Qatar · Government
Government and administration in Qatar
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state — Emir
- Hereditary within the Al Thani family; appoints the Prime Minister and ministers.
- Executive — Council of Ministers
- Proposes legislation and exercises regulatory power.
- Legislative — Shura Council
- Forty-five members; wholly appointed again following the 2024 amendment.
- Judicial governance — Supreme Judicial Council
- Nominates and disciplines judges.
- Audit — State Audit Bureau
- Reports on public expenditure to the Emir.
How legislation is made
The Council of Ministers prepares draft legislation, which goes to the Shura Council for review and then to the Emir for ratification and publication in the Official Gazette. The Emir may return a bill to the Council, and may legislate by decree when the Shura Council is not in session, subject to later submission. Following the 2024 amendment the Council is entirely appointed, so there is no elected legislative check.
Enforcement institutions
- Public Prosecution
- Directs criminal investigation under the Attorney General.
- Qatar Central Bank
- Banking, insurance and payments supervision.
- Qatar Financial Markets Authority
- Securities regulation for the onshore exchange.
- QFC Regulatory Authority
- Independent financial regulator inside the QFC.
- Administrative Control and Transparency Authority
- Anti-corruption and public-sector oversight.
Government bodies and regulators
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