Data center rules in Qatar

Regulates telecom and cloud services. It published the national Cloud Policy Framework that the Cabinet approved in June 2022. On 25 November 2024 it issued a regulation that requires cloud providers to build in data portability and give government customers APIs.

The only electricity and water utility, so every site needs its connection. Its 2015 tariff runs from QR0.08 to QR0.10 per kWh. In June 2026 it told the Shura Council it plans more solar power by 2030, and members questioned commercial tariffs.

Sets digital policy under the Digital Agenda 2030. The minister said in May 2024 that Qatar aims to triple data centre capacity in five to six years and attract more hyperscalers.

Enforces the 2016 personal data law and sets the national Cloud Security Policy. Under that policy, government agencies may use providers outside Qatar and the GCC only if Qatari privacy and classification rules are met. In May 2026 it set out the stages of its Data Classification Policy.

Licenses firms in the Ras Bufontas and Umm Alhoul free zones and offers a 20-year corporate tax exemption with 100% foreign ownership. In January 2026 its venture arm sold the Q Data QFZ data centres to Ooredoo's Syntys.

Runs a US$1 billion incentive programme whose technology package covers cloud computing, AI and cybersecurity. It covers up to 40% of eligible local investment costs over five years for projects of at least QAR 25 million that create at least five skilled jobs. The next application window had not been announced.

Sets cloud rules for banks and fintech firms, issued in April 2024. They cover cloud governance, the cloud lifecycle and security controls, which decides whether financial workloads can move into a data centre.

The Cabinet approved Qatar's Cloud Policy Framework on 1 June 2022. The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) published it to set trusted access principles and attract data centre and cloud investment.

The CRA issued a regulation on cloud data interoperability and data portability on 25 November 2024. Cloud service providers in Qatar must build data portability into their services and give government customers application programming interfaces (APIs) so their systems can work together.

Qatar is in US export control Country Group D:4. Since an October 2023 rule, exports of advanced AI chips to Country Groups D:1, D:4 and D:5 need a US licence.

Gulf Times reported that Kahramaa's revised electricity tariff from September 2015 rose from QR0.08 to QR0.10 per kWh across three usage tiers. The report said the tiers applied to all establishments, including commercial and industrial users. We could not confirm the current rate on Kahramaa's own website.

Kahramaa told the Shura Council in June 2026 that it plans to raise the share of renewables in the energy mix by 2030. Solar photovoltaic power is the focus of this plan.

Qatar Free Zones offers a 20 year corporate tax exemption and zero customs duties on imports. It also allows 100% foreign ownership and full repatriation of capital.

Invest Qatar launched a US$1 billion incentive programme on 21 May 2025. Its technology package covers cloud computing, AI and cybersecurity. It pays up to 40% of eligible local costs over five years, such as construction and equipment. Projects must invest at least QAR 25 million over five years and meet job targets.

Article 15 of Law No. 13 of 2016 bars controllers from limiting cross border data flows. The exception is where the processing breaches the law or may seriously harm the data or the individual's privacy.

Breaches of certain articles of the 2016 personal data law carry fines of up to QR5 million. These include the rules on sensitive personal data, such as health, religion and ethnic origin.

The national Cloud Security Policy says government agencies shall not use a cloud provider outside Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) unless the service meets Qatari privacy law and data classification rules.

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) issued cloud computing regulations for financial institutions and fintech firms in April 2024. They cover cloud governance, the cloud lifecycle and operational security controls.

In May 2026 the NCSA set out the stages of its Data Classification Policy. Organisations must keep a data inventory, label data by value and apply technical and administrative safeguards such as encryption.

Gulf Times reported that Kahramaa's water tariff from September 2015 rose from QR4.40 to QR7.40 per cubic metre across usage tiers. We could not confirm whether these rates still apply.

Qai, an AI company owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, formed a US$20 billion AI infrastructure joint venture with Brookfield in December 2025. It will build in Qatar and selected overseas markets.

Ooredoo's data centre arm Syntys bought Q Data QFZ from the Qatar Free Zones venture arm in January 2026. The deal took Syntys to 26MW of live IT capacity in Qatar.

The Minister of Communications and Information Technology said in May 2024 that Qatar aims to triple its data centre capacity in five to six years. He also wants more hyperscalers, the largest cloud providers, to set up in Qatar.

Shura Council members raised concerns about electricity and water tariffs for commercial users during a June 2026 review of Kahramaa. No tariff change was announced.