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Employees must submit expenses within 60 days of when they are incurred, or within 30 days after a trip ends, whichever is later. Prior year expenses are not accepted after February 1 of the following year.
Employment in Qatar
Minimum wage
QAR 12,000
Employer costs
0%
Employee contribution
0%
Employee tax
0%
Qatar has a statutory minimum wage of 12000 QAR per year. Employees contribute 7% of salary toward pension, while employers contribute 14% and also typically cover work permit and health insurance costs. There is no personal income tax on employment income in Qatar.
Onboarding time
We can help you get a new employee started in Qatar fast. The minimum onboarding time we need is only 48 hours. Our team ensures fast, compliant employee onboarding and payroll processing. The onboarding timeline starts once the employee submits all required information via the NEO platform.
Payroll
In Qatar, payroll is not subject to personal income tax, but both employees and employers contribute to the pension system. Employers also typically bear the cost of work permits and health insurance for employees.
Employee payroll contributions
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| Pension contribution | 7% |
Employer payroll costs
| Component | Rate / nature |
|---|---|
| Work permit | Employer cost (rate not specified) |
| Health insurance | Employer cost (rate not specified) |
| Pension contribution | 14% |
Minimum wages
Statutory minimum wage (annual)
12000 QAR
Working hours
Standard working time in Qatar is set on a weekly basis, with work typically scheduled Monday through Friday. Employers should document exact daily schedules and any overtime arrangements in the employment contract or internal policies.
Standard work time
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Weekly hours | 48 |
| Work days | Monday to Friday |
Leave
Qatar provides a statutory framework for annual leave and sick leave. Employers should ensure their internal policies at least meet these minimums and clearly set out any additional entitlements in the employment contract.
Annual leave
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Paid time off |
| Accrual | 21 days per year |
| Carry over of unused days | Not allowed |
Sick leave
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Sick leave |
| Maximum accrual | 42 days |
| Medical certificate requirement | Required from first day |
Public holidays
Qatar observes a mix of national and religious public holidays. Employers should plan staffing and project timelines around these dates, as many businesses close or operate reduced hours.
Public holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 2026-02-10 | National Sports Day |
| 2026-03-20 | Eid al-Fitr |
| 2026-03-21 | Eid al-Fitr |
| 2026-03-22 | Eid al-Fitr |
| 2026-05-27 | Eid al-Adha |
| 2026-05-28 | Eid al-Adha |
| 2026-05-29 | Eid al-Adha |
| 2026-12-18 | Qatar National Day |
Expenses
All expense reimbursements in Qatar are processed through payroll, and there are no payroll taxes on these payments. Expenses approved after the payroll cut off date are pushed to the next payroll cycle.
Payroll timing
| Payroll cut off date | Pay date |
|---|---|
| 20th day of the month | Last day of the month |
To be included in the current payroll, expenses must be reviewed and approved by both the client and the employer by 11:59 AM Pacific Time on the payroll cut off date. All other payroll adjustments must be reviewed and approved by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the same date.
Submission deadlines
| Expense type | Action and deadline |
|---|---|
| Current year's expenses | Submit within 60 days of the expense date or 30 days after return from business travel, whichever is later |
| Prior year's expenses | Submit by February 1 of the following year |
Communication and workspace
Phone and internet subscriptions, as well as coworking costs, can be reimbursed on a non taxable basis. A tax invoice, receipt, or in some cases a bank statement or transaction details is required, and it must show the date, amount, currency, service provider or merchant name, and a brief description of the service or purchase.
| Expense | Taxation |
|---|---|
| Phone subscription | Non taxable |
| Internet subscription | Non taxable |
| Coworking | Non taxable |
Equipment and supplies
Laptops, office equipment and supplies, software subscriptions, and postal charges are reimbursable on a non taxable basis. Reimbursements require a tax invoice or receipt showing the date, amount, currency, merchant or service provider, and description of the purchase; for software subscriptions, the document should also include the employee’s name or email.
| Expense | Taxation |
|---|---|
| Laptop | Non taxable |
| Office equipment | Non taxable |
| Office supplies | Non taxable |
| Software subscription | Non taxable |
| Postal charges | Non taxable |
Travel
Most business travel costs in Qatar are reimbursed tax free when supported by a tax invoice or receipt that shows the date, amount, currency, merchant or service provider, and a description of the service; many items also require the employee’s name. For some lower-value transport and fuel costs, a bank statement or transaction details can be used instead, and mileage is reimbursed as a non taxable payment of QAR 3.6 per km without documentation.
| Expense | Taxation |
|---|---|
| Business travel insurance | Non taxable |
| Visa fee | Non taxable |
| Accommodation | Non taxable |
| Flight (including luggage) | Non taxable |
| Taxi or rideshare | Non taxable |
| Train | Non taxable |
| Public transport | Non taxable |
| Car rental | Non taxable |
| Fuel | Non taxable |
| Mileage | Non taxable reimbursement of QAR 3.6 per km |
| Parking or toll fees | Non taxable |
Meals and entertainment
Everyday meals, groceries, and business meals with clients or partners can be reimbursed on a non taxable basis. A tax invoice, receipt, or eligible bank transaction record is required, showing the date, amount, currency, and merchant or service provider name.
| Expense | Taxation |
|---|---|
| Breakfast, lunch and dinner | Non taxable |
| Groceries | Non taxable |
| Meal with client or partner | Non taxable |
Other expenses
A range of other business-related costs, including training, courses and books, promotional items, gym memberships, medical and life insurance, wellness benefits, and medical costs, are reimbursable on a non taxable basis. These generally require a tax invoice or receipt with the date, amount, currency, merchant or service provider, description of the purchase or service, and in many cases the employee’s name.
| Expense | Taxation |
|---|---|
| Training, courses, and books | Non taxable |
| Promotional items | Non taxable |
| Gym membership | Non taxable |
| Medical insurance | Non taxable |
| Life insurance | Non taxable |
| Wellness | Non taxable |
| Medical cost | Non taxable |
Per diem
Employers in Qatar may offer a per diem of USD 100 per day to employees on business trips to cover incidental travel expenses. Employees should check their employment contract for the specific per diem policy that applies to them.
Bonuses
Bonuses in Qatar include contractual and discretionary payments such as incentives and commissions. All employee bonuses are untaxed.
Allowances
Allowances in Qatar are one-time or recurring benefits paid in addition to salary. As there are no payroll taxes in Qatar, approved allowances are treated as non taxable for employees.
The following allowances are optional and may be offered to one or more employees at the employer’s discretion. They do not require supporting documents and are submitted manually for processing.
| Type | Status | Taxation | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home allowance | Optional | Non taxable | May be offered to one or more employees at the employer's discretion |
| Relocation | Optional | Non taxable | May be offered to one or more employees at the employer's discretion |
Termination
Termination practices in Qatar are governed by statutory rules on notice and probation. Employers should ensure contracts reflect these minimums and apply them consistently when ending employment.
Notice period
| Situation | Minimum notice |
|---|---|
| Standard employment | 30 days |
| During probation | 30 days |
Probation period
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum length | No minimum specified |
| Maximum length | 180 days |
