UAE Legal NewsDoha’s weekly Cabinet session, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, marked more than just routine governance—it signaled a recalibration of how the Qatari state handles legal and municipal service fees, with a push toward clarity, efficiency, and inclusivity.
The highlight? A green light was given to a draft decision from the Ministry of Justice that retools its fee structure. The move isn’t just cosmetic—it consolidates overlapping charges, simplifies service names, and, in a major pro-business gesture, wipes out documentation fees for first-time business, company, and institution registrations. That’s right—entrepreneurs are getting a financial head start. On top of that, the new fee system offers discounts to people with disabilities and seniors over 60, marking a nod to accessibility and equity.
Not to be left behind, the Ministry of Municipality also secured Cabinet approval for a parallel move on service fees related to the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). These updates not only accommodate a revised list of services but also introduce fresh ones. Select government agencies and their contractors will see some fees vanish altogether under the exemptions list.
Beyond domestic restructuring, the Cabinet took diplomatic steps forward. It approved measures to ratify an agreement with Sierra Leone targeting stronger customs law enforcement and cooperative crackdowns on violations. A separate memorandum with Sierra Leone covers education, higher education, and scientific research.
International cooperation expanded further with draft memorandums signed with the Netherlands—focused on peacefully resolving disputes—and Ecuador, where the collaboration zeroes in on port development.
Domestically, labor protections received an administrative tune-up. The Cabinet reviewed legislative tweaks to Law No. 17 of 2018, which governs the Workers Support and Insurance Fund, along with changes to the Fund’s disbursement procedures outlined in Decision No. 2 of 2022.
Rounding out the session were two report reviews: one detailing the National Civil Aviation Security Committee’s progress in the second half of 2024, and another summarizing Qatar’s engagement in the Qatar-India Business Forum, led by the Minister of Commerce and Industry.
As Eid Al Fitr approaches, the Cabinet extended its warmest greetings to the Amir and the people of Qatar, underscoring a vision for continued prosperity—fueled by reform, diplomacy, and forward motion.
