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Obtaining a restaurant licence in Qatar involves approvals from three government bodies: the Ministry of Commerce (MOCI) for your company registration, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) for your food establishment health permit, and the Municipality for your Trade License and signboard. This step-by-step guide covers the exact sequence, document requirements, and common pitfalls.
Step 1: Company Registration with MOCI
Your company must be registered before you can apply for any food-related permits:
- Reserve your trade name via the MOCI portal
- Select the correct activity code: restaurant, cafeteria, catering, or food truck — each has different scope and requirements
- Submit Articles of Association, shareholder documents, and registered office lease
- CR issuance: 3-5 working days
Step 2: MOPH Health Permit Application
The health permit is your most critical approval. MOPH requires:
- Kitchen layout drawings — professionally prepared floor plans showing food flow, equipment placement, ventilation, and hand-washing stations.
- Food safety management plan — your HACCP-based food handling procedures.
- Staff health cards — every food handler must complete medical screening at an MOPH-approved facility.
- Equipment specifications — proof that your kitchen equipment meets commercial food safety standards.
- On-site inspection — MOPH inspects your completed kitchen before issuing the permit.
Step 3: Municipality Trade License
After MOPH approval, apply to the Municipality for your Trade License. This step includes:
- Signboard approval — your restaurant name, logo, and external signage design must be approved
- Premises inspection — verifying building code compliance, accessibility, and parking
- Fee payment — Trade License fees vary by zone and establishment size
Step 4: Post-Licence Requirements
After receiving your Trade License, complete these operational requirements:
- Open your corporate bank account with the Trade License as a required document
- Register with MADLSA for your computer card and visa block allocation
- Set up the Wage Protection System (WPS) for staff payroll
- Register on delivery platforms if you plan to offer delivery
Common Mistakes That Delay Licensing
- Submitting kitchen layout drawings without proper food flow separation
- Starting fit-out before MOPH drawing approval (changes are expensive)
- Forgetting food handler health cards for all staff before inspection
- Incorrect activity code selection — cafeteria vs restaurant has different requirements
Parallel processing
Submit your MOPH application while your fit-out is in progress. MOPH reviews drawings first and schedules the physical inspection for when construction is complete. This overlapping approach saves 2-3 weeks compared to sequential processing.
FAQ
The CR registers your company with MOCI. The restaurant licence is a combination of MOPH health permit and Municipality Trade License that authorises your specific premises to serve food. You need the CR first, then apply for the health permit and Trade License.
The MOPH health permit is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. Renewal requires a fresh inspection. Staff health cards must also be renewed annually.
Yes. You can start with a cafeteria activity code, then amend your CR to add full restaurant activity. This requires upgraded kitchen facilities, a new MOPH inspection, and updated Municipality approval.
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Contact Agents Group for end-to-end restaurant licensing support in Qatar.
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