Qatar is in the process of launching new and stricter licensing requirements for international law firms looking to establish an outpost in the lucrative GCC state.

Under the proposed regulations, international law firms who meet the Qatar government’s eligibility criteria will be issued with licenses to operate. These licenses, which are subject to cancellation, must be renewed every five years.

International firms who wish to open an office in the country will need to prove that they have been established in their home jurisdiction for at least 30 years and they are committed to practicing in an area of law critical to the economic development of Qatar.

In terms of headcounts, the proposed rules state that the firm must have at least 15 lawyers in its employ and each must be able to demonstrate at least 15 years worth of experience in their area of practice. The country’s Minister of Justice will determine the total numbers of lawyers a firm can hire for its Qatar office.

There are currently thirteen international law firms operating in Qatar.

This list does not purport to be exhaustive