Chapter 8 of the Electronic Commerce and Transactions Law establishes a comprehensive legal framework for consumer protection, expressly applicable to online transactions.

Qatar has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Qatar has enacted national legislation, namely the Electronic Commerce and Transactions Law, which is derived from or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

Qatar has enacted national legislation, namely the Electronic Commerce and Transactions Law, which is derived from or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.

It is reported that the Government of Qatar requires providers of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to obtain a licence; however, such licences are granted solely to companies intending to establish operations within Qatar. It is also reported that this requirement constitutes a significant barrier to entry for foreign or Internet-based service providers, with Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar remaining the only authorised VoIP providers in the country, both being majority-owned by state-controlled entities.

Under Art. 68 of Decree-Law No. 34 of 2006, importing telecommunications devices for commercial purposes requires a licence issued by the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA). Non-compliance with this requirement is punishable by up to one year of imprisonment and a fine of up to QAR 20,000 (approx. USD 5,500). The CRA implements this via its Import Authorisation Licence and type-approval regime.

It is reported that Qatar requires import documentation for goods coming from abroad to be authenticated, or "consularised", by a Qatari embassy, consulate or chamber of commerce in the exporting country. This process involves obtaining official stamps or certifications for documents such as the commercial invoice and certificate of origin, verifying their legitimacy prior to shipment. Although its purpose is to ensure the authenticity of commercial documents, this authentication requirement is reportedly often a burdensome and costly one for exporters, as it adds administrative red tape, delays and fees.

It is reported that Qatar permits self-certification for radio transmission equipment concerning electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards. Foreign manufacturers may demonstrate compliance through a Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC), whereby the supplier or manufacturer affirms that the equipment satisfies the relevant technical and administrative requirements. Where testing is undertaken, the choice of laboratory remains at the discretion of the supplier or manufacturer. The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) accepts results issued by accredited testing and measurement bodies officially recognised by the Authority, a list of which is published on its website.

According to Qatar's eCommerce Portal, enterprises seeking to operate as e-merchants in Qatar must first register their business, domain name and trademarks. To engage in commercial activities within the country, all businesses, including e-merchants, are required to obtain a commercial registration.

The de minimis threshold, defined as the minimum value of goods below which customs duties are not levied, is SAR 1,000; however, its application is limited to business-to-consumer transactions and does not extend to business-to-business consignments. The threshold is specified in the "Unified Guide for Customs Procedures at First Points of Entry in the GCC Member States", which states that parcels and personal shipments with a declared value not exceeding SAR 1,000 are exempt from customs duties (this value is approximately equal to QAR 970 or USD 265).

Decree Law No. 16 of 2010 on the Promulgation of the Electronic Commerce and Transactions Law establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries beyond copyright infringements.
Under Arts. 45–48, electronic commerce service providers enjoy limited liability for intermediary activities, including transmission, caching, and hosting, provided specific conditions are met. Liability exemptions apply when providers act as mere conduits, without initiating transmissions, selecting recipients, or modifying content, and when any storage is purely transient. Caching is similarly protected if undertaken solely to enhance efficiency, provided the provider complies with access and update rules, refrains from altering content, and removes or disables access promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge of unlawful material. Hosting services are likewise exempt where the provider lacks actual knowledge of illegal activity or information and acts expeditiously to remove or disable access once notified, so long as the user is not operating under the provider’s authority.

It is reported that Qatar requires mobile network operators to collect and store a user's personal information and proof of identity for SIM registration. The relevant legislation could not be found.

Pursuant to Arts. 21.2 and 53 of Law No. 14 of 2014 Promulgating the Cybercrime Prevention Law, internet service providers are required to implement the necessary measures to block internet links in compliance with orders issued by judicial authorities. The court is empowered to mandate the blocking of any website on which, or through which, an offence has occurred or been committed, as applicable. Reports indicate that Ooredoo, the state-controlled and largest internet service provider in the country, engages in the censorship of certain content via a proxy server that monitors and blocks access to websites, email services, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) platforms, including Skype and FaceTime. It has also been reported that the Grindr application has been inaccessible in Qatar since at least 1 January 2020, with the restriction continuing into 2024.