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What role does Sharia play in Qatar's legal system?
Faysel Al-MohannadiLawyer admitted before the Court of Cassation · Reviewed on
Short answer
Qatar's Constitution makes Islamic Sharia a main source of legislation (Article 1). In practice, courts decide most matters under written laws such as the Civil Code, the Commercial Law, the Labour Law and the Penal Code. Sharia applies most directly to family and inheritance, through the Family Law, and to the offences listed in Article 1 of the Penal Code.
What does Qatar's Constitution say about Sharia?
Article 1 of the Permanent Constitution of Qatar reads: "Qatar is an independent, sovereign Arab state. Its religion is Islam, and Islamic Sharia is a main source of its legislation. Its system is democratic, based on consultation (shura), justice and the rule of law. Its official language is Arabic. The people of Qatar are part of the Arab nation." The Constitution was issued in 2004 and came into force in June 2005.
The text says "a main source", not "the main source". The explanatory memorandum to the Constitution records that both wordings were debated, and that all agreed no law may be issued in Qatar that contradicts the principles of Sharia that are definitive in both authenticity and meaning.
Article 1 was amended in 2024, with effect from 6 November 2024. The explanatory memorandum to the amendments says the change left Sharia's place as a main source untouched and only added that the democratic system rests on shura, justice and the rule of law.
Other relevant articles of the Constitution:
| Article | What it says |
|---|---|
| 21 | The family is the basis of society, founded on religion, morals and love of the homeland |
| 35 | People are equal before the law, with no discrimination on grounds of sex, origin, language or religion |
| 50 | Freedom of worship is assured for all, subject to the law, public order and public morals |
| 51 | The right of inheritance is protected and governed by Islamic Sharia |
| 130 and 131 | The judiciary is independent; courts rule according to the law, and judges answer to no authority but the law |
How does Sharia fit with Qatar's written laws?
Qatar's legal system is codified, in the civil-law tradition: written laws govern every matter their wording or meaning covers. Where there is no legislative text, the judge rules according to Islamic Sharia, failing that according to custom, and failing that according to the rules of justice (Civil Code, Article 1).
| Area | Main law | What the judge applies |
|---|---|---|
| Civil matters and contracts | Civil Code, Law No. 22 of 2004 | The legislative text, then Sharia, custom and the rules of justice, in that order (Article 1) |
| Commerce | Commercial Law, Law No. 27 of 2006 | The laws on commercial matters, then commercial custom, then the Civil Code (Article 2) |
| Family and inheritance | Family Law, Law No. 22 of 2006 | The Family Law; where it is silent, the prevailing Hanbali opinion, then the opinions of the four schools, then the general rules of Islamic jurisprudence (Article 3) |
| Crimes and penalties | Penal Code, Law No. 11 of 2004 | Sharia rules for the offences listed in Article 1; the Penal Code and other laws for everything else |
Employment follows the Labour Law, Law No. 14 of 2004, as amended, which our guide to Qatar's Labour Law explains.
Where does Sharia apply most directly?
Sharia is most visible in three areas: the family, inheritance and a defined group of offences.
In family and personal status matters, the Family Law applies to those governed by the Hanbali school, and others follow their own rules. Non-Muslims' family matters follow their own rules, but the Family Law applies in every case where the parties ask for it or differ in religion or school (Article 4). These cases go to the Family Court; see also our guides to marriage contracts and divorce for residents.
In inheritance, the Constitution places the right of inheritance under Sharia (Article 51), and the Civil Code applies Sharia and the laws issued under it to the heirs, their shares and the passing of the estate (Article 973). The Family Law sets the shares in its Book Five and provides that people of different religions do not inherit from each other (Article 248). See our guide to inheritance in Qatar.
In criminal law, Article 1 of the Penal Code applies Sharia rules to the following offences where the accused or the victim is Muslim:
- Hadd offences relating to theft, hirabah (armed robbery), zina (unlawful sexual relations), qadhf (false accusation of zina), drinking alcohol and apostasy.
- Offences of qisas (retribution) and diya (blood money).
All other crimes and penalties are set by the Penal Code and other laws. The Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal have circuits for hudud and qisas cases alongside their criminal circuits (Judicial Authority Law, Articles 13 and 14). See our guide to the stages of a criminal case.
How are Qatar's courts organised?
Qatar once had two court systems: Sharia courts and civil ("adli") courts. The Judicial Authority Law, Law No. 10 of 2003, merged them from 2004 and moved pending cases to the new circuits (Article 77). Law No. 8 of 2023 repealed and replaced it, keeping three levels: the Court of Cassation, the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance (Article 4).
| Court | What it hears | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Court of First Instance | Hudud and qisas, criminal, civil, family and inheritance, administrative and other circuits | Judicial Authority Law, Article 14 |
| Court of Appeal | Appeals in the same areas | Judicial Authority Law, Article 13 |
| Court of Cassation | Cassation challenges as the law provides; its General Panel's rulings bind all courts | Judicial Authority Law, Articles 7 and 9 |
| Family Court | Family and inheritance circuits of the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal | Family Law, issuing Article 2 |
| Investment and Trade Court | Listed commercial disputes, such as commercial contracts, company disputes and non-Qatari investment | Law No. 21 of 2021, Articles 4 and 7 |
| QFC Civil and Commercial Court | Disputes involving Qatar Financial Centre entities, at first instance and on appeal | QFC Law, Law No. 7 of 2005, Article 8 |
| Supreme Constitutional Court | Disputes over the constitutionality of laws and regulations | Law No. 12 of 2008, Article 12 |
Arabic is the language of the courts; anyone who does not speak it can be heard through a sworn interpreter (Judicial Authority Law, Article 18). Before taking office, every judge swears to judge with justice and to respect "Islamic Sharia, the Constitution and the laws of the country" (Article 40).
The QFC court works under the QFC's own rules. QFC laws and regulations govern QFC entities' contracts and dealings, including with parties elsewhere in Qatar, unless the parties agree otherwise, while Qatar's criminal laws still apply there (QFC Law, Article 18). The Qatar International Court says its judges come from systems combining civil-law and common-law principles.
Where can you read Qatar's laws?
Al Meezan (almeezan.qa), the Ministry of Justice's legal portal, publishes Qatar's legislation and its amendments. Laws take effect through the Official Gazette, which the Ministry says gives texts their binding force and legal authority.
Qatar's legislation is drafted in Arabic, and translations may be issued (Law No. 7 of 2019 on the Protection of the Arabic Language, Article 3). Al Meezan marks some English versions as "Machine Translated", so rely on the Arabic text.
Search Al Meezan by the law's number and year, for example "Law No. 22 of 2006".
Check its status ("In Force" or "Repealed") and whether a newer law replaced it.
Open the article and check whether it is marked "Amended" and when the current text took effect.
Read the Arabic text; use a translation or explanatory memorandum, where there is one, only as an aid.
What does this mean for expatriates and foreign businesses?
- Everyone who lives in or enters Qatar must respect the Constitution, obey the law and observe public order and public morals (Constitution, Article 57), and the Penal Code applies to offences committed in Qatar (Penal Code, Article 13).
- In family matters, the applicable law depends on religion and school, and nationality can matter too (Family Law, Article 4; Civil Code, Article 17). Check it before a marriage, divorce or custody case.
- In inheritance, the Civil Code points to the law of the deceased's nationality at death (Article 23), but a foreign rule contrary to public order or morals in Qatar is not applied (Article 38). How these rules sit with the Family Law depends on the case.
- In contracts, "the contract is the law of the parties" (Civil Code, Article 171). The parties may agree on the governing law, but contracts about real estate follow the law of the place where the property is (Article 27). Qatari courts work in Arabic, so expect to provide Arabic translations of your contracts and documents. See our guide to reviewing a contract before you sign.
When should you speak to a lawyer?
Early legal advice can help when:
- You and your spouse differ in nationality or religion, or married abroad, and are unsure which law governs your marriage or divorce.
- A relative has died leaving assets in Qatar, and the heirs differ in religion or nationality.
- You are negotiating a contract and want to choose the governing law or the competent court, including the QFC court.
- You have received a summons from the police or the Public Prosecution.
- You are relying on an English translation of a law and need to confirm the Arabic text in force.
What the law says
This guide relies on the Permanent Constitution of Qatar (Article 1 as amended in 2024, and Articles 21, 35, 50, 51, 57, 130 and 131), the explanatory memoranda to the Constitution and to the 2024 amendments, the Judicial Authority Law, Law No. 8 of 2023 (Articles 4, 7, 9, 13, 14, 18 and 40), and Article 77 of the repealed Law No. 10 of 2003. It also relies on the Family Law, Law No. 22 of 2006 (issuing Article 2 and Articles 3, 4 and 248), the Civil Code, Law No. 22 of 2004 (Articles 1, 17, 23, 27, 38, 171 and 973), the Penal Code, Law No. 11 of 2004 (Articles 1 and 13), the Commercial Law, Law No. 27 of 2006 (Article 2), the QFC Law, Law No. 7 of 2005 (Articles 8 and 18, as amended up to Law No. 16 of 2024), Law No. 21 of 2021 establishing the Investment and Trade Court (Articles 4 and 7), Law No. 12 of 2008 establishing the Supreme Constitutional Court (Article 12) and Law No. 7 of 2019 on the Protection of the Arabic Language (Article 3). The texts were checked on Al Meezan on 19 October 2026.
Read on Al MeezanQuestions people ask
Yes, in the sense that the Constitution makes Islamic Sharia a main source of legislation (Article 1). Most matters are decided under written laws, and Sharia applies most directly to family and inheritance matters and to the offences listed in Article 1 of the Penal Code, where the accused or the victim is Muslim.
In family matters, non-Muslims follow their own rules unless they ask for the Family Law or the parties differ in religion (Family Law, Article 4). Article 1 of the Penal Code applies where the accused or the victim is Muslim, and the rest of the Penal Code applies to everyone who commits an offence in Qatar.
No. The Judicial Authority Law of 2003 merged the Sharia and civil courts into one court system, which took effect in 2004. Family and inheritance cases now go to the Family Court circuits of the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal.
Qatar's legislation is drafted in Arabic, and translations may be issued (Law No. 7 of 2019, Article 3). Rely on the Arabic text and use a translation only as an aid.
QFC laws and regulations govern the contracts and dealings of entities established in the QFC, unless the parties agree otherwise (QFC Law, Article 18). Qatar's criminal laws still apply in the QFC.
This guide is general information about Qatari law, not advice on your case.
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