Qatar’s New Hiring Law Prioritises Locals: What Employers and Expats Must Know

In a major step towards worker nationalisation, Qatar’s new Law No. 12 of 2024, which is effective from April 2025, now requires private employers to treat Qatari citizens and children of Qatari women as priority to hiring. The employers need to demonstrate that they could not find suitable local candidates before permitting hiring of expatriates. Vacancies are also required to be posted to the national job boards like Kawader and Ouqoul before hiring expatriates.

The law covers sectors including tourism, IT, healthcare, finance, logistics and education. It requires employers to keep a record of the recruitment process, file a biannual hiring plan and comply with government compliant localisation quotas.

Compliance Expectations for Employers

In cases of non-compliance, fines can range up to QAR 100,000, delays with visas, and litigation. The HR team needs to ensure that job descriptions, qualifications and regulatory requirements are 100% aligned. Recruitment audits will become routine in the future, thus compliance will be a continuous responsibility not a once and for all service.

Implications for Expatriates

The legislation does not eliminate expatriates, there is still a need for foreign talent in specialised roles, however mid-level roles will be open to stiffer local competition. Expatriates will need to adjust through skills development and niche expertise. Companies now have the additional requirement that they now need documentation of due diligence for every expatriate.