International Oil & Gas Corporation Establishes Branch Office in Qatar
Foreign Branch Office Registration for Energy Sector Giant
Services Provided
The Challenge
A major international oil and gas corporation headquartered in Europe needed to establish a branch office in Qatar to participate in upstream exploration tenders issued by Qatar Energy. The client faced complex regulatory requirements including obtaining approvals from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), securing a Commercial Registration (CR), and navigating the foreign branch licensing framework under Qatar Commercial Companies Law. The parent company had limited knowledge of local legal requirements and needed the branch operational before an upcoming tender deadline.
Our Solution
Conducted a comprehensive regulatory assessment to determine the optimal structure for a foreign branch office under Qatari law, confirming eligibility based on the parent company's activities and capitalization.
Prepared and legalized all corporate documents from the home country, including board resolutions, certificate of incorporation, articles of association, and audited financial statements, ensuring full attestation through the Qatar Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Filed the branch registration application with MOCI, securing the Commercial Registration and Trade License within the projected timeline.
Coordinated with the Ministry of Interior for establishment permits and processed work visas for the initial management team of 12 expatriate employees.
Arranged a serviced office space in West Bay to serve as the branch's registered address and operational headquarters.
The Results
- Branch office fully registered and operational within 8 weeks from initial engagement.
- Successfully obtained Commercial Registration, Computer Card, and all requisite licenses.
- All 12 management-level work visas processed and approved within 3 weeks of CR issuance.
- Client submitted their tender proposal on time, subsequently winning a multi-year exploration services contract.
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