UK Bribery Act Guidance & Qatar Law

The United Kingdom Bribery Act (Act) has generated considerable discussion within the foreign community in Qatar as it has implications not only for individuals and commercial organisations operating inside the United Kingdom, but also for British and foreign companies engaging in business transactions on an international scale. Although the explanatory notes that accompanied the Act were useful, they did not provide sufficient clarity in respect of certain aspects of the Act. In anticipation of the impending implementation of the Act on 1 July 2011, the United Kingdom Ministry of Justice recently produced guidance (Guidance) aimed at clarifying areas of ambiguity introduced by the Act.