200,000 QR Fine for Practicing Trade Without Commercial Register

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has published a guideline explaining the duties of the merchant towards the consumer and a number of violations and fines that may reach 500,000 Qatari riyals.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry indicated - through its account on Twitter - that it is the duty of the merchant towards the consumer; to display the daily price bulletin for vegetables and fruits in a clear and prominent way in the store, separating the imported vegetables and fruits from the local ones within the daily price bulletin, and adopting the Arabic language when displaying the basic data of commodities including type, date, source and price, and providing detailed invoices to the consumer.

A fine of 200,000 Qatari riyals shall be imposed in the event of the following violations: engaging in commerce or establishing a commercial store prior to registration in the Commercial Register, providing incorrect data or forged documents, or practicing fraud or deception in order to be registered in the Commercial Registry.

Among the violations that are punishable by a fine of 200,000 riyals, the owner of the commercial registry enables others to exploit it, and in the case that a person exploits a commercial registry that he does not own.

A fine of 50,000 Qataris will be imposed in the event of the following violations:

Failure to write the trade name in Arabic on the storefront and in all correspondence, publications, and papers related to trade.

Opening or managing any store without obtaining a commercial license, practicing a commercial activity without fulfilling all the general and special requirements according to the type of licensed activity, or obtaining all the approvals required by law from the competent authorities.

A fine of 10,000 Qatari riyals shall be imposed in the event of the following violations: practicing any additional commercial activity in the store, making an amendment to the licensed store, or changing the location of the store without obtaining the approval of the concerned department.

Not placing the trade license in a visible place or refraining from presenting it to those who request it from the employees of the competent authorities.

Also, failure to comply with the controls set by the competent department in the identification board on the front of the licensed store, and failure to remove the identification board in the event of cancellation of the license or cessation of activity.

Advertising by any means about the store without submitting a copy of the valid shop license to the advertiser.

Assigning the license before obtaining the written approval of the administration and practicing the activity of a street vendor before obtaining the license.