What Brokers Need to Know About Qatar Brokerage Law 2026

Qatar’s property brokers, property managers and property valuers will be regulated by a new body beginning in 2027. Law No. (13) of 2026 amends the 2017 law governing real estate brokerage. It transfers responsibility for issuing, renewing and supervising brokers’ licenses to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Aqarat), replacing the Ministry of Justice. Aqarat’s new role comes in Amiri Decision No. (34) of 2026, which is in the same Official Gazette. Both were issued on 2 September 2026, appeared in Official Gazette issue 17 on 16 September 2026, and enter into force on 1 January 2027.

In February 2026, the Council of Ministers approved the transfer of the real estate brokerage department from the Ministry of Justice to Aqarat, a step the Aqarat chairman described at the time as unifying supervision of the property sector under one authority. This is what you should know about the changes, including the key articles of the law, translated here word for word from the Arabic.

How the law shifts control of the brokerage profession

The most significant shift comes in Article 1, which consists of just one sentence.

The word “the Authority” replaces the word “the Ministry” wherever it appears in Law No. (22) of 2017 referred to above.

This means the process for applying for and renewing a broker license, maintaining the brokers register, inspection and monitoring, complaints and disciplinary measures will now be handled by Aqarat, not the Ministry of Justice. Article 2 then amends the definitions section of the original law. The updated definitions state the following.

• Minister refers to the Minister of Municipality.
• Authority refers to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority established by Amiri Decision No. (28) of 2023.
• Committee refers to the Real Estate Brokers’ Affairs Committee established in accordance with Article 10 of the law.
• Department refers to the administrative unit responsible for brokers’ affairs at the Authority.
• Register refers to the register of real estate brokers.

Brokerage, defined

While the term is often associated with those who act as intermediaries between a buyer and a seller, the amended definition includes many more roles.

A contract or agreement to mediate between two or more natural or legal persons to conclude a contract or carry out any disposal of a property, on the terms accepted by the party concerned. Real estate promotion, real estate auctions, property management on behalf of others, and property valuation are considered real estate brokerage activities, in accordance with the controls issued by a decision of the Minister.

So marketing real estate, running auctions, property management and real estate valuation are also brokerage activities. Those engaging in them require a brokerage license and fall under the Authority’s supervision, subject to the controls set by the Minister.

Former officials wait three years to become brokers

The original 2017 law outlines the licensing requirements in Article 3, and the amendment changes the seventh requirement under the first part of that article.

Not to have previously worked at the Authority, or at any of the administrative units related to real estate and urban planning affairs at government entities, unless at least three years have passed since leaving that work.

In plain terms, a former employee of Aqarat, or of any government unit that deals with real estate matters or urban planning, cannot apply for a broker license until three years after leaving that work. The language names the Authority to reflect the transfer of supervision.

A property status certificate for each transaction

Item 3 of Article 14 of the 2017 law is amended to require an official document.

A certificate from the department responsible for real estate registration at the Ministry of Justice, showing the status of the property and including the restrictions, disposals and all other data that the other contracting party must know and that affect their decision.

It is a certificate issued by the Ministry of Justice, which holds the real estate register, even though the broker’s regulator is now the Authority. The certificate reveals if there are any restrictions or disposals on the property, for example a mortgage or an attachment. This means a broker must disclose such information to the buyer prior to signing a contract.

Three new powers for Aqarat

Amiri Decision No. (34) of 2026 adds three new items to Article 4 of the decision that established the Authority.

13. Issuing licenses to practice and renew real estate brokerage activities, collecting the prescribed fees, and supervising them in accordance with the provisions of the law.

14. Conducting the studies needed to develop the provision of real estate brokerage services, and proposing suitable solutions to the problems and obstacles they face.

15. Regulating, monitoring and supervising the compliance of real estate brokers with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements.

Item 15 is the one to note. The Authority is now authorized to monitor brokers’ adherence to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements, so this becomes part of its oversight function.

What remains unchanged

Apart from the amendments described above, the remainder of the 2017 law remains intact. The articles governing the license, the register, the brokers committee, the written brokerage contract and the penalty for practicing brokerage without a license remain unchanged. The amending law contains no article repealing existing licenses. From 1 January 2027, the Authority will renew and supervise broker licenses.

Timeline of key events

• 2 September 2026: Law No. (13) of 2026 and Amiri Decision No. (34) of 2026 are issued.
• 16 September 2026: both are published in issue 17 of the Official Gazette.
• 1 January 2027: both take effect. From this date, the Authority issues and renews broker licenses and supervises brokers.

What brokers should do now

• Renew your license with the Authority instead of the Ministry of Justice starting from 1 January 2027. Check your expiry date today.
• Prepare for anti-money laundering supervision, as the Authority will be the body that oversees compliance.
• Get the property status certificate from the Ministry of Justice for each real estate transaction and retain it.
• If your firm offers property management, auctions or valuation, confirm that your license permits those activities.

What buyers and sellers should do

Request the broker’s license number and, starting from January 2027, verify it with the Authority. Ask for the property status certificate before signing a contract, as it is now mandatory and indicates whether there are any restrictions on the property. If the property is an apartment in a tower or a villa in a compound, verify the status of the building’s Owners’ Union as well, since the new Owners’ Union law makes this mandatory.

To help you understand the whole process, our guides to property registration fees in Qatar and where foreigners can buy property in Qatar provide further information. And to compare prices by area, you can consult the property prices map alongside the apartments for sale in Qatar.