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Where the world's largest LNG exporter meets a post-FIFA 2022 infrastructure boom — advising at the intersection of energy law, construction, and Qatari commercial practice.
Qatar exports more LNG than any country on earth, and the North Field Expansion will increase that capacity by 64% — making it the largest energy project currently under construction globally. TotalEnergies, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Eni, and ExxonMobil are all partners. The EPC contracting, joint venture structuring, and project finance flowing from this single programme would sustain a legal practice on its own. Add the post-FIFA infrastructure buildout — Lusail City, Hamad International Airport expansion, Doha Metro extensions — and Qatar is one of the most consequential markets in the Gulf for construction, energy, and corporate law.
GSDA's Doha team operates across both onshore Qatari law and the QFC common-law framework — the same dual-jurisdiction capability we deliver in Dubai. For clients with operations spanning both systems, that matters. When an LNG contractor's dispute involves a QFC-registered finance vehicle and an onshore construction contract, our team handles both sides without the jurisdictional blind spots that arise when counsel is qualified in only one system. Our Paris connection is especially relevant here: TotalEnergies, Vinci, and Bouygues are major participants in Qatar's economy, and our dual presence enables coordinated legal strategy that spans Doha and Paris.
Office Details
Industries we serve
Qatar is the world's largest LNG exporter, and the North Field Expansion project — with TotalEnergies, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Eni, and ExxonMobil as partners — is the largest energy project currently under construction globally. We advise on EPC contracts, joint venture agreements, offtake arrangements, project finance, and the regulatory framework governing Qatar Energy's partner and contractor relationships.
Qatar's post-FIFA 2022 construction pipeline remains substantial — Lusail City buildout, Hamad International Airport expansion, Doha Metro extensions, and new hospitality and mixed-use developments. We advise on FIDIC contracts, procurement compliance, delay and defect claims, and arbitration proceedings arising from the country's infrastructure programme.
Qatar's banking sector — anchored by QNB (the largest bank in the Middle East and Africa by assets), Qatar Islamic Bank, and the QFC-based financial services firms — generates demand for regulatory advisory, Islamic finance structuring, fund formation, and capital markets work on the Qatar Stock Exchange.
Qatar's foreign ownership rules require local partnership for most onshore commercial activities (the minimum Qatari ownership requirement has been relaxed in certain sectors). We advise on company formation, joint venture structuring, shareholder agreements, and the QFC licensing process for entities seeking to operate within the QFC framework.
The Pearl-Qatar, Lusail City, and the World Cup stadium legacy developments drive a maturing real estate market. We advise on property acquisitions (in designated foreign ownership zones), development agreements, hotel management contracts, and the regulatory framework governing the Ministry of Municipality and Real Estate Registration Department.
Qatar's National Vision 2030 includes a digital transformation agenda — smart city infrastructure, the Qatar Science and Technology Park, and the emerging data protection regulatory framework (Qatar's Personal Data Privacy Protection Law). We advise technology companies on licensing, data compliance, and procurement contracts for government digitisation programmes.
We advise international energy companies, EPC contractors, and service providers on the legal aspects of Qatar's North Field Expansion — covering EPC contract negotiation, joint venture structuring, subcontracting, claims management, and dispute resolution under Qatari law and international arbitration rules.
Our Doha team operates across both onshore Qatari law and the QFC common-law jurisdiction — handling corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution in both frameworks and managing the jurisdictional interfaces that frequently arise in cross-system transactions.
We represent contractors, subcontractors, and employers in construction disputes arising from Qatar's infrastructure programme — delay claims, variation disputes, payment recovery, and defect proceedings — in QICCA arbitration, QICDRC proceedings, and the Qatari courts.
We advise QIA and other Qatari investors on international acquisitions coordinated with our Paris and Dubai offices, and we advise international companies on inbound investment — navigating foreign ownership restrictions, MOCI licensing, and QFC regulatory requirements.
We advise on murabaha, ijara, and sukuk — serving Qatar's Islamic banking sector and international financial institutions structuring Sharia-compliant products for Qatari counterparties and the Qatar Stock Exchange.
Qatar's Labour Law reforms — including the abolition of the kafala system and the introduction of a minimum wage — have reshaped employment practice. We advise on compliant contracts, workforce restructurings, end-of-service disputes, and QFC employment regimes.
We work with contractors from day one on claims strategy — contemporaneous records, variation notices, extension of time applications, and cost claims — so that when a dispute crystallises, the evidentiary foundation is already in place for arbitration or court proceedings.
Qatar's LNG offtake agreements are among the most complex in the global energy market. We advise on long-term supply contracts, spot and short-term trading arrangements, pricing mechanisms, and the force majeure and change-in-law provisions that allocate risk in these high-value agreements.
We advise on QFC entity formation, QFCRA regulatory compliance, fund structuring, and the corporate governance framework — including the specific considerations for financial services firms, holding companies, and professional services entities operating within the QFC.
The Pearl-Qatar, Lusail City, and World Cup stadium legacy developments drive a maturing real estate market. We advise on property acquisitions in designated foreign ownership zones, development agreements, hotel management contracts, and the Ministry of Municipality regulatory framework.
Qatar's government procurement framework governs a significant share of the construction and services market. We advise international companies on tender compliance, government contract terms, variation and claims procedures, and the Administrative Courts jurisdiction that applies to government entity disputes.
Qatar's National Vision 2030 digital transformation — smart city infrastructure, the Qatar Science and Technology Park, and the emerging data protection framework — creates demand for technology licensing, data compliance, and procurement contracts for government digitisation programmes.
Regulatory environment
Qatar's onshore legal system is based on civil-law principles, with the Civil Code, Commercial Companies Law, and Labour Law forming the primary statutory framework. The Qatari judiciary comprises the Courts of First Instance, the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Cassation, with proceedings conducted in Arabic. Commercial disputes involving government entities are subject to the jurisdiction of the Administrative Courts. The Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) administers domestic arbitration proceedings.
The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) operates as a legally distinct common-law jurisdiction. Companies registered in the QFC are governed by QFC law, which is drafted in English and based on English common-law principles. The QFC Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) regulates financial services, while the QFC Civil and Commercial Court (part of the QICDRC) adjudicates disputes involving QFC entities. The QICDRC also offers international arbitration services. GSDA's Doha team advises across both the onshore and QFC systems — a dual capability that, as in Dubai, is essential for clients with operations spanning both jurisdictions.
Key regulatory bodies include the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) for banking and insurance regulation, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) for the Qatar Stock Exchange, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) for company registration and trade licensing, and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) for government construction procurement. The Qatar Energy regulatory framework governs all upstream and downstream hydrocarbon operations, with Qatar Energy (formerly Qatar Petroleum) operating as both the national oil company and the de facto regulator for the energy sector.
The GSDA advantage
Direct access to the world's largest LNG market and the contractors, investors, and financial institutions active in Qatar Energy's North Field Expansion and related projects.
Dual-jurisdiction capability across onshore Qatari law and the QFC common-law framework — essential for the many transactions that involve entities, contracts, or assets in both systems.
Paris-Doha corridor expertise: TotalEnergies, Vinci, Bouygues, and other French companies are major participants in Qatar's energy and construction sectors — our dual presence enables integrated legal support.
Post-FIFA infrastructure expertise: deep knowledge of Qatari construction procurement, FIDIC contracting, and the dispute resolution mechanisms that govern the country's ongoing infrastructure programme.
Trilingual team in Arabic, English, and French — serving Qatar's international business community, government entities, and the significant French corporate presence in the country.
Qatar's LNG expansion is the most complex energy project we've been involved in. GSDA's Doha team understood both the Qatari regulatory environment and the FIDIC contracting framework — critical for managing risk on a project of this scale.
General Counsel, International Energy Services Company
Our Doha office advises on energy and LNG contracts, construction and infrastructure, banking and finance, corporate structuring, real estate, technology regulation, and dispute resolution — under both onshore Qatari law and the QFC common-law framework. We serve energy companies, EPC contractors, financial institutions, and corporate clients operating in Qatar.
Energy and LNG advisory is a core capability of our Doha practice. We advise on EPC contracts, joint venture agreements, offtake arrangements, and service contracts related to Qatar's North Field Expansion — the world's largest LNG project. We also handle construction claims and disputes arising from energy infrastructure projects.
Yes. We advise on QFC entity formation, QFCRA regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution before the QFC Civil and Commercial Court (QICDRC). For clients with both onshore and QFC operations, we manage the interaction between the two systems to ensure consistent corporate governance and regulatory compliance.
We represent clients before the Qatari courts (Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal) and in arbitration proceedings under QICCA and QICDRC rules. For international disputes, we also handle proceedings under ICC, LCIA, and ad hoc rules where the seat or subject matter involves Qatar.
Our Paris headquarters provides the European connection essential for the significant French and European commercial presence in Qatar. TotalEnergies, Vinci, Bouygues, and other French companies are major participants in Qatar's economy. We coordinate cross-border legal strategy for transactions and disputes spanning Qatar and Europe.
Construction dispute resolution is a core strength. Qatar's massive infrastructure programme generates complex claims involving delay, disruption, variation, and defects. We represent contractors, subcontractors, and project owners in QICCA arbitration, QICDRC proceedings, and the Qatari courts.
We advise international companies on the MOCI licensing process, foreign ownership structures (including the sectors where 100% foreign ownership is permitted), joint venture arrangements with Qatari partners, and the QFC licensing alternative. We also advise Qatari entities, including QIA, on outbound investment transactions.
Our Doha team operates in Arabic, English, and French. Arabic is essential for onshore court proceedings and government regulatory filings. English is the primary language for QFC matters and international commercial transactions. French serves our TotalEnergies, Vinci, and other French and Francophone clients operating in Qatar.
