Qatar has introduced a new long-term residence visa category aimed at executives and entrepreneurs, according to immigration counsel Fragomen. The move signals Doha's latest effort to attract senior business talent and investors as it competes with Gulf neighbours for international companies and founders.

The announcement places Qatar alongside regional peers that have rolled out extended residency pathways in recent years. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman have each expanded their own long-term or "golden" visa schemes, and Qatar's new programme appears designed to keep pace with that regional competition for executives, business owners and startup founders.

At this stage, the headline change is the creation of the visa category itself: a long-term residence permit addressed specifically to two groups — corporate executives and entrepreneurs. Fragomen, which reported the development, has not yet published the full eligibility criteria in the summary announcement. Applicants and employers should therefore wait for the official implementing rules before planning applications.

Who this affects

The new pathway is relevant to three audiences:

• Senior executives already in Qatar or considering relocation there, who may previously have relied on standard employer-sponsored permits tied to a single sponsoring entity.
• Entrepreneurs and founders looking to establish or base a business in Qatar without the shorter validity periods typical of standard work authorisation.
• Multinational employers with regional headquarters or operations in Doha, for whom longer-duration residency for leadership staff reduces administrative renewal burden.

What changes in practice

Until now, most foreign nationals working in Qatar held residence permits sponsored by an employer, with renewal cycles and mobility constraints attached to that sponsorship relationship. A dedicated long-term residence visa for executives and entrepreneurs separates extended residency from the conventional sponsorship model for these categories.

Exactly how the new visa interacts with Qatar's existing rules — including the Permanent Residency Permit scheme created under Law No. 13 of 2018, which granted certain long-term residents rights comparable to citizens — will become clear once the Ministry of Interior publishes detailed regulations.

What to watch

Key details still pending from Qatari authorities include:

• Eligibility thresholds, such as minimum salary, investment amount or company-ownership requirements.
• The visa's validity period and renewal conditions.
• Whether holders may sponsor family members and domestic staff.
• Application procedures, processing times and fees.
• Any quotas or annual caps on approvals.

Fragomen states that further guidance will follow as the Qatari government releases implementation instructions. Companies with executives planning moves to Qatar, and founders assessing Doha as a base, should monitor announcements from the Ministry of Interior and the official Qatar portals before acting.

Regional context

The Gulf has seen a sustained expansion of long-term residency products since 2019. The UAE's 10-year Golden Visa, Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency programme and Oman's investor residence schemes have all targeted the same executive and founder demographic. Qatar's entry into this space gives mobile business talent one more option in a region where residency policy has become a competitive tool for attracting investment and headquarters activity.

No effective date, cap or qualifying threshold appears in the initial announcement. Readers should treat the official Qatari gazette and Ministry of Interior communications as the authoritative sources for the programme's final terms. This report reflects the announcement as published by Fragomen and does not constitute legal advice on individual cases; applicants should consult authorised immigration practitioners for guidance on specific circumstances.