Qatar EOR & PEO

Start hiring in Qatar

Simple, compliant hiring with Horizons EOR

Hire in Qatar

Horizons ensures day-to-day guidance to help your business navigate Qatar labor laws and regulations. Horizons also ensures Qatar payroll is processed on time, and that taxes are withheld as required.

As the Qatar Employer of Record, Horizons is responsible for employee income tax withholding, payment of payroll taxes to state authorities, and submission of tax returns to the Qatar Tax Office.

Partnering with our Qatar EOR is the quickest and most cost-effective way to enter the Qatar market.

Note, a Qatar Employer of Record is also known as a Qatar Professional Employer Organization (PEO).

Facts & Stats

Qatar payroll guide

Employees in Qatar are not subject to any income tax. The corporate tax rate is 10% for most businesses, but there are some differences for certain companies, for example those operating in the oil industry.

Contractual rights and termination regulations

Workers in Qatar who have worked with their employer for at least a year are entitled to severance benefits. The severance pay is as follows:

Three weeks of pay for every year worked up to five years of employment.
Four weeks of pay for every year between six and ten years of employment.
Five weeks of pay for every year between 11 and 20 years of employment.
Six weeks of pay for every year over 20 years of employment.

The payment also includes a cost of living allowance.

Usually, employees who have been employed for less than five years are entitled to 30 days of notice when employers terminate their indefinite-term contracts, or two months for employees of more than five years.

How to establish a Qatar payroll

A key part of hiring and creating a payroll in Qatar is likely to be registering an official entity in the country. The administration procedures can be lengthy, complicated, and potentially very resource-intensive, so outsourcing the entire process can be an excellent way to improve efficiency.

At Horizons, our experts can set up and manage your payroll and all its administration so you don’t have to. We can also provide use of our Qatari subsidiary to act as your employer or record, so you can start hiring and expanding in Qatar even if you don’t have an established entity in the country.

stay compliant with Qatar labor laws

Employment Laws

Employment contracts in Qatar

Employees in Qatar are legally entitled to a written employment contract when they are hired for a position. While English is widely spoken in Qatar, these contracts should generally be written in the official language of Arabic. Contracts should also include all of the relevant details of employment, such as salary/wage, expected working hours, and any benefit or entitlements that the employees will receive. Any references to compensation should be in the local currency of the Qatari riyal.

By partnering with our Qatar EOR, Horizons’ team of local experts can provide assistance for drafting strong employment contracts that are compliant with local regulations.

Fixed-term

Indefinite

Working hours in Qatar

For most of the year, the maximum working week in Qatar is 48 hours, with a limit of eight hours per day. However, the country operates at a reduced working week of 36 hours during Ramadan.

Public holidays in Qatar

Holiday Schedule in Qatar [2024]

Qatar has a range of national public holidays that are celebrated annually. In 2024 these holidays are:

Date	Holiday name
13 Feb Tuesday	National Sports Day
9 Apr Tuesday	Eid al-Fitr (Tentative Date)
10 Apr to 11 Apr	Eid al-Fitr Holiday (Tentative Date)
16 Jun Sunday	Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) (Tentative Date)
17 Jun to 18 Jun	Eid al-Adha Holiday (Tentative Date)
18 Dec Wednesday	National Day

Qatar vacation leave

The mandatory minimum paid vacation in Qatar depends on the length of service with an employer. For one to five years of service, employees are entitled to three weeks of paid vacation leave. For more than five years of service, employees are entitled to four weeks of paid vacation leave.

As Qatar is a strongly religious country, Muslim employees are also entitled to a one-off period of religious leave of two weeks (unpaid) for pilgrimages.

Qatar sick leave

After three months of service with an employer, and when they can present a doctor’s note, employees in Qatar are entitled to up to two weeks of sick leave.

Parental leave in Qatar

Women who have been with a company for at least one year are entitled to 50 days of maternity leave. Of this allowance, 15 days can be taken before childbirth and a minimum of 35 days can be taken after. They can also take extra time beyond this, but it is unpaid.

Male employees are not entitled to any paternity leave, but many companies choose to offer an allowance as part of their benefits packages.

Terminations and severance in Qatar

Employees in Qatar are legally entitled to severance benefits after one year of service with their employer. The payment is the equivalent of:

Three weeks of pay for every year worked up to five years of employment.
Four weeks of pay for every year between six and ten years of employment.
Five weeks of pay for every year between 11 and 20 years of employment.
Six weeks of pay for every year over 20 years of employment.

The payment also includes a cost of living allowance.

Navigating employee terminations and handling severance packages can be complicated for companies expanding overseas for the first time. Horizons’ Qatar EOR can mitigate risk for foreign companies and provide guidance through this process.

Taxation in Qatar

Employees in Qatar are not subject to any income tax.

Health coverage in Qatar

Qatar nationals can access state-funded healthcare either for free or heavily subsidized. Foreign employees will generally need private coverage, so employers may choose to offer private insurance as part of their benefits packages.

hassle-free Qatar compensation & benefits

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation laws in Qatar

As of 2024, the minimum wage in Qatar is QAR 1,000 per month plus QAR 500 for accommodation and QAR 300 for food

Minimum Wage Country Comparison Chart	(Per month in USD)
Switzerland (Geneva)	$4,000
Italy	$2,255
Australia	$1996
Algeria	$156
Uzbekistan	$22

Benefit management in Qatar

It is common for employers in Qatar to offer benefits packages to their workers. However, establishing a benefits system in Qatar can be complicated, especially if you are unfamiliar with the country’s unique set of labor laws and administrative procedures.

Horizons can help you fast-track this phase of your Qatar expansion by providing tailored benefit management services. Our experienced team can advise you on the standard practice and handle all of your benefit management, allowing you to focus on the work of expanding your organization in Qatar.

Qatar Employer Of Record Peo

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Hire in Qatar

Employment Laws

Working hours in Qatar

Public holidays in Qatar

Compensation & Benefits

Frequently asked questions

Hire borderless talent with Horizons

Hire in Qatar in 24h without your own local entity.

With Horizons, you get quick service, transparent pricing, and expert support.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a Qatar PEO and a Qatar EOR?

Generally speaking, the terms “Qatar PEO” and “Qatar EOR” are used interchangeably.

Can an EOR in Qatar hire both local and foreign nationals to work in Qatar ?

An EOR in Qatar can feasibly hire both local and foreign nationals to work in Qatar.

However, the ability of Horizons to sponsor your foreign national employee in Qatar may be limited due to visa quotas practiced in many countries.

Contact us with your requirements and our Global Mobility team with review the case and get back to you within 2 business days.

How long does Horizons' Qatar EOR service take to hire an employee?

In most cases, Horizons’ Qatar EOR can hire & onboard your employee within 24 hours. The actual start date of the employee will depend on their notice period obligation to their previous employer as well as any relevant hiring rules in Qatar.

Is it possible to get a work visa in Qatar ?

It is possible to get a work visa in Qatar. Horizons’ Global Mobility team is a dedicated team of work visa experts. They assess the details of each case to determine feasibility and costs before Horizons applies for the work visa on behalf of your employee. If the Global Mobility team determines that your case is feasible, the process is smooth and transparent. Visa spots in Qatar are limited, however—get started today to secure your employees’ visa spot.

Qatar EOR & PEO

Start hiring in Qatar

Simple, compliant hiring with Horizons EOR

Hire in Qatar

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Qatar payroll guide

Contractual rights and termination regulations

How to establish a Qatar payroll

stay compliant with Qatar labor laws

Employment Laws

Employment contracts in Qatar

Fixed-term

Probationary period

Termination notice period

Severance

Indefinite

Probationary period

Termination notice period

Severance

Working hours in Qatar

Public holidays in Qatar

Qatar vacation leave

Qatar sick leave

Parental leave in Qatar

Terminations and severance in Qatar

Taxation in Qatar

Health coverage in Qatar

hassle-free Qatar compensation & benefits

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation laws in Qatar

Benefit management in Qatar

Hire in Qatar in 24h without your own local entity.

Frequently asked questions

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