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Qatar Civil Code: what does Law No. 22 of 2004 cover?
Faysel Al-MohannadiLawyer admitted before the Court of Cassation · Reviewed on
Short answer
Qatar's Civil Code, issued by Law No. 22 of 2004, is the general law for civil dealings in Qatar. Its 1,186 articles cover contracts, compensation for harm, unjust enrichment, limitation periods, sale, lease, agency, ownership and mortgages. Commerce, employment, family and property rental have their own laws. Al Meezan shows no amendment to the Code as of October 2026.
What does Qatar's Civil Code govern?
The Civil Code is Qatar's general law for civil dealings: obligations, common contracts, and ownership and other property rights. Where no legislative text applies, the judge rules according to Islamic Sharia, then custom, then the rules of justice (Article 1).
Some areas have their own laws:
| Area | Special law | Where the Civil Code fits |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce and traders | Commercial Law, Law No. 27 of 2006 | Applies after the commercial laws and commercial custom (Commercial Law, Article 2) |
| Private-sector employment | Labour Law, Law No. 14 of 2004 | The Civil Code has no chapter on employment contracts |
| Family and inheritance | Family Law, Law No. 22 of 2006 | Leaves who inherits and in what shares to Islamic Sharia and the laws issued under it (Article 973) |
| Renting buildings and premises | Law No. 4 of 2008 on leasing real estate | Sets the general rules for any lease (Articles 582 to 669) |
| Property of minors | Law No. 40 of 2004 | Refers to the special laws on guardianship of property (Article 52) |
Civil disputes go to the civil circuits of the Court of First Instance, and commercial disputes to the Investment and Trade Court (Law No. 21 of 2021, Article 7). For how Qatar ranks its sources of law, see the role of Sharia in Qatar's legal system; for workers' rights, see Qatar Labour Law.
How is the Qatar Civil Code organised?
The law was issued on 30 June 2004 and published in the Official Gazette (Issue 11 of 2004) on 8 August 2004. It repealed the introductory part and Book One of the 1971 Civil and Commercial Law. It has 1,186 articles:
| Part | Articles | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory part | 1 to 63 | Applying the law, persons and capacity, property, and the use of rights |
| Obligations in general | 64 to 418 | Contract, wrongful acts and unjust enrichment, then the effects and ending of obligations, and limitation |
| Named contracts | 419 to 836 | Sale, gift, partnership, loan, settlement, lease, contracting work, agency, insurance, suretyship and others |
| Principal property rights | 837 to 1057 | Ownership and how it is acquired, usufruct and easements |
| Security rights | 1058 to 1186 | Official mortgage, possessory pledge and statutory priorities |
What are the key rules of the Qatar Civil Code?
The table sums up the rules people ask about most. Each has conditions and exceptions, so read the full article before you rely on it.
| Topic | The rule | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Age of majority | 18 full years; a child under seven lacks discernment | 49 and 50 |
| Forming a contract | Formed when an offer meets a matching acceptance, if its object and cause are lawful; a reply that changes the offer is a new offer | 64 and 72 |
| Form | No set form is needed unless the law requires one; without that form the contract is void | 91 |
| Voidable contracts | Can be annulled for mistake, fraud or duress; for exploitation, the judge may reduce obligations or annul | 130, 134, 137 and 140 |
| Void contracts | No effect; the court can raise it itself, and ratification does not cure it | 163 |
| Binding force | The contract is the law of the parties, but after exceptional, unforeseeable general events the judge may reduce a crushing obligation | 171 |
| Liability for harm (tort) | Any fault that harms another must be compensated, including actual loss, lost profit and moral harm | 199, 201 and 202 |
| Unjust enrichment | Anyone enriched without lawful cause at another's expense compensates them, up to the enrichment | 220 |
| Sale | The seller must transfer ownership of a thing or financial right to the buyer for a money price | 419 |
| Lease | The tenant gets the use of a specific thing for a limited period for payment; the lease ends with its term, without notice | 582 and 625 |
| Agency (power of attorney) | A general agency covers only acts of administration; sale, gifts and settlement need a special agency; the principal may end it at any time unless it serves the agent or a third party | 716, 719, 721 and 735 |
In a sale of real estate, the obligation transfers ownership subject to the registration rules (Article 246). Rights in real estate do not arise or pass without registration, even between the parties (Law No. 5 of 2024, Article 4).
For homes and shops, the leasing law has its own rules. If a tenant stays on after the term without the landlord objecting, it renews the lease for a like period on the same terms (Article 15), where the Civil Code would renew it for an indefinite period (Article 626). So start with the leasing law; see the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee.
Before you sign, see the clauses to check in a contract; before giving a power of attorney, see its risks.
What are the limitation periods in the Qatar Civil Code?
Once a limitation period has run, a claim cannot be heard if the debtor relies on it. The court does not raise it on its own (Article 417), and parties cannot agree a different period (Article 418).
| Type of claim | Period | Article |
|---|---|---|
| General rule for personal rights | 15 years | 403 |
| Periodic rights such as rent, salaries and pensions | 5 years | 404 |
| Fees of doctors, lawyers, engineers and other liberal professions | 5 years | 405 |
| Traders' and craftsmen's claims for goods supplied to non-traders; hotel and restaurant bills | 1 year | 407 |
| Compensation for a wrongful act | 3 years from learning of the harm and who is liable, or 15 years from the act, whichever ends first | 219 |
| Unjust enrichment and money paid when not owed | 3 years from learning of the right, or 15 years from when it arose, whichever ends first | 221 and 228 |
| Annulling a contract | 3 years from when the cause ends; 15 years from the contract in every case | 161 |
| Defects in goods sold | 1 year from delivery, unless the seller deliberately hid the defect | 462 |
The period usually runs from the day the debt falls due (Article 410). A court claim or the debtor's acknowledgment, among other acts, interrupts it, and a new period of the same length starts (Articles 413 to 415). A compensation claim arising from a crime does not lapse while the criminal case is alive (Article 219).
Special laws have their own periods: ten years for obligations between traders (Commercial Law, Article 87) and one year from the end of the contract for workers' claims (Labour Law, Article 10). For debts, see recovering money owed to you.
Has the Qatar Civil Code been amended?
Al Meezan lists no law amending the Civil Code as of 19 October 2026; every article keeps its 2004 wording. Related laws have changed:
| Law | What changed | Effect in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Law No. 5 of 2024 on real estate registration | Repealed the 1964 law (Article 54); rights in real estate arise and pass only on registration (Article 4) | Ownership of property sold does not pass without registration |
| The same law | Rules on gaining ownership by long possession do not apply to registered real estate (Article 3) | Long possession does not give ownership of registered property |
| Law No. 8 of 2026 amending the leasing law | The Rental Disputes Settlement Committee alone hears lease disputes, including excluded categories, before any court (Article 22) | Excluded leases, such as agricultural land or hotel units, also go to the committee |
| Law No. 4 of 2024 issuing the Judicial Enforcement Law | New rules for enforcing judgments | Civil judgments are enforced under it |
Where can you read the official text of the Qatar Civil Code?
The official Arabic text is on Al Meezan (almeezan.qa), Qatar's legal portal, article by article, with a copy of the Official Gazette issue it appeared in.
1. Search almeezan.qa for «القانون المدني», "Civil Code" or Law No. 22 of 2004.
2. Check that its status shows it is in force.
3. Use the table of contents to reach the part you need, such as Articles 403 to 418 for limitation.
4. Download the Official Gazette copy if you need the text as published.
Al Meezan also shows an English translation. But Qatar's laws are drafted in Arabic, and translations may be issued (Law No. 7 of 2019, Article 3). Rely on the Arabic text and use the translation to understand it.
When should you speak to a lawyer?
These situations are worth a legal review:
- - A limitation period may be running out, such as nearly three years since you learned of harm.
- - You signed a contract and believe your consent came from a mistake, fraud or pressure.
- - You are not sure whether the Civil Code, the Commercial Law or the leasing law governs your matter.
- - You face a compensation claim, or want to know if you can make one.
- - An agent acted beyond the power of attorney you gave, or you want to limit or end one.
- - You signed a property sale or paid the price, and the sale is not yet registered.
What the law says
This guide relies on the Civil Code issued by Law No. 22 of 2004, in particular Articles 1, 49, 50, 52, 64, 72, 91, 130, 134, 137, 140, 161, 163, 171, 199, 201, 202, 219 to 221, 228, 246, 403 to 418, 419, 462, 582, 625, 626, 716, 719, 721, 735 and 973. It also relies on Articles 2 and 87 of the Commercial Law, Article 10 of the Labour Law, Articles 15 and 22 of the leasing law as amended by Law No. 8 of 2026, and Articles 3, 4 and 54 of Law No. 5 of 2024 on real estate registration. Texts checked on Al Meezan on 19 October 2026.
Read on Al MeezanQuestions people ask
Law No. 22 of 2004 issuing the Civil Code, published in the Official Gazette on 8 August 2004. It has 1,186 articles.
Al Meezan shows no amendment as of 19 October 2026. Related laws have changed, including the real estate registration law (Law No. 5 of 2024) and the leasing law, amended by Law No. 8 of 2026.
The general rule is 15 years (Article 403), 5 years for periodic rights such as rent and salaries (Article 404), and 3 years for a compensation claim from when the victim learns of the harm and who is liable (Article 219).
18 full years under the Civil Code (Article 49). On request, a judge may declare a minor of 17 able to manage their property if they have shown sound judgment (Law No. 40 of 2004, Article 3).
On Al Meezan, article by article, with a copy of the Official Gazette issue it was published in. The English version is a translation, so rely on the Arabic text.
This guide is general information about Qatari law, not advice on your case.
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