Which court in Qatar hears your case? How Qatar's courts and committees are organised

How are Qatar's courts organised?

Qatar's judiciary is independent, and the Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) oversees the courts (Constitution, Articles 130 and 137). There are three levels: the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation (Judicial Authority Law, Law No. 8 of 2023, Article 4; it replaced Law No. 10 of 2003).

The President of the Court of Cassation chairs the SJC, whose members include the heads of the Court of Appeal, the Investment and Trade Court and the Court of First Instance, and senior deputies (Article 25). It sets up the courts' circuits and advises on appointing judges (Articles 13, 14 and 26).

Judgments are issued in the Emir's name, and courts may not rule on acts of sovereignty or nationality (Articles 16 and 19). The Supreme Constitutional Court is independent, with a president and six members, and is not a level of appeal (Articles 1 and 2 of its law).

Which circuit hears your case, and where does an appeal go?

First-instance circuits include hudud and qisas, criminal, civil, family and inheritance, and administrative circuits (Article 14). A case's type and value decide its circuit and appeal route:

Judgments on child visitation, travel, housing and custody fees cannot be appealed (Civil and Commercial Procedure Law, Article 24). Amiri decrees and decisions on expatriates' entry, residence and deportation are outside the administrative circuit, and cancellation claims are due within 60 days (Law No. 7 of 2007, Articles 3 and 6).

Commercial contracts, partner disputes and the other matters in Article 7 of Law No. 21 of 2021 go to the Investment and Trade Court; appeals are due within 15 days of notice (Article 11).

The Court of Cassation reviews the law, not the facts, and its General Panel's rulings bind all courts (Judicial Authority Law, Article 9). See appealing to the Court of Cassation.

What do the Public Prosecution and the Enforcement Court do?

The Public Prosecution is an independent judicial body headed by the Attorney General (Public Prosecution Law, Law No. 9 of 2023, Articles 1 and 2). It alone brings criminal cases: it investigates, refers cases to court, and appeals and enforces judgments (Criminal Procedure Code, Article 1; Article 8 of its law).

So a report starts with the police or the prosecution and reaches court only on referral. Some offences, such as a cheque without funds, need the victim's complaint (Criminal Procedure Code, Article 3). Reports can be followed on the prosecution's e-services portal.

The Enforcement Court sits within the SJC and, since 19 November 2024, alone decides enforcement requests and disputes (Judicial Enforcement Law, Law No. 4 of 2024, Articles 2 and 3).

Enforcement requests and objections are filed on the SJC e-services portal. See enforcing a judgment in Qatar.

Which disputes start at a committee or the QFC Court?

The courts will not hear labour or rental disputes until a committee chaired by a Court of First Instance judge has ruled:

• Labour: the Ministry of Labour tries to settle within seven days, then the Labour Dispute Settlement Committee rules within three weeks of its first hearing. Its decision is enforceable at once; appeal to the Court of Appeal within 15 days (Labour Law, Articles 115 bis to 115 bis 7). See the labour court in Qatar.
• Rental: the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee at the Ministry of Municipality alone decides landlord-tenant disputes; appeal to the Court of Appeal within 15 days (Law No. 4 of 2008, Articles 21, 22 and 24, as amended by Law No. 8 of 2026). See the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee.

The QFC Civil and Commercial Court, often called the Qatar International Court (QICDRC), hears disputes among QFC entities or with QFC bodies, and their disputes with employees and onshore parties unless agreed otherwise (QFC Law, Article 8). See the Qatar International Court.

No one can file a constitutional case directly. If a party argues that a provision is unconstitutional and the court finds the plea serious, it pauses the case and allows up to 60 days to file at the Supreme Constitutional Court, through a lawyer admitted before the Court of Cassation (Law No. 12 of 2008, Articles 13 and 18). Its rulings are final and binding (Article 27).

Where does your problem go first, and where is the appeal?

Common problems usually start and are appealed as follows, though details vary by case.

If a case appears that you can't explain, start by checking it online. For divorce and custody, see the Family Court in Qatar.

What language do the courts use, and how do you follow a case online?

Arabic is the language of the courts; a court may hear a party or witness through a sworn interpreter (Judicial Authority Law, Article 18; Procedure Law, Article 68). In criminal investigations, the prosecutor appoints an interpreter for statements and non-Arabic documents (Criminal Procedure Code, Article 72).

The Investment and Trade Court asks for Arabic translations of foreign documents (Article 17 of its law). The QFC Court usually works in English, and Arabic is allowed (Article 3.1 of its Rules). Have foreign contracts and documents translated into Arabic early.

Electronic trials are allowed (Judicial Authority Law, Article 17), and SJC Decision No. 9 of 2026 sets rules for video and virtual hearings in designated circuits.

When should you speak to a lawyer?

Speak to a lawyer if you can't tell whether your dispute belongs to a committee, a specialised court or the ordinary courts, because filing in the wrong place can delay it. Other signs:

• A judgment or committee decision went against you and the appeal period is running.
• You're considering cassation or a constitutional plea; both need a lawyer admitted before the Court of Cassation.
• You've received an Enforcement Court notice; objections are due within ten working days.
• Your documents are in another language, or you're following the case from abroad.

Questions people ask