Criminal defence7 min read
How a criminal case moves in Qatar: from the police to the Court of Cassation
Faysel Al-MohannadiLawyer admitted before the Court of Cassation · Reviewed on
Short answer
A criminal case in Qatar usually passes through six stages: police evidence-gathering, Public Prosecution investigation, charge and referral, trial at the Court of First Instance, appeal, and cassation. A convicted person has 15 days to appeal a judgment given in their presence (Article 276) and 60 days to challenge in cassation (Article 291), plus any distance period.
What are the stages of a criminal case in Qatar?
A criminal case usually starts with a report or complaint and can end at any stage: with the file closed, a no-grounds order, a reconciliation the law allows, or a final judgment. Not every case goes through all six stages.
Evidence-gathering by the police: judicial police officers, including police officers, receive reports and complaints, gather evidence and send their records to the Public Prosecution at once (Articles 29 and 31). Anyone arrested is brought before the prosecution within 24 hours if the evidence is sufficient (Article 43).
Public Prosecution investigation: the prosecution investigates felonies and any misdemeanours it chooses. In other misdemeanours and contraventions it may close the file or refer the case straight to court (Articles 61 to 63). As a rule, its detention orders last four days, extendable by four; longer detention needs a judge and is capped at six months unless the accused has been notified of referral (Article 117).
Charge and referral: the prosecution issues either a no-grounds order (Article 146) or a referral order stating the charge and the articles of law, with a list of the evidence. The accused is notified within 10 days (Articles 149 and 151).
Trial at the Court of First Instance: a single judge hears misdemeanours (the misdemeanour court) and a panel of three judges hears felonies (the criminal court) (Article 162). The summons must arrive at least three days before the hearing in misdemeanours and eight in felonies (Article 176).
Appeal: the prosecution and the convicted person may appeal. Misdemeanour judgments go to an appeal panel of the Court of First Instance; criminal court judgments go to the Court of Appeal (Article 272).
Cassation: either side may challenge a Court of Appeal judgment for breach or misapplication of the law, a nullity that affected it, or two contradictory judgments on the same facts (Article 288).
Your rights before the police and the prosecution, such as silence, a lawyer and an interpreter, are covered in our police summons guide.
What are the deadlines for appeal and cassation?
A convicted person has 15 days to appeal and 60 days to challenge in cassation, plus any distance period. A late challenge is rejected as inadmissible (Articles 280 and 297).
| Step | Time limit | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal against a pretrial detention order | 24 hours from the order | 157, 158 |
| Objection to a default judgment in a misdemeanour or contravention | 7 days from personal notice of the judgment | 264 |
| Appeal by the convicted person | 15 days from a judgment given in their presence, from notice of a default judgment, or from the ruling on an objection | 276 |
| Appeal by the Public Prosecution | 30 days from the judgment | 276 |
| Cassation | 60 days from a judgment given in the person's presence, or from the end of the objection period or the ruling on it. Grounds must be filed within the same period | 291 |
| Distance period | Add 10 days if you live outside the court's district, or 60 days if you live outside Qatar | 405 |
The day of the judgment or notice is not counted, a deadline ending on an official holiday moves to the next working day, and the Gregorian calendar applies (Articles 404 and 406). If a judgment is treated as given in your presence although you were absent, the appeal period runs from legal notice (Article 277).
An appeal is lodged at the clerk's office of the court that gave the judgment, or through the detention facility for a detained person (Article 276). A cassation challenge is lodged at the Court of Cassation's clerk's office, with grounds signed by a lawyer admitted before that court (Article 291).
What happens on appeal and in cassation?
An appeal does not suspend the sentence unless the court that gave it decides otherwise (Article 272). The Court of Appeal may release the convicted person on any form of security until it rules (Article 278).
- The Court of Cassation first reviews a challenge in chambers. If it is worth hearing, the court sets a hearing and may suspend execution (Article 294 bis).
- An appeal or cassation challenge by someone sentenced to an enforceable custodial sentence lapses if they do not surrender for execution before the hearing (Articles 282 and 296).
Article 288 refers to Court of Appeal judgments. If a Court of First Instance appeal panel decided your misdemeanour appeal, ask your lawyer whether cassation is open.
Can a case end by reconciliation?
Yes, but only in set cases: contraventions, misdemeanours where the law allows reconciliation, and withdrawal of a complaint for offences that need one. Article 18's reconciliation rule does not cover felonies.
| Route | Which offences | Effect | Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settling a contravention | Offences punishable only by a fine of up to QAR 1,000 | Paying the settlement amount within 15 days ends the case | 17; Penal Code 24 |
| Reconciliation with the victim | Misdemeanours where the Penal Code or another law allows it, such as bounced cheques | Once the prosecution or the court records it, the case ends | 18; Penal Code 357, 359 |
| Withdrawing a complaint | Offences prosecuted only on a complaint, including certain assault, threat, defamation, insult, privacy and cheque offences | Possible until a final judgment, and the case ends. Several complainants must all withdraw | 3, 10 |
| Settlement with the Attorney General | Offences harming the national economy, after investigation and before referral | Return of funds, gains and compensation, then a no-grounds order | 18 |
Payment or a private agreement alone does not end a case: the reconciliation must be recorded by the prosecution or the court (Article 18), or the complaint formally withdrawn (Article 10). Approaches to the complainant are better made through lawyers.
What can the accused's lawyer do at each stage?
| Stage | What the lawyer can do | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Police | Attend evidence-gathering with the accused whenever possible, and check the statement before it is signed | 34 |
| Public Prosecution | Attend the investigation, review the file before questioning, submit requests, ask for release, and appeal a detention order within 24 hours | 65, 66, 102, 119, 157 |
| Referral | Study the referral order and the evidence list, and prepare the defence | 151 |
| Trial | Defend the accused; in felonies a lawyer is mandatory and the court appoints one if needed. The court may question the accused only with their consent after consulting the lawyer, and statements made under coercion carry no weight | 221, 194, 232 |
| Appeal | Lodge the appeal in time and ask for release pending appeal | 276, 278 |
| Cassation | Draft and sign the grounds and ask for execution to be suspended | 291, 294 |
When should you speak to a lawyer?
Speak to a lawyer early if you are summoned as the accused, a relative is arrested, or a judgment has been given and the challenge period is running. Other signs:
- You have received a referral order or a court summons.
- A judgment was given in your absence.
- You want to know whether reconciliation or withdrawal is possible.
- You live outside Qatar and need the distance period worked out.
Faysel Al-Mohannadi is admitted to plead before the Court of Cassation.
What the law says
This guide relies on the Criminal Procedure Code (Law No. 23 of 2004), especially Articles 3, 10, 17, 18, 29, 31, 61 to 63, 117, 146, 149, 151, 157, 158, 162, 176, 221, 247, 252, 264, 272, 276, 278, 282, 288, 291, 294 bis, 296, 404 and 405, and on Articles 24, 357 and 359 of the Penal Code. Law No. 6 of 2020 added Article 294 bis; the 2009 and 2020 amendments did not change the other articles. Texts checked on Al Meezan on 18 October 2026.
Read on Al MeezanQuestions people ask
Yes, within 30 days of the judgment (Article 276). The appeal court can overturn an acquittal only if its judges are unanimous (Article 285).
The court rejects a late challenge as inadmissible (Articles 280 and 297). Count the days from the judgment or the notice, and add any distance period.
Yes. The prosecution may close the file in misdemeanours (Article 61) or issue a no-grounds order (Article 146), and reconciliation or withdrawal ends the case where the law allows. Some minor misdemeanours end with a criminal order imposing a fine without a hearing, which can sometimes be objected to within three days of notice (Articles 247 and 252).
This guide is general information about Qatari law, not advice on your case.
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Ask about your situation
If you have a case before the Public Prosecution or the courts, or a judgment has been given and you need the deadlines, ask us about your position.