AI regulation in Qatar: laws & policy (2026)

Legal framework

No comprehensive horizontal AI law. Qatar combines a National AI Strategy (2019) and voluntary national ethics/cybersecurity guidelines (MCIT, NCSA) with binding sector-specific rules, most notably the Qatar Central Bank's Artificial Intelligence Guideline for licensed financial entities (2024) and a 2026 judicial practice direction in the Qatar Financial Centre.

Key points: artificial intelligence in Qatar

1. 01National AI Strategy (2019)

   Qatar's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, developed by QCRI and adopted under MCIT, sets a six-pillar vision (education/talent, data access, employment, business, research, ethics) and an 'AI+X' paradigm treating AI as an enabling layer across vital sectors. It is a strategy, not binding law.

   mcit.gov.qa mcit.gov.qa

2. 02Governance body

   An Artificial Intelligence Committee was established by Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2021, coordinated through MCIT, with members from ministries, QCRI and academic institutions to steer national AI policy and implementation.

   mcit.gov.qa

3. 03Binding financial-sector rules (QCB)

   On 4 September 2024 the Qatar Central Bank issued the Artificial Intelligence Guideline regulating AI use by QCB-licensed entities, mandating AI governance, risk management, human oversight, AI-system registers, prior QCB approval for high-risk systems, data governance, security controls and customer transparency/consent.

   qcb.gov.qa qna.org.qa

4. 04Voluntary national ethics principles (MCIT)

   MCIT published 'Principles and Guidelines for Ethical Use/Development of AI' (2025) built on fairness, transparency, accountability, auditability and human oversight. The document is explicitly not legally binding and is to be reviewed every one to two years.

   mcit.gov.qa mcit.gov.qa

5. 05Voluntary cybersecurity guidance (NCSA)

   The National Cyber Security Agency (established by Amiri Decree No. 1 of 2021) published bilingual 'Guidelines for Secure Adoption and Usage of Artificial Intelligence' (v1.0, Feb 2024), offering voluntary risk-management, security-control, governance and testing recommendations across the AI lifecycle.

   assurance.ncsa.gov.qa

6. 06Judicial use of AI (QFC)

   On 6 January 2026 the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC) issued Practice Direction No. 1 of 2026 on the Use of Artificial Intelligence, setting rules for AI use in proceedings before the QFC Civil and Commercial Court and the QFC Regulatory Tribunal.

   loc.gov

Timeline of decisions

1. 25 May 2025Guidance · official
   MCIT Outlines Push Toward Binding AI Regulatory Framework at Doha Conference

   Qatar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology publicly outlined its work to translate ethical AI principles into a formal regulatory and legislative framework at an international AI conference in Doha, signalling movement toward a statutory National AI Law. This is Qatar's most recent official statement on AI governance direction.

   Qatar News Agency (QNA)

2. 1 May 2025Guidance · official
   MCIT Issues Principles and Guidelines for Ethical Development of AI

   Qatar's MCIT released non-binding guidance specifically for AI developers, establishing requirements for transparency, fairness, accountability, and data privacy throughout the AI system life cycle. Together with the companion user guidelines issued in April 2025, this dual-document set constitutes Qatar's most comprehensive AI ethics policy to date.

   Qatar Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)

3. 1 Apr 2025Guidance · official
   MCIT Issues Principles and Guidelines for Ethical Use of AI

   MCIT published the user-facing half of its 2025 AI ethics package, setting non-binding principles on bias mitigation, transparency requirements for AI-generated content, and cultural alignment with Qatari societal values. While currently soft law, the document signals the basis for prospective binding legislation under Qatar National Vision 2030.

   Qatar Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)

4. 4 Sept 2024Decision · official
   Qatar Central Bank Issues Binding AI Guideline for Licensed Financial Institutions

   The Qatar Central Bank issued binding AI Guidelines requiring all QCB-licensed entities to maintain an AI strategy, conduct risk assessments, implement human oversight, and obtain QCB pre-approval before deploying high-risk AI systems, with customers to be notified when interacting with AI. This was Qatar's first sector-specific binding AI governance instrument.

   Qatar News Agency (QNA) / Qatar Central Bank

5. 1 Apr 2024Guidance · official
   Qatar National Digital Agenda 2030 Published by MCIT

   MCIT launched the National Digital Agenda 2030, a six-pillar strategic plan (digital infrastructure, government, technologies, innovation, economy, and society) with AI embedded as a core transformative technology across all pillars. The Agenda targets QR 40 billion in socio-economic returns and approximately 26,000 new ICT jobs by 2030.

   Qatar Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)

6. 19 Feb 2024Guidance · official
   NCSA Launches Guidelines for Secure Usage and Adoption of Artificial Intelligence

   The National Cyber Security Agency published detailed cybersecurity guidelines for AI adoption, covering generative AI risks, digital trust, ethics, data privacy, and threat mitigation, applicable to all public and private organisations in Qatar. The guidelines were unveiled at a national conference organised by NCSA on 19 February 2024.

   Qatar National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA)

7. 1 Jan 2024Guidance · official
   NCSA Publishes Guidelines for Secure Adoption and Usage of Artificial Intelligence

   Qatar's National Cyber Security Agency issued Version 1.0 of AI adoption guidelines, addressing data protection obligations when deploying AI systems including sensitive data leakage risks and alignment with PDPPL requirements. First official regulatory guidance in Qatar explicitly linking AI deployment to data privacy compliance.

   Qatar National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA)

8. 1 Jan 2021Decision · official
   National AI Committee Established via Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2021

   Qatar established the National Artificial Intelligence Committee under MCIT, creating a formal cross-government coordination body responsible for executing the National AI Strategy, fostering AI talent, attracting AI investment, and representing Qatar at international AI forums. This institutionalised the governance architecture for Qatar's AI development.

   Qatar Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)

9. 1 Jan 2019Guidance · official
   Qatar National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Launched

   MCIT launched Qatar's foundational National AI Strategy, introducing the 'AI+X' vision that positions AI as an enabling layer across all sectors, and six strategic pillars: talent development, data access, employment transformation, economic opportunity, research, and ethics. The strategy set the overarching framework for all subsequent AI policy and regulation aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030.

   Qatar Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)

Sources

1. 1.mcit.gov.qa/en/about-us/artificial-intelligence-committee/
2. 2.mcit.gov.qa/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/national_artificial_intelligence_s
3. 3.mcit.gov.qa/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/04/AI-Guidelines-_-En.pdf
4. 4.qcb.gov.qa/Services/Financial%20Technology/QCB_Artificial_Intelligence_Guideline
5. 5.qna.org.qa/en/News-Area/News/2024-09/04/0048-qatar-central-bank-issues-artificia
6. 6.assurance.ncsa.gov.qa/sites/default/files/publications/policy/2024/CSSP_Guidelines_for_Secu
7. 7.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2026-03-09/qatar-direction-issued-on-use-of
8. 8.mcit.gov.qa/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/05/AI-Guidelines-Developers_-EN.pdf