The Ministry of Culture advertising licence, who needs it, individual and company routes, documents, fees, ad-disclosure rules, penalties and contacts, in one workflow.
1
Is it advertising?
Paid or rewarded promotion of goods, services or brands
Your content
2
Pick your route
Qatari individual (21+), or a licensed company
Ministry of Culture
3
Company & CR
Only for the company route: the right activity on the CR
MOCI · Single Window
4
Advertising licence
Apply online; one-year licence, renewed every year
Ministry of Culture
5
Post compliantly
Label ads, truthful claims, promotions approved
MOCI · Consumer law
Golden rule: do not accept paid promotion work until the licence that covers it has been issued, and label every paid or gifted post clearly as an advertisement.
Updated Oct 2026Compiled from official Ministry of Culture service manuals, MOCI, Al Meezan law texts and Qatari press. Fees reported in the press differ from the Ministry's current manuals, so confirm with the Ministry before paying.
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Resource No. 003
Welcome to the Gateway Library
More than company formation
Address Gateway has helped entrepreneurs, SMEs and global companies set up in Qatar for over a decade. Forming the company is only the first gate. After that come the licences, permits, approvals and renewals that decide whether you can actually operate. The Gateway Library is where we turn that hard-won, on-the-ground knowledge into free, practical guides you can act on.
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What every Business Resource gives you
One clear workflowEvery authority involved, in the order you meet them.
Decision flowchartsFind your route in under a minute.
Checklists & templatesDocuments, forms and ready-to-send emails.
Sourced & datedOfficial sources cited, with a clear "as of" date.
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New resources are in production across these collections.
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Formation & Structure
Choosing a legal structure, CR, trade licence, ownership.
Establishment ID, work permits, QIDs, family visas.
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Tax & Compliance
GTA registration, filings, renewals and deadlines.
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Overview
The big picture
Qatar has no stand-alone "influencer licence" law yet. Paid promotion falls under the Ministry of Culture's licence for advertising and public relations, which is issued to Qatari individuals or to companies.
What the official sources say
One licence, two routes
The Ministry of Culture (MoC) licenses "Advertising and Public Relations Activity": designing ads, promoting goods and services, running campaigns and managing PR.1,2
Individuals apply through service 1102 (Qatari, older than 21); companies through service 1101.1,2
The licence lasts one year and is renewed annually.1,2
A Shura Council proposal for a dedicated influencer framework was submitted in December 2024; we found no sign it has become law.5
Watch out
Two different fee figures
The Ministry's current service manuals list QR 5,000 to issue and QR 5,000 to renew.1,2 Press reports from 2023 quoted QR 25,000 to issue and QR 10,000 a year,3,4 and the manuals still show an old QR 25,000 payment example.
Practical effect: budget for the higher figure until the Ministry confirms your fee in writing or the portal shows it before payment.
Who does what1,6,9,11,17
Ministry of CultureIssues and renews the advertising and public relations licence for individuals and companies
MOCI · Single WindowCompany formation, CR and activity codes; approves promotions and discounts; handles complaints
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Step 0
Choose your path
Start at the top. The first question is whether you are paid or rewarded to promote something.
Expatriate residents: the individual route is for Qatari applicants only.1 The company route is the one to investigate, but having a sponsor or employer does not by itself make you eligible, and your residence permit must allow the work you do.2
Sources · 1 MoC manual 1102 · 2 MoC manual 1101 · 5 ILoveQatar: Shura proposal · 7 MOCI foreign-ownership guide, Oct 2025
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Steps 1–5
Step-by-step routes
Follow the column that matches you; page 6 covers the online application.
Individual (Qatari, 21+)
1
Check your activity
Paid promotion, campaigns or PR are within the advertising licence.1
2
Activate your login
National Authentication (Tawtheeq) username and password.1
3
Apply: service 1102
Choose "Advertising and Public Relations", then "new". Upload your QID, the manager's QID and a signed business study.1
4
Pay and print
Pay after approval, then print the receipt and licence.1
5
Renew every year
From two months before to two months after expiry.1
Company (residents, agencies, brands)
1
Confirm activity and ownership
Find the live code on the Single Window; advertising agencies (731010) are "Not Allowed" for foreign ownership.7,15
2
Company and CR
Reserve the trade name and register; a CR alone does not let you start operating.14
3
Apply: service 1101
Signatory logs in with a smart card; add partners' and manager's QIDs and the business study.2
4
Commercial licence
Premises licence QR 500 a year; no activity outside the CR and licence.6,9
5
Contract creators properly
Creators working for the company need the right residence and work permits.
The licence at a glance (MoC manuals, checked 19 Oct 2026)1,2
Item
Individual · 1102
Company · 1101
Who can apply
Qatari, older than 21, or their sole establishment
LLC, single-owner LLC, shareholding or public-benefit company
Login
Tawtheeq username and password
Smart card of authorised signatory
Issue · renew · re-issue
QR 5,000 each in the manuals Confirm (press: QR 25,000 / 10,000)
Amend · transfer · cancel
No fee
Validity
One year
Processing time
Not published
Sources · 1 MoC manual 1102 · 2 MoC manual 1101 · 6 MOCI fee schedule · 7 MOCI foreign-ownership guide · 9 MOCI obligations · 14 Single Window establishment guidance · 15 Hukoomi: search business activities
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Ministry of Culture e-services
Applying online
The whole application runs on the Ministry of Culture portal. You pay only after the application is approved.1,2
1Sign inTawtheeq login (individuals) or signatory smart card (companies)
2Choose the serviceAdvertising and Public Relations: new, renewal or re-issuance
3SubmitFill the forms, upload documents, keep the application number
4Pay and printAfter approval: pay, then print receipt and licence
Track progress under "My Applications" and by SMS. A returned application can be corrected and resubmitted.1,2
Login problems with Tawtheeq or the smart card: call 109.1
Business study: a short description of your planned advertising work, signed and stamped by the owner or authorised signatory. It is required for new applications and for re-issuance.1,2
Documents by request type
What to upload
Request
Documents
All
QID of licence owner (and partners, for companies); QID of responsible manager
New
Trade-name reservation (new company) or CR copy (adding the activity); signed business study
Renewal
CR, municipal licence, establishment card, tenancy contract
Re-issuance
Renewal documents plus business study
Proof of signatory authorisation is optional where a delegate applies.1,2
After the two-month grace period you must apply for re-issuance instead of renewal.1,2 The manuals do not say you may keep trading after expiry, so renew before it.
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Planning
Timeline and lead times
The Ministry does not publish a processing time. Plan a buffer before your first paid campaign, and longer if you need to form a company first.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Confirm activity and route
email MoC
Company + CR (company route)
company route only
Business study + documents
prepare in parallel
MoC application + review
time not published
Pay, print licence
after approval
FIRST PAID POST ▶
An illustrative six-week plan. Only the renewal window and validity come from the Ministry; review times are estimates, so confirm with the Ministry of Culture.1,2
Key numbers
1 year
Licence validity
Renew annually1,2
±2 mo
Renewal window
Around the expiry date1,2
21+
Minimum age
Qatari individual route1
Brands and agencies: ask creators for their licence before you contract them, and build approval time for any promotion, discount or giveaway into the campaign plan. MOCI must approve promotional offers in advance.9
Sources · 1 MoC manual 1102 · 2 MoC manual 1101 · 9 MOCI business obligations
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Paperwork
Document checklists
Tick off each item before you submit. Scan everything to PDF and name files clearly (for example "QID-Owner.pdf").
Individual · 1102
Your QID (Qatari, older than 21)1
QID of the responsible manager1
Tawtheeq login active1
Signed business study1
Sole establishment CR, if applying through it1
Signatory authorisation (optional)1
Company · 1101
QIDs of owner and partners2
QID of the responsible manager2
Trade-name reservation (new) or CR copy2
Signed and stamped business study2
Signatory smart card2
Renewal: municipal licence, establishment card, tenancy contract2
Every campaign
Written brief naming the advertiser11
Claims checked and supportable12
Key information also in Arabic12
Ad label planned on every post11
Promotion or discount approved by MOCI9
Giveaway terms written clearly11
Creator data sheet (prepare once, reuse everywhere)
Field
Example
Used in
Licence holder
Your name, or the company's trade name
MoC application · contracts1,2
Licence number and expiry
Number and date from the printed licence
Brand contracts · renewal reminder
Channels
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat handles
Business study · media kit
Services
Sponsored posts, event coverage, campaign design
Business study1,2
Responsible manager
Name and QID
MoC application1,2
Disclosure wording
"Advertisement / إعلان" plus the brand's name
Every paid post11
Example values are illustrative only. Qatar law requires commercial messages to be clearly identifiable; no specific hashtag is prescribed.11
Sources · 1 MoC manual 1102 · 2 MoC manual 1101 · 9 MOCI obligations · 11 Decree-Law No. 16 of 2010, Art. 53 · 12 Consumer Protection Law No. 8 of 2008
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Every post
Posting rules and promotions
The licence lets you advertise; the law decides how. Article 53 of the e-commerce law sets the rules for any commercial electronic message.11
Licence valid
+
Labelled as an ad
+
Advertiser named
+
Truthful claims
+
Promotion approved
=
COMPLIANT POST
Before you publish
Post is clearly identifiable as commercial11
It names the person or brand it is made for11
Offers, gifts and competitions are clearly identified11
Conditions are clear, accessible and not misleading11
No false or deceptive information about the product12
Prices and key features stated clearly12
Content respects public order and morals11
No defective, expired or unfit products promoted12
Promotions and online selling
Promotional offers need prior approval from MOCI's Market Control Department; promotion and discount licences cost QR 200 per request.6,9
Your licence does not replace the brand's own promotion approval.
Unsolicited marketing messages need consent and an opt-out.11
Selling online yourself? MOCI's e-commerce licence (Decision No. 25 of 2026) costs QR 500 for approved activities.10
Regulated products such as health, finance and investment need extra sector approvals. Ask the brand which approvals it holds before you post.
Labelling examples (illustrative; no wording is prescribed)
Situation
Clear label
Why it is risky without it
Paid post
"Advertisement / إعلان · for [Brand]" at the start
Must be identifiable as commercial and name the advertiser11
Gifted product or stay
"Gifted by [Brand] · Advertisement"
Free items are not an established exemption; label to be safe
Discount code
"Ad · code [X] gives 10% off until [date], terms in bio"
Offers and their conditions must be clear and not misleading11
Giveaway
"Ad · competition by [Brand], rules: [link]"
Competitions must be clearly identified; the brand may need MOCI approval9,11
Sources · 6 MOCI fee schedule · 9 MOCI obligations · 10 MOCI: e-commerce licence, 17 Sep 2026 · 11 Decree-Law No. 16 of 2010, Arts. 51–55 · 12 Consumer Protection Law No. 8 of 2008, Arts. 6, 7, 11, 17
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Budget, risk and contacts
Costs, penalties and contacts
Known government fees
Item
QAR
MoC licence: issue (manual)
5,000
MoC licence: renewal or re-issue (manual)
5,000
MoC: amend, transfer, cancel
Free
Press-reported (2023): issue / annual
25,000 / 10,000
CR with one activity (per year)
500
Commercial premises licence (per year)
500
LLC articles review
500
Promotion or discount licence (per request)
200
E-commerce licence
500
MoC fees from its service manuals; MOCI fees from Decision No. 60 of 2024. Confirm the MoC fee before paying.1,2,3,6,10
Penalties
2 yrs
Max prison
QR 1m
Max fine
Misleading or deceptive advertising under the Consumer Protection Law can bring up to two years' imprisonment and a fine of QR 3,000 to QR 1 million.12 MOCI closed a company for a month in 2025 for advertising itself as a brand's official agent without authorisation.13 We found no published fine specifically for posting without the MoC licence.
Official contacts
Ministry of CultureLicence questions and applications
CALL
8000002 · +974 4402 2222
EMAIL
info@moc.gov.qa
APPLY
e.moc.gov.qa (services 1101, 1102)1,2,16
MOCI · Single WindowCompany, CR, promotions
CALL
16001
EMAIL
info@moci.gov.qa
WHATSAPP
+974 6611 140013
Login supportTawtheeq and smart card
CALL
1091
CRA.qa domains and telecom advertising
CALL
103 · +974 4499 5535
EMAIL
info@cra.gov.qa17
LawsFull legal texts
WEB
almeezan.qa
Sources · 1,2 MoC manuals 1102 and 1101 · 3 Gulf Times, 2023 · 6 MOCI fee schedule · 10 MOCI: e-commerce licence · 12 Consumer Protection Law, Art. 18 · 13 MOCI: Sharmax closure, 26 Oct 2025 · 16 MoC contact page · 17 CRA website
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Get started
Your first move
The fee and the treatment of gifts and affiliate links are not settled in public sources, so get the Ministry's answer in writing before you apply.
To: info@moc.gov.qa · Subject: Advertising and public relations licence: requirements confirmation
Dear Ministry of Culture Licensing Team,
I plan to carry out paid promotional work on social media in Qatar and would appreciate confirmation of the licence I need.
Applicant: [Full name, QID, nationality] or company [name, CR number]
Could you please confirm: (1) whether this work needs the Advertising and Public Relations licence (service 1101 or 1102), (2) the current issue and renewal fees, (3) whether gifted products and affiliate links are covered, and (4) the route for a non-Qatari resident.
Kind regards, [Name] · [Mobile] · [Email]
Action plan
When
Action
Who / where
Day 1
Send the email above; list your channels and the paid work you plan
info@moc.gov.qa
Week 1
Pick your route; company route: check the activity code and ownership rules
Single Window · 16001
Weeks 1–3
Form the company and get the CR (company route); write the business study
Single Window
Weeks 3–5
Apply for service 1101 or 1102; answer any return requests
e.moc.gov.qa
After approval
Pay, print the licence, add the number to your media kit and contracts
e.moc.gov.qa
Every year
Renew in the two months before expiry
e.moc.gov.qa
Keep a compliance folder with your licence, the Ministry's written answers, each brand contract, promotion approvals and screenshots of how each paid post was labelled.
Disclaimer: summarises official and press sources current to 19 October 2026; not legal advice. A dedicated influencer law may still be issued, so confirm with the Ministry of Culture before applying.
Sources · 1,2 MoC manuals 1102 and 1101 · 7 MOCI foreign-ownership guide · 15 Hukoomi: search business activities · 16 MoC contact page
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