Published 15 October 2026 / Publisher: POI Consulting & Services W.L.L. / Tax and fee figures are as of the dates stated in the text.

Cost of Setting Up a Company in Qatar (2026)
From year one to closure

The cost of a company in Qatar is not just the setup fee. Only when you include first-year formation, licensing and residency, renewals and accounts from the second year, and the procedures for closing does the full picture appear. This article walks through what costs what, using the fees POI publishes.

Costs arise at four points

Company costs in Qatar fall into four groups: formation, annual renewal, monthly accounting and closure. The items most often missing from formation quotes are renewal fees from the second year and the cost of closing down.

Year one: from QAR 48,000 for formation plus one year

POI's formation and residency package is from QAR 48,000 (about JPY 2 million) for the first year (formation plus one year). It covers commercial registration (CR), the business license, one residence permit (QID), attendance at one bank account interview, a registered address, tax registration (Tax Card) and one year of Japanese-language support after formation.

We also state up front what is not included: tax advice in Japan (partner tax professionals), legal work in Qatar, real estate brokerage, residence permits for family or staff, additional bank accounts (from QAR 1,200) and the annual audit (quoted separately at cost). We do not set up companies through nominees.

From year two: QAR 48,000 a year and QAR 2,400 a month

Keeping a company alive requires annual renewal of the commercial registration and license, a registered address, renewal of the residence permit (issued for one to five years; renewal requires travel to Qatar), and the corporate tax return and accounts. POI handles renewals, the registered address and residency renewal for QAR 48,000 a year, and bookkeeping and tax filing from QAR 2,400 a month. The annual audit depends on company size and is quoted separately at cost.

In a residency renewal year, your own travel and the bank's KYC update fall together. Scheduling them in one trip keeps the number of visits down.

Closure: from QAR 22,500

Closing a company also costs money. Including final accounts and audit, deregistration with each authority and cancellation of the residence permit, the guide figure is from QAR 22,500 (about JPY 920,000). Some Japanese-facing formation agents in Dubai state closure costs of about JPY 1.3 million, so closure is an item to check before you set up.

What changes with the type of entity

Qatar offers three structures: a mainland company, the QFC (Qatar Financial Centre) and the QFZ (free zones). Corporate tax is 10% for a fully foreign-owned mainland company (effectively 4.9% with a 51% Qatari partner), 10% in the QFC regardless of ownership, and exempt for up to 20 years on qualifying income in the QFZ. Domestic sales, capital and office requirements differ by structure, and so do government fees. We quote by structure once we know your activity and customers.

Compare running costs with the tax saving

QAR 48,000 a year plus QAR 2,400 a month comes to about JPY 2.8 million a year. With Japan's effective corporate rate at about 30% and Qatar's at 10%, the gap is 20% of profit. On JPY 100 million of profit that is a JPY 20 million gap, leaving about JPY 18 million a year after running costs. Below JPY 30 million of profit the running costs approach the gap, and a company makes little sense. Try your own numbers in the tax simulator on the home page.

Three things to check in any quote

First, does it show all three figures: year one, renewal and closure? Second, are government fees and the agent's service fees shown separately? Third, can you switch to another agent? POI fixes the amount when you pay within the quote's validity period and does not stop you from moving to another provider.

This article is a general explanation. Individual tax judgments are made by our partner tax professionals. Regulations and fees may change.