MOCI’s Permitted Activities Guide for Foreign Ownership lists 823 activities allowed for 100% foreign ownership and 62 marked Not Allowed. Most of the list is manufacturing: 585 activities. Wholesale and retail trade has 93, followed by health, education and social services with 29.
The MOCI guide gives the categories, counts and activity codes. The full list is in the 196-page MOCI PDF. MOCI still reviews the activity, commercial registration and trade licence; “Allowed” is not an automatic approval.
The guide is the October 2025, v3h edition hosted under MOCI’s June 2026 file path. The guide is not a June 2026 rule change.
1,200 Activities or 823? Which MOCI List Applies
MOCI’s 2025 Business Activities Guide for Non-Qatari Investment lists about 1,200 activities eligible for foreign investment. The October 2025 foreign ownership guide is narrower: 885 activity codes, 823 allowed for 100% ownership and 62 not allowed. The 1,200 headline is not a 100% ownership count.
Check the activity code in the foreign ownership guide. The code, not the rounded 1,200 headline, decides the ownership status.
823 Allowed Activities by Category
MOCI allows 823 activities for 100% foreign ownership. Manufacturing accounts for 585, wholesale and retail trade 93, and health, education and social services 29.
Sample 100% Ownership Activities
MOCI marks each example in this table as Allowed. The table shows a sample; the full 823-row list is available on request.
| Category | Activity | Code | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food and beverage | Production of fresh poultry, rabbit and bird meat | 101021 | Allowed |
| Food and beverage | Manufacture of traditional bread | 107110 | Allowed |
| Food and beverage | Other bakery products | 107190 | Allowed |
| Machinery | Air compressors and gas compressors | 281310 | Allowed |
| Machinery | Machinery for the paper industry | 282910 | Allowed |
| Other manufacturing | Processed pearls | 321111 | Allowed |
| Other manufacturing | Pens of all types | 329010 | Allowed |
| Trade | Wholesale of grains and seeds | 462010 | Allowed |
| Trade | Wholesale of vegetables | 463012 | Allowed |
| Trade | Wholesale of fabrics for men | 464121 | Allowed |
| Health | Eye disease clinics | 862011 | Allowed |
| Health | Blood banks | 869004 | Allowed |
| Education | Colleges and university institutes | 853010 | Allowed |
| Education | Fine arts school | 854212 | Allowed |
| Hospitality | Restaurants with service | 561010 | Allowed |
| Hospitality | Fresh juice and cold beverages | 563020 | Allowed |
| Construction | Demolition or wrecking of buildings | 431101 | Allowed |
| Construction | Interior and exterior painting | 433063 | Allowed |
| Transport | Terminal facilities such as harbours and piers | 522201 | Allowed |
| Transport | Fuel and chemical storage | 521024 | Allowed |
| Professional | Engineering offices for hydraulic road projects | 711031 | Allowed |
| Personal services | Beauty salons for women | 960210 | Allowed |
| Agriculture | Support activities for crop production | 016109 | Allowed |
| Mining and energy | Drilling of oil wells | 091001 | Allowed |
| Petroleum | Production of gaseous fuels | 192020 | Allowed |
Sample rows from the MOCI guide. The full 823-activity list and code check are available on request.
What Is Not Allowed for 100% Ownership?
MOCI marks 62 activities as Not Allowed in this guide. Examples include banking and financial intermediation, legal advisory, travel agencies, private security and postal or courier services. Publishing, broadcasting, pharmaceutical wholesale, gas pipelines and military vehicles are also on the list.
“Not Allowed” means the activity is not open to 100% foreign ownership in this guide. A Not Allowed mark does not automatically mean the activity is illegal in Qatar. A Qatari partner or a separate approval may be required.
What MOCI’s List Does Not Decide
MOCI’s list answers one question: whether the guide marks the activity as open to 100% foreign ownership. The company still needs the right activity code, commercial registration and trade licence.
- The activity code must match the work the company will actually do.
- A mainland company still needs the MOCI registration and licence route.
- QFC and free zone companies follow their own immigration and ownership rules.
- Banks, insurance and commercial agencies have separate restrictions under Law No. 1 of 2019.
How to Check an Activity Before You File
Start with the activity code, not the company name. The code decides the ownership status and the licence route. A broad trade name can hide the wrong activity code.
The 100% ownership guide covers the legal test and setup path. The e-commerce activities list covers the separate e-commerce licence list.
When the activity is not in the allowed list, do not assume a local sponsor solves it. Check the specific restriction and the approval route first.
Want the Full 823-Activity List?
Send us the activity name or code and the intended legal form. We will confirm whether MOCI marks it as allowed and which category it falls into. We will also flag what still needs a CR or licence.
The MOCI List Is a Filter, Not an Approval
MOCI’s guide gives a strong first filter: 823 allowed activities against 62 restricted ones. The count also shows where the depth is: manufacturing and trade, not every service sector.
Use the category and code to decide whether the business fits. Then confirm the CR, licence and any sector approval before paying for a company setup.
100% Ownership Activities FAQ
MOCI’s guide sets the ownership filter; the CR, licence and activity code still decide the file.
What is the number of 100% ownership activities in Qatar?
MOCI’s October 2025 guide marks 823 activities as Allowed and 62 as Not Allowed, across 885 activity codes.
Why do I see 1,200 activities in some articles?
MOCI’s 2025 business activities guide for non-Qatari investment lists about 1,200 activities eligible for foreign investment. That is a broader list. The October 2025 foreign ownership guide has 885 codes: 823 allowed and 62 not allowed.
Which sector has the most 100% ownership activities?
Manufacturing has 585 of the 823 allowed activities, or 71%. Wholesale and retail trade is second with 93.
Is the MOCI list the full legal list?
The guide covers 885 activity codes. The guide is the MOCI foreign ownership guide, not every possible business activity in Qatar.
What does Not Allowed mean?
The activity is not open to 100% foreign ownership in this guide. A local partner or a separate approval may still be possible.
Does Allowed mean automatic approval?
No. MOCI still reviews the activity, CR and trade licence. The activity code and the actual work must match.
Does the list apply to QFC and free zones?
No. QFC and free zone companies follow their own ownership and immigration rules.
Is the PDF from 2026?
The guide cover is October 2025, v3h. MOCI hosts it under a June 2026 file path; it is not a June 2026 rule change.
Can I change the activity later?
A change of activity is a MOCI amendment. The new activity has to pass the same ownership and licensing check.
Sources
- MOCI: Permitted Activities Guide for Foreign Ownership (PDF)
- MOCI: Investment Steps for Foreign Investors
- Qatar Law: Qatar Produces List of 1,200 Activities Open to Foreign Investment
Checked 27 October 2026. The PDF cover is dated October 2025, v3h. Confirm the activity code in Single Window before filing.
Head of Operations at Meem
4+ years of Qatar PRO experience across ministries and authorities, including establishment licensing and approvals.
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