The Qatari government announced a number of immigration and labour law reforms at a conference earlier this month. The reforms include an elimination of the country's Kafala system, which requires foreign nationals to obtain their employer's consent before they can exit the country or change jobs from within Qatar. The Kafala system will be replaced by a system of formalised employment contracts.

Currently, foreign nationals intending to exit the country must obtain an exit permit with their employers' consent. Under the proposed system, an exit permit would be issued automatically by immigration officials 72 hours before departure. In the event that an employer objects to an exit permit being issued, they would need to need to plead their case to the relevant authorities.