The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) was established as an international business centre for financial services (and more recently, non-financial focused services) pursuant to QFC Law No. 7/2005 QFC Law 2005. Whilst the QFC does not have freezone status, entities registered in the QFC may still operate and trade without a local sponsor or service agent.

Employment matters within the QFC are governed by the QFC Employment Regulations QFC Regulation No. 10/2006. The QFC has recently issued a draft amendment to the QFC Employment Regulations for public consultation, primarily introducing a table of penalties payable for specific breaches of the regulations.

The QFC Employment Regulations apply to the employees of the Qatar Financial Centre Authority and the employees of its licensed entities and institutions in addition to the employees of the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority, the Civil and Commercial Court and the Regulatory Tribunal.

The QFC Employment Regulations provide for the minimum requirements which may not be waived or excluded except where expressly permitted under the regulations. However, this does not preclude parties from contractually agreeing to enhance the minimum entitlements under the regulations.