Urgent court orders in Qatar: how do you stop a debtor leaving, freeze assets or preserve evidence?

Who decides an urgent request in Qatar?

In Qatar, urgent requests in civil and commercial disputes go to the urgent matters judge, who rules provisionally, without prejudice to the right itself, on urgent matters that could be harmed by the passage of time (Civil and Commercial Procedure Law, Article 26).

That judge belongs to the court that would hear the dispute, and the court already hearing a case may also decide urgent requests raised in it (Article 26). For disputes before the Investment and Trade Court, its president chooses judges for urgent matters, petition orders and interim orders (Law No. 21 of 2021, Article 9). Holders of an enforceable instrument go to the Enforcement Court, which alone handles enforcement requests and the disputes about them (Judicial Enforcement Law, Article 3).

What must you show the judge, and what can an urgent order not do?

To get an urgent order, you must show that the matter is urgent and could be harmed by the passage of time, and the judge decides it only provisionally, without settling who is right (Procedure Law Article 26; Investment and Trade Court Law Article 9).

• Urgency: a matter that could be harmed by the passage of time (Article 26).
• Interest: a potential interest is enough to prevent imminent harm, or to secure proof of a right where that proof may be lost (Article 1).
• For a custodian: property in dispute, or a right not yet settled, and reasonable grounds to fear urgent danger if it stays with whoever holds it (Article 27).
• For enforcement measures: an enforceable instrument for a right that is certain, fixed and due (Judicial Enforcement Law Article 5); for a travel ban, serious reasons to fear flight or the smuggling of assets (Article 39).

The Court of Cassation has described judicial custody as a temporary measure born of necessity, and it upheld a ruling that read the documents only on their face to judge how serious the dispute was. The merits are decided later by the court hearing the case.

A petition order lapses if it is not presented for enforcement within 30 days of issue, though a new one may be sought (Article 146). A defendant harmed by a claim, or by a step in it, may claim compensation in the same case (Article 81). Enforcement measures end once the amount due is paid (Judicial Enforcement Law Article 37).

How fast does the law say an urgent request is decided?

Qatar's procedure law sets short periods for urgent matters; they are statutory periods, not a forecast of how long a request will take.

The Investment and Trade Court takes petition order and interim order requests through its electronic system (Article 13). The Mediation Law does not apply to urgent and interim claims (Law No. 20 of 2021, Article 3).

Can you stop a debtor leaving or freeze their assets before a judgment?

Since the 2024 Judicial Enforcement Law came into force, the clearest routes to attach a debtor's assets or ban their travel are open to creditors who already hold an enforceable instrument, such as a judgment, a cheque or a notarised settlement.

That law repealed Book Three of the Procedure Law, including its chapters on precautionary attachment of movables and on banning a debtor from travel (Articles 398 to 407; issuing Article 4 of Law No. 4 of 2024). The routes in force are:

• Enforceable instrument: the enforcement judge may trace and attach assets as a precaution before the debtor is notified, and after notice may ban travel, among other measures (Judicial Enforcement Law Articles 6, 36 and 39).
• Judgment still open to appeal: suitable precautionary measures may be taken on it (Article 8). See enforcing a judgment in Qatar.
• Pending case: the claimant may ask for a precautionary or interim measure as an incidental request (Procedure Law Article 80).
• Arbitration clause: the enforcement judge, as the Arbitration Law's competent judge, may order interim measures, including preserving assets, if the tribunal cannot act effectively in time (Arbitration Law Articles 1, 9 and 17).
• Criminal case: the Attorney General or the trial court may bar an accused from leaving Qatar where the investigation or trial requires it, for six months unless renewed (Criminal Procedure Code Article 133).

The Supreme Judiciary Council's e-services still list a "Request for Travel Ban / Petition Order". But neither the Procedure Law nor the Judicial Enforcement Law now sets conditions for a creditor's travel ban outside an enforcement file, so check current practice before relying on this route.

An enforcement judge's travel ban is cancelled on compliance, payment, deposit with the court or adequate security, or for strong reasons the judge accepts (Article 40). See travel bans in Qatar, frozen bank accounts and recovering a debt.

How do you preserve evidence or protect disputed property?

Qatar's procedure law lets anyone who fears losing proof of a fact ask a judge to act before a case is filed, and it lets disputed property be placed under judicial custody.

• Recording the state of affairs: the urgent matters judge may inspect a fact likely to be disputed, in the presence of those concerned (Article 331), or send an expert to inspect and hear witnesses without oath, followed by a hearing for the parties' comments on the report (Article 332).
• Hearing a witness early: where necessary, the judge of interim matters may hear a witness on a matter not yet before the courts, at the applicant's cost. The record is used only if the trial court allows proof by witnesses (Article 297).
• Judicial custody: disputed movables, real estate or a group of assets can be placed with a custodian chosen by all concerned or, failing agreement, by the judge (Article 27). Unless the order says otherwise, the custodian keeps and manages them, needs everyone's consent or the court's permission for anything beyond administration, and accounts with documents (Article 28).

The Investment and Trade Court has held that a stand-alone request to record the state of affairs belongs to the urgent matters judge, and quoted the Court of Cassation that the expert's report in it does not bind the judge who later decides the dispute. For custody in company disputes, see partner disputes.

Can an urgent order be challenged?

Yes: urgent judgments, petition orders and the enforcement judge's orders can each be challenged, but the periods are short and some rulings on the challenge are final.

When should you speak to a lawyer?

Urgent measures turn on short periods and the right choice of judge. Signs it is worth getting advice early:

• You fear a debtor will leave Qatar or move assets, and you do not yet hold a judgment or cheque.
• You hold a cheque or judgment and want to know which enforcement measures apply.
• Property, a company or its income is in dispute, and you fear it will be lost or squandered.
• Defective works or damaged goods may soon change.
• An urgent order or travel ban has been made against you, and the short challenge periods may be running.
• Your contract has an arbitration clause and you need interim protection.

Questions people ask