Legal Instruments

Statistics and Figures

Bibliography

Qatar

This section provides a list of international conventions and regional/bilateral agreements to which each country is a signatory, as well as national legislation that deals with movement, migration, asylum and human rights. Each listing includes a PDF/ link to a publically accessible document of the convention/law mentioned.

International Conventions:

General International Law

Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 24 April 1963 (entered into force 19 March 1967) 596 U.N.T.S 261.

Ratified 1998

PDF

International Criminal Law

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 10 December 1984 (entered into force 26 June 1987) 1465 U.N.T.S. 85 [CAT]. Ratified 2000
PDF

Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 15 November 2000 (entered into force 15 December 2000) 2237 U.N.T.S 319 [Palermo Protocol]

Ratified 2009

PDF

United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, 15 November 2000 (entered into force 29 September 2003) 2225 U.N.T.S 209.

Ratified 2008

PDF

International Human Rights Law

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 18 December 1979, 1249 U.N.T.S 513 [CEDAW].

Ratified 2009

PDF

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 7 March 1966, 660 U.N.T.S 195 [CERD].

Signed 1967, Ratified 1976

PDF

Convention on the Rights of the Child, 20 November 1989, 1577 U.N.T.S. 3 [CRC].

Signed 1992, Ratified 1995

PDF

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/217 A (III), 10 December 1948, Art 14. [UDHR].

PDF

International Humanitarian Law/Law of War

Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, 12 August 1949 (entered into force 21 October 1950) 75 U.N.T.S. 31 [First Geneva Convention].

Ratified 1975

Link to Conv.

Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, 12 August 1949 (entered into force 21 October 1950) 75 U.N.T.S. 85 [Second Geneva Convention].

Ratified 1975

Link to Conv.

Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 12 August 1949 (entered into force 21 October 1950) 75 U.N.T.S. 135 [Third Geneva Convention]. Ratified 1975
Link to Conv.

Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 12 August 1949 (entered into force 21 October 1950) 75 U.N.T.S. 287 [Fourth Geneva Convention].

Ratified 1975

Link to Conv.

Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, 8 June 1977 (entered into force Dec. 7, 1978.) 1125 U.N.T.S. 3 [Protocol I].

Ratified 1988

Link to Protocol.

Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts, 8 June 1977 (entered into force 7 December 1978) 1125 U.N.T.S. 609 [Protocol II].

Ratified 2005
Link to Protocol

International Labor Law

ILO Convention C 111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (1958).

Ratified 1959

Link to Conv.

ILO Convention C 29 Forced or Compulsory Labour Convention (1932).

Ratified 1998 Link to Conv.

ILO Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration (2005).

Link to Framework

International Trade Law

General Agreement on Trade in Services, 15 April 1994 (entered into force 01 January 1995), L336, p. 191 [GATS].

PDF

Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) (Movement of Natural Persons), 16 October, 1995 (entered into force 26 July 1996), L167, P. 43 [Protocol III]

PDF

Regional and Bilateral Agreements:

Regional Agreements

Charter of the Gulf Cooperation (1981)
Link to Charter

EU and Gulf Countries Cooperation Agreement addresses cooperation in trade in services, Article 1 and 2 (1988).
PDF

Economic Agreement between Gulf Cooperation Countries addresses issues on labor migration and rights of mobility within the gulf countries (2004).
PDF_Arabic

Agreement among the Gulf Cooperation Countries on jurisdictions (1997).
PDF_Arabic

Arab Charter on Human Rights
Signed 2008, Ratified 2009
PDF_Eg; PDF_Ar

The Economic Agreement between the Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (2001).
Link to Agreement; PDF_Ar

The Unified Economic Agreement between the Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (1981).
PDF_Ar

Irregular Migration & Readmission Agreements

None Currently listed

Labor Agreements

Agreement between the Government of Qatar and Macedonia regulating the employment of Macedonian workers in Qatar (2014).
Link to Agreement; PDF_Ar

Labor Agreement between Ethiopia and Qatar (2013)
PDF_Eg and Arm

Agreement between Qatar and Albanian on the recruitment of Albanian workers in Qatar (2015)
PDF_Arabic

Agreement between Macedonia and Qatar on the employment of Macedonians in Qatar (2014)
PDF_Arabic

Cooperation Agreement between Qatar and Jordan (2013)
PDF_Arabic

Labor Agreement between Gambia and Qatar (2012)
PDF_Arabic

Agreement between France and Qatar on training Qataris in France (2012)
PDF_Arabic

Labor Agreement between Qatar and Sudan governing Sudanese workers in Qatar (2011)
PDF_Arabic

Social Security Agreements
None Currently Listed

Other Relevant Agreements

Agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the abolition of entry visas for diplomatic and special passports holders (2011).
Link to Agreement; PDF_Eg

Agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of El Salvador for the Mutual Abolition of Visas of Diplomatic Passports (2009)
Link to Agreement_Arabic

Cooperation Agreement between Tunis and Qatar on criminal matters (2012)
Link to Agreement_Arabic

National Legislation:

Qatari Nationals

Law No. 21 of 1989 regulating marriage to foreigners
Link to Law; PDF_Eg; PDF_Ar

Law No. 8 of 2005 amending certain provisions of Law No. 21 of 1989 regarding the regulation of marriage to foreigners
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Cabinet Resolution No. 32 of 2010 on the Entry into Forces of the Provisions of Law No. 24 of 2002 on retirement and pensions for Qataris working at the Arab Foundation for Democracy
Link to Resolution

Migration and Labor

Law No. 3 of 1963 concerning the regulation of foreigners' entry and residence in Qatar (repealed) (repealed)
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Emiri Resolution No. 9 of 1963 regulating the granting of visas, their types and fees, in implementation of the provisions of Law No. 3 of 1963 governing foreigner entry and residence in Qatar
Link to Resolution_Ar;

Law No. 5 of 1965 on personal identification cards
Link to Law_Ar; PDF_Ar

Decree No. 7 of 1980 regulates private schools and stipulates that the owner of an Arab private school can be Muslim and Qatari or sponsored by a Qatari national
Link to Decree; PDF_Eg; PDF_Ar

Law No. 8 of 1983 concerning compounding of crimes of entry and residence by foreigners in Qatar (cancelled)
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Ministerial Decree No. 1 of 1984 on granting temporary residence permits to non-Qataris
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Law No. 3 of 1984 regulating the sponsorship of residence and departure of foreigners (repealed) (repealed)
Link to Law; PDF_Eg; PDF_Ar

Law No. 6 of 1988 concerning GCC citizens carrying out new economic activities in Qatar
Link to Law_Ar

Law No. 7 of 1988 regarding the rules of freelancing in Qatar for GCC citizens
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Law No. 5 of 1996 regarding the imposition of 20 Riyals exist fees on every person leaving Doha International Airport
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Decree-Law No. 17 of 1998 amending certain provisions of law No. 3 of 1963 concerning the regulation of foreigners' entry and residence in Qatar
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Law 3 of 1992 on allowing GCC citizens to carry out new economic activities in Qatar
Link to Law_Ar

Law No. 14 of 1992 on bringing workers from abroad for the interests of third parties
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Decree No. 22 of 1994 amendment of certain provisions of Law no. 3 of 1963 concerning foreigners' entry and residence in Qatar
Link to Law; PDf_Eg

Act No. 23 of 1994 with respect to the compounding regulations of the crimes stipulated in law No. 14 of 1992 on the regulation of recruitment of workers from abroad for third parties, makes provisions for conciliation in connection with the offences of the 1992 law
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Decree-Law No. 27 of 1994 amending certain provisions of law No. 3 of 1963 concerning the regulations of foreigners' entry and residence in Qatar
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Ministerial Decision No. 4 of 1996 on allowing Kuwaiti nationals to enter and exist Qatar with personal ID cards
Link to Law_Ar; PDF_Ar

Law No. 13 of 2000 regulating the investment of non-Qatar capital in economic activity
Link to law; PDF_Ar; PDF_Eg

Decree Law No. 13 of 2003 amending certain provisions of law No. 8 of 1983 concerning compounding of crimes relating to entry and residence by foreigners in Qatar
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Ministerial Decision No. 45 of 2001 sets the conditions for bringing in family members of residents working in Qatar
Link to Law_Ar; PDF_Ar

Law No. 17 of 2004 regarding the organization of ownership and use of real estate and residential units by non-Qataris
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Law No. 14 of 2004 on the promulgation of labor law governs labor in the private sector, limits working hours, requires paid annual leave, sets requirements on health and safety, and requires on-time wages each month for migrant workers, but excludes domestic workers
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing Decree No. 7 of 2005 issuing a template list of penalties
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Ministerial Decision No. 8 of 2005 on the conditions and procedures to obtain a license to recruit foreign workers for others
Link to Law_Ar; PDF_Ar

Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing Decree No. 16 of 2005 regarding the regulation of medical care for worker in facilities
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing Decree No. 17 of 2005 on workers' living quarters
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Ministry of Civil Services Affairs and Housing Decree No. 18 of 2005 regarding work injuries and occupation disease statistics templates and reporting procedures
PDF_AR; Link to Law

Ministerial Decision No. 19 of 2005 regarding periodical medical exams for workers susceptible to occupational disease
Link to Law_Ar; PDF_Ar

Law No. 38 of 2005 on the acquisition of Qatari nationality
Link to Law; PDF_Ar; PDF_Eg

Law No. 22 of 2006 on family law, articles 177 and 185 discusses divorce and custody issues between Qataris and non-Qatars
Link to law_Ar; Link to Law_Eg

Law No. 2 of 2006 regulating the entry and residence of certain categories of Qatar (repealed)
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Minister of Interior Decree No. 14 of 2007 specifying the documents required for applying for Qatari citizenship and for Qatari citizenship reinstatement
Link to Law; PDF_Eg; PDF_Ar

Ministerial Decision No. 16 of 2007 determining the working hours in exposed work places during the summer
Link to Law_Ar; PDF_Ar

Decree-Law No. 22 of 2007 amending certain provisions of Law No. 14 of 2004 promulgating the labor law
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Law no. 4 of 2009 Regarding Regulation of the Expatriates Entry, Departure, Residence and Sponsorship
Link to Law; PDF_Eg

Law No. 15 of 2010 prohibits housing workers within family residential areas
Link to Law; PDF-Ar

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Civil Planning Decree No. 83 of 2011 regarding family residential areas
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Law No. 7 of 2013 on the social health insurance system ensuring the implementation of health insurance system to all Qataris, GCC citizens, residents and visitors
Link to Law; PDF_Ar; PDF_Eg

Law No. 3 of 2014 amending certain provisions of Law. 14 of 2004 issuing the labor law
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Ministerial Order No. 18 of 2014 setting the requirements and specifications of adequate housing for workers
Link to Order; PDF_Ar

Ministerial Decision No. 4 of 2015 issuing the regulation for the Wage Protection System for workers subject to the labor law
Link to Decision; PDF_Ar

Law No. 1 of 2015 amending some provisions of the Labor Law No. 14 of 2004
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Law No. 1 of 2017 amends some provisions of Law No. 21 of 2015
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Law No. 15 of 2016 issuing the civil human resources law, includes housing allowance regulations for non-Qatari employee
Link to Law; PDF_Ar

Decision No. 32 of 2016 issuing the implementing regulations of civil human resources law, includes housing allowance regulations for non-Qatari employee
Link to Decision

Smuggling and Trafficking

Law No. 15 of 2011 to combat human trafficking
Link to Law; Link to Law_Eg; PDF_Ar; PDF_Eg

Ministerial Order No. 15 of 2017 to established a national committee to combat human trafficking
Link to Order; PDF_Ar

Penal Code No. 11 of 2004
Link to Law; PDF_Ar; PDF_Eg

Rights and Entitlements of Foreign Nationals

The Qatari constitution of 2004 provides for freedom of movement within the country, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation
PDF_Ar

Statistics and Figures:

This section provides links to regularly updated sites that provide statistics on migrants and refugees in different countries around the world.

Below are links to various databases that provide statistics and figures relevant to the movement of people in and out of Qatar:

The World Bank
WB-Qatar

The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics of Qatar
mdps.gov-Qatar

UNFPA Migration Indicator
UNFPA-Migration

UNHCR Statistics Database
UNHCR-Stats

Bibliography

This section includes a comprehensive list of sources and links to journal articles, books, webpages, etc. for each country in the database that address migration and refugee topics within the context of education, health, legal, psychosocial, political, among others. Each listed source includes a brief description of the material and a link.

Migrants:

Link to Researchers

Dorsey, James M. "Qatari Labor Reforms: Words but no Actions." International Policy Digest 2.12 (2015): 83-85. Link to Article

Keyword: labor, reforms, world cup 2022, human rights, labor rights, law, policy, Qatar, FIFA

Drawing on an Amnesty International report on the human rights abuses occurring in Qatar that is using migrant labor to build football stadiums for the 2022 world cup, the author offers a critique on the migration labor reforms and their inadequacy in improving work conditions for migrant labor in Qatar.

Erfani, Azadeh. "Kicking Away Responsibility: FIFA's Role in Response to Migrant Worker Abuse in Qatar's 2022 World Cup." The Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal 22.2 (2015): 623. Link to Article

Keyword: FIFA, Qatar, migrant, labor, abuse, human rights, world cup 2022

The article focuses on the role of FIFA in enforcing labor laws in Qatar, in preparation for the 2022 World Cup. The Legal issues addressed in this article include issues of compensation, child labor and Qatar's legal obligation as part of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Mednicoff, David. "National Security and the Legal Status of Migrant Workers: Dispatches from the Arabian Gulf." Western New England Law Review 33.1 (2011): 121-162. Link to Article

Keyword: national, security, legality, status, migrant, workers, Gulf, Qatar, Arab identity

The author examines the implications of national security and migration arguing that an important implication of this nexus is the inclusion of national and state legislators, and military officials, thus, defining ad regulating national security in the legal arena. This legalization of security policy, the author argues, is the restriction of legal migrants and migrants' legal rights. The author draws on the case of Qatar's legal reforms and politics of non-citizen regulation as a security issue, and the implications of regulating migrants in general.

Rajesekhar, Vinayak. "Indian Migrants in Qatar and Narendra Modi's Predicament." International Policy Digest 1.5 (2014): 30-32. Link to Article

Keyword: Indian migrants, Qatar, Modi

This short piece provides an account of the ill treatment of Indian and other migrant workers in Qatar and the failure of the Indian government to hold Qatar accountable.

Roper, Steven D., and Lillian A. Barria. “Understanding Variations in Gulf Migration and Labor Practices.” Middle East Law and Governance 6.1 (2014): 32-52. Link to Article

Keyword: Gulf, migration, labor, market, kafala, sponsorship, economy

This article provides an examination of the Kafala system in the GCC and the factors that attribute to the differences in the structure and legal basis of the system, as well as in the application of the system to Arabs and non-Arabs. The authors find that the economy of the GCC is heavily influenced by the type of the Kafala system employed.

Refugees:

Statelessness:

Fisher, Betsy. “Gender Discrimination and Statelessness in the Gulf Cooperation Council States.”, 23 Mich. J. Gender & L. 269, 312 (2016) Link to Journal

Keyword: gender, nationality, children, mother, law, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

"Using the Gulf Cooperation Council countries as a case study, this Article outlines the ways in which gender and birth status discrimination create new cases of statelessness. These occur when women are legally unable to convey their nationality to their children. This Article studiesgenderand birth status discrimination nationality laws and in civil registration, family, and criminal law in each GCCstate: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Ending statelessness will require these states to end discriminationagainst women and non-marital children in all of its forms in law and practice."

UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "Global Action Plan to End Statelessness." UN High Commissioner for Refugees (2014). Link to Article

Keyword: born, gender, protection, documentation

“To End Statelessness within 10 years, the Global Action Plan to End Statelessness: 2014-2024 establishes a guiding framework of 10 Actions to be undertaken by States with the support of UNHCR and other stakeholders to: resolve existing major situations of statelessness, prevent new cases of statelessness from emerging and better identity and protect stateless populations.”