Long-term residency is the Gulf’s new battleground. Speaking at Web Summit Qatar on 10 February, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani announced a 10-year residency permit aimed at founders, investors and highly skilled professionals. The permit expands Qatar’s existing Mustaqel visa, offers the right to own property and businesses, and allows holders to sponsor family members.
Indian entrepreneurs and HNIs—already the largest expatriate community in Qatar—are taking note. The permit’s low entry threshold of QAR 1 million (≈ ₹2.3 crore) in approved investments undercuts the UAE Golden Visa’s AED 2 million requirement, although Qatar does not yet provide an automatic path to citizenship or a formal tax residency certificate.
For mobility planners, the competitive landscape is shifting. Relocation advisers say Indian start-ups in Web3 and sports-tech are scouting Doha as a base to service the 2030 Asian Games build-out, leveraging 0 percent personal income tax and world-class transport links.
![Qatar Unveils 10-Year Residency Permit, Spurs Comparison with UAE Golden Visa]()
Indian nationals lining up their paperwork can streamline the process through VisaHQ, which offers end-to-end assistance with Gulf residence and business visa filings. The India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides real-time eligibility checks, document collection and concierge support, giving founders and investors a single window for multi-country mobility plans while Qatar finalises its rules.
However, the ecosystem is still nascent. Unlike Dubai, Qatar lacks free-zone structures that permit 100 percent foreign ownership across most sectors. Legal analysts expect accompanying regulations within three months clarifying qualifying businesses, property zones and health-insurance obligations.
Companies comparing Gulf options will weigh schooling, housing costs and exit-permit rules. Still, the 10-year permit signals Qatar’s determination to diversify into knowledge industries—a development that gives India Inc. another strategic relocation choice in the region.
Indian entrepreneurs and HNIs—already the largest expatriate community in Qatar—are taking note. The permit’s low entry threshold of QAR 1 million (≈ ₹2.3 crore) in approved investments undercuts the UAE Golden Visa’s AED 2 million requirement, although Qatar does not yet provide an automatic path to citizenship or a formal tax residency certificate.
For mobility planners, the competitive landscape is shifting. Relocation advisers say Indian start-ups in Web3 and sports-tech are scouting Doha as a base to service the 2030 Asian Games build-out, leveraging 0 percent personal income tax and world-class transport links.
Indian nationals lining up their paperwork can streamline the process through VisaHQ, which offers end-to-end assistance with Gulf residence and business visa filings. The India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides real-time eligibility checks, document collection and concierge support, giving founders and investors a single window for multi-country mobility plans while Qatar finalises its rules.
However, the ecosystem is still nascent. Unlike Dubai, Qatar lacks free-zone structures that permit 100 percent foreign ownership across most sectors. Legal analysts expect accompanying regulations within three months clarifying qualifying businesses, property zones and health-insurance obligations.
Companies comparing Gulf options will weigh schooling, housing costs and exit-permit rules. Still, the 10-year permit signals Qatar’s determination to diversify into knowledge industries—a development that gives India Inc. another strategic relocation choice in the region.
