EY seminar helps businesses in Qatar establish compliance with new tax regulations

• The company hosted its Qatar Annual Corporate Tax Seminar 2025 in Doha.
• The event saw tax professionals from EY review the main developments in Qatar’s and the wider region’s tax systems over the past year. 

EY in Qatar has hosted its Qatar Annual Corporate Tax Seminar 2025 in Doha with the aim of guiding businesses in navigating the evolving tax landscape in the country and the MENA region. The latest edition of the event provided an overview of the major developments in the tax system that have taken place in Qatar and the wider region over the last 12 months.

The seminar saw the participation of around 200 C-suite executives and finance professionals from Qatar-based companies across diverse industries, including finance and insurance, energy, and construction. The event leveraged the knowledge and practical experience of the senior tax professionals from the EY teams. Their comprehensive insights could help the participants achieve an optimal tax position and adapt their strategy in response to market trends.

The agenda covered all aspects of the taxes that are currently imposed in Qatar from the compliance and investment perspectives. Key topics included BEPS 2.0 and resulting changes to the existing income tax law. In December 2024, Qatar’s General Tax Authority (GTA) issued amendments to select provisions of the Income Tax Law. The move aims to uphold tax parity and fairness between local and multinational companies operating in Qatar through the introduction of a 15% global minimum corporate tax rate. The tax is applicable to global multinational companies with foreign branches that generate annual revenues exceeding QAR3b.

The seminar helped the participants understand the amendments and their impact. Foreign entities operating in Qatar may now face increased tax liabilities if their effective tax rate falls below the 15% global minimum tax rate. This could result in additional tax payments to meet the minimum threshold. Meanwhile, the new rules may require changes to the tax reporting and compliance processes for foreign companies. This includes recalculating their effective tax rates and potentially restructuring their operations to optimize their tax positions.

The event also offered detailed updates on transfer pricing (TP) and the ongoing implementation of the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GLoBE) rules to assist businesses in ensuring compliance with the latest regulations and explain the implications for their operations in Qatar.

Furthermore, the speakers examined the state of Qatar’s economy and the opportunities it presents to companies and investors. The country offers various tax incentives to attract foreign investment, including tax holidays, exemptions and reduced tax rates for certain sectors. These motivate businesses to invest in Qatar and benefit from favorable tax treatment. The country has also established two free zones – Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ). These free zones provide opportunities for companies to set up operations with reduced tax burdens and easy access to world-class infrastructure and services. Meanwhile, branches of foreign companies engaged in government contracts or projects of national importance may receive tax exemptions or special tax treatment.

In addition, the seminar outlined regulatory updates and recent tax trends across the MENA region with a focus on the GCC, which affect Qatari businesses operating in other jurisdictions. These included updates on value-added tax (VAT), corporate tax and other local tax regulations.

The final session explored the role of governance, data and technology in the modern tax function, including the use of advanced technologies to streamline tax processes, improve data accuracy, enhance compliance and facilitate reporting.

Ahmed Eldessouky, EY Gulf Coast Cluster Tax Leader, says:
“This year’s EY Qatar Annual Corporate Tax Seminar emphasized the importance of proactive compliance strategies in light of the new BEPS 2.0 rules. Our professionals provided actionable insights on how businesses can prepare for and adapt to these changes, ensuring they remain compliant while optimizing their tax positions. The event also offered a unique perspective on the evolving tax landscape in the MENA region, highlighting key trends and potential future developments. Our insights help businesses anticipate changes and strategically plan their tax affairs.”

Qatar’s dynamic tax landscape offers competitive corporate tax rates, which are lower than in many other countries of the region. Its government is proactively working to increase transparency and optimize its tax regime with the aim of stimulating growth and development in line with the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) under Qatar National Vision 2030. In the future, the country may consider introducing new taxes, such as VAT or other indirect taxes, to diversify its revenue sources and reduce reliance on revenues from the energy sector.

Among potential change is the establishment of economic substance requirements that mandate businesses to have substantial economic activities and presence in the jurisdiction where they are registered. These regulations aim to prevent tax avoidance by monitoring that businesses are not set up in low-tax jurisdictions merely to benefit from favorable tax regimes without having significant operations there.

Kevin McManus, EY Qatar International Tax and Transaction Services (ITTS) Partner, says:
“With the implementation of the global minimum tax under BEPS 2.0, Qatar is adjusting its tax regulations to align with international standards. Developments in neighboring countries and the broader MENA region can also influence the country’s tax policies by motivating its government to adopt similar tax measures to remain competitive and attract investment. Finally, Qatar’s participation in international trade agreements and economic partnerships may lead to changes in tax policies to facilitate trade and investment. We encourage all companies operating in the country to stay informed on the latest tax updates and seek advice from professionals to develop effective tax compliance and optimization strategies.”

EY teams have identified several key trends shaping Qatar’s tax landscape. This includes businesses placing greater emphasis on tax compliance and governance to avoid penalties. The organization has also observed a growing trend toward adopting advanced technologies for tax compliance, reporting and data management to enhance efficiency and accuracy. In addition, businesses may restructure their operations to optimize their tax positions and comply with new regulations, such as the global minimum tax and potential economic substance requirements.

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