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DOHA: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has intensified inspection and awareness campaigns to ensure that shops and establishments adhere to both public and private requirements.
The Ministry stressed that failure to comply with regulations, including disturbing or pursuing pedestrians, constitutes a violation of Article (18) of Law No. (5) of 2015 concerning commercial, industrial, and similar public shops as well as street vendors.
“Such violations are subject to an administrative closure penalty of 15 days,” the Ministry said on X platform.
According to the MoCI, the campaign is part of its efforts to safeguard consumer rights, maintain public order, and ensure that business activities operate within the legal framework.
Inspections also aim to protect the community from practices that cause inconvenience or negatively affect the shopping environment.
The Ministry urged shop owners and business operators to strictly comply with the stipulated requirements, warning that violations will be met with legal action.
The MoCI confirmed that this campaign is consistent with its recent efforts to uphold quality, fairness, and consumer protection in the Qatari market.
Last month, similar measures were implemented in the automobile sector to ensure dealerships comply with consumer protection regulations.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing Circular No. 1 of 2025, which mandates greater transparency in advertising. Under this circular, car dealerships must install electronic screens displaying prices of spare parts and periodic maintenance services.
These inspections led to the temporary closure of several car companies, which were later allowed to reopen after rectifying violations and complying with legal requirements.
The ministry is also closely monitoring food products and establishments, noting that a number of restaurants and companies were recently shut down for serious violations. These included falsifying product expiry dates, repackaging spoiled food of unknown origin, and reselling it in retail outlets, practices considered a grave threat to public health and consumer safety. The MoCI emphasised that it will not tolerate any activities that endanger health or breach national laws and regulations.
The public have been urged to report complaints or violations by contacting the hotline at 16001, visiting the official website, or using the MoCI application. The Ministry’s strict enforcement measures have strengthened investor confidence. In the second quarter of 2025, Qatar witnessed the establishment of 2,911 new non-Qatari businesses — a 640% surge compared to the same period last year. Additionally, 5,777 main commercial registrations and 851 branch registrations were issued in the same period, reflecting a 103% increase. These results demonstrate the government’s ongoing commitment to fostering a fair, transparent, and safe business environment while protecting consumer rights.
