Focus On Litigation – Part One: Qatar's Legal And Court System

This article is the first in a series of articles focusing on litigation in the State of Qatar ("Qatar") and providing high-level practical guidance and information on Qatar's legal structure, court system, and litigation proceedings. Anyone seeking to pursue a litigation claim through the courts of Qatar should seek professional legal advice prior to proceeding.

Qatar is a civil law jurisdiction and statutes promulgated by the Emir are the primary source of legislation. At this stage, Qatar does not have specialist courts for commercial matters and accordingly, all commercial claims are decided by the civil courts. The general court system is comprised of the following courts:

• The Court of First Instance (which is subdivided into the Criminal Court, the Civil Court, the Administrative Court and the Family Court);