Qatar Trademark Information

Qatar, also known as the State of Qatar, is located in the Persian Gulf, bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south. The population is estimated at 1,697,000 with a GDP of $102.15 billion.

Ruled by the Al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al-Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the second-highest per capita income in the world.

Trademarks are assigned through the Trade Marks Office, Department of Commerce under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. Qatar is not a member of the Madrid Protocol. A trademark is valid for 10 years and may be renewed for further periods of 10 years each.