing maintenance contracts2
  • Approved engineering drawings2
  • Safety data sheets for hazardous materials2
Food safety (Watheq)
  • CR and establishment card8
  • Commercial permit (trade licence)8
  • Company stamp, logo, owner's QID8
  • Responsibility letter8
  • Pest-control contract8
  • Menu8
  • HACCP or other food-safety certificate8
  • Risk analysis and process flow diagram8
  • Per handler: photo and health certificate9

Outlet data sheet (prepare once, reuse everywhere)

FieldExampleUsed in
Trade nameAl Borj Restaurant for Indian FoodTrade name · signage · Watheq20
Activity code(s)561010 Restaurants with serviceCR · commercial permit1
Unit and addressUnit number, building, zone, street, national addressLease · Civil Defence · permit6
Floor planStorage, preparation, cooking, washing, service, wasteDrawings · Watheq process flow8
Seating40 seats indoor, or none (delivery only)Activity choice · fit-out
Food handlersNames, QIDs, health certificate expiry datesWatheq handler registration9

Example values are illustrative only. The trade-name example follows MOCI's guidance that a name should state the activity; country names alone, such as "Korea Restaurant", are not accepted.20

Sources · 1 Single Window activity pages · 2 Single Window: Commercial Permit FAQ and service · 4 moci.gov.qa: investment steps · 5 MOCI cloud-kitchen guide · 6 Hukoomi: Civil Defence · 8,9 MOPH Watheq registration · 12 Qatar Chamber · 20 MOCI procedures manual (Single Window)
Restaurant & Café Licensing Guide · October 2026addressgateway.com8 / 12
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Resource No. 002
Opening day

Opening and staying open

You can trade legally only once every gate is in place, and inspections continue after opening. Both MOPH and the Municipality close outlets that fail.16,19

Company + CR
+
Approved premises
+
Civil Defence approval
+
Commercial permit
+
Watheq outlet
+
Handlers registered
=
OPEN LEGALLY

Inspection-ready checklist

  • Commercial permit valid; only licensed activities practised2
  • Signboard name identical to the permit2
  • Trade name and CR number on the facade (cloud kitchens)5
  • Every food handler registered, health certificates in date9
  • Pest-control contract current; visit records kept8
  • Fire systems maintained under an approved contract2,7
  • No expired or unsafe food in storage17
  • Food-safety supervisor certified and on shift9
  • Permits and Civil Defence approval renewed on time2

How closures work

  • A closure decision lasts up to 60 days at a time; you may appeal to the Minister within 10 days.16
  • A notice goes on your facade, and the decision is published online and in two newspapers at your cost.16
  • No trading, operating or maintenance work during a closure.19
  • Recent cases: a 7-day Municipality closure (September 2026) and a 30-day MOPH closure (July 2026).19
Food Safety Rating: MOPH grades outlets on a six-level scale from "Urgent Improvement Necessary" to "Excellent" and publishes the results on Watheq.21
Not allowed at standard outlets: bars are listed as Suspended on the Single Window.1 Live music or performances need a separate Ministry of Culture artistic event licence, which restaurants can request online.23
Sources · 1 Single Window activity pages · 2 Single Window: Commercial Permit FAQ · 5 MOCI cloud-kitchen guide · 7 MOI: Civil Defence · 8,9 MOPH Watheq · 16 Amiri Diwan and Peninsula: Law No. 20 of 2017 · 17 Peninsula: food law penalties · 19 Peninsula, Qatar Living: 2026 closures · 21 Qatar Tribune: food safety rating · 23 moc.gov.qa: cultural e-services
Restaurant & Café Licensing Guide · October 2026addressgateway.com9 / 12
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Resource No. 002
Budget, risk and contacts

Costs, penalties and contacts

Known government fees

ItemQAR
CR with one main activity (per year)500
Each additional CR activity300
Each branch on the CR (per year)100
Commercial permit per premises (per year)500
Cloud kitchen: each internal sub-kitchen500
LLC establishment documents review500
Qatar Chamber, LLC (per year, +10% per branch)500
Establishment card (press)200
Lease registration per unit (press)250
Civil Defence request · Watheq registrationsFree
Trade name reservationAsk MOCI
Municipality food approvalNot published

MOCI fees from Ministerial Decision No. 60 of 2024; others as marked. Fit-out, equipment, rent and staff are extra. Confirm before paying.3,5,12,14,22

Penalties under the food law

60 days
Max per closure
QR 60k
Top fine tier

Law No. 8 of 1990, as amended, sets prison terms and fines: QR 7,000–15,000 for selling expired food, rising to QR 30,000–60,000 and up to 8 years where unsafe food causes death. These figures come from 2014 press coverage of the amendment; confirm against the law text on Al Meezan.16,17

Official contacts

MOCI · Single WindowActivities, CR, commercial permit
CALL
16001 (Sun–Thu)
WHATSAPP
+974 6611 1400
WEB
investor.sw.gov.qa · sw.gov.qa4
MOPH Food Safety · WatheqOutlet and food-handler registration
OUTLETS
port.health@moph.gov.qa
HANDLERS
foodsafetyinspection@moph.gov.qa
WEB
MOPH services on gov.qa (Watheq)8,9
Civil Defence (MOI)Drawings, inspection, approval
EMAIL
civildefence@moi.gov.qa
APPLY
MOI e-services → Civil Defence → New Request – Commercial6,7
Hukoomi · Government contact centreAny government e-service
PHONE
+974 4406 9999 · 109
WEB
hukoomi.gov.qa6
Qatar ChamberMembership
WEB
qatarchamber.com/contact-us12
LAWS
Full legal texts: almeezan.qa
Sources · 3 MOCI Decision No. 60 of 2024 fee schedule · 4 moci.gov.qa · 5 MOCI cloud-kitchen guide · 6 Hukoomi · 7 MOI: Civil Defence · 8,9 MOPH Watheq (gov.qa) · 12 Qatar Chamber · 14 The Peninsula: Law No. 8 of 2026 · 16 Amiri Diwan: Law No. 20 of 2017 · 17 The Peninsula, 2014 · 22 The Peninsula 2022, Qatar Living 2026
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Resource No. 002
Get started

Your first move

Responsibility for food outlets is split between ministries and the law is changing, so get written confirmation of what MOPH will expect from your kitchen before you design it.

To: foodsafetyinspection@moph.gov.qa  ·  Subject: New food outlet: registration and inspection requirements

Dear MOPH Food Safety Team,

We are preparing to open a food outlet in Qatar and would appreciate confirmation of the current food-safety requirements before we finalise the kitchen design.

  • Company: [Company name, CR number or "CR in progress"]
  • Outlet type: [Restaurant with seating / café / cloud kitchen], activity code [e.g. 561010]
  • Location: [Area, building, mall or standalone]
  • Staff: [Number of food handlers], food-safety supervisor [certified / in training]

Could you please confirm: (1) the documents for Watheq establishment registration, (2) whether MOPH reviews the kitchen layout or inspects before opening, (3) the health certificate and licence requirements for food handlers, and (4) any change expected under the new food safety law.

Kind regards,
[Name] · [Mobile] · [Email]

Action plan

WhenActionWho / where
Day 1Look up your activity code; call MOCI to confirm the code and approvals; send the email aboveinvestor.sw.gov.qa · 16001 · MOPH
Week 1Reserve the trade name, form the company, get the CR, join Qatar ChamberSingle Window · Qatar Chamber
Weeks 2–4Shortlist units: food use allowed, completion certificate, landlord consent to fit-out; register the leaseLandlord · Municipality
Weeks 4–10Drawings, fit-out, fire contracts with an approved contractor; Civil Defence request and inspectionDesigner · MOI e-services
Weeks 10–12Commercial permit; Watheq outlet registration; staff health certificates and handler registration; signage permitSingle Window · Watheq
OpeningDisplay permits, keep the compliance folder on site, prepare for unannounced inspectionsYour team
Keep a compliance folder (cloud plus a printed copy on site) with your CR, permit, Civil Defence approval, Watheq records, pest-control visits and every handler's health certificate.
Disclaimer: summarises official and press sources current to 19 October 2026; not legal advice. Rules may change when the new food safety law takes effect, so confirm with each authority before applying.
Sources · 1 Single Window activity pages · 2 Single Window: Commercial Permit · 4 moci.gov.qa · 6 Hukoomi · 8,9 MOPH Watheq (gov.qa) · 12 Qatar Chamber · 15 Qatar Living: signage permits, Sep 2026 · 18 Gulf Times: food safety law
Restaurant & Café Licensing Guide · October 2026addressgateway.com11 / 12
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The Gateway Library · Resource No. 002 · Licences & Permits · October 2026