Employee rights
Qatar Labour Law (2026): Leave, Working Hours, Notice & Probation
Private-sector employee rights in Qatar under Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004, as amended (including Decree-Law No. 18 of 2020 and Law No. 9 of 2026): working and Ramadan hours, overtime, annual, sick and maternity leave, probation, notice and termination.
Quick answer
- Working hours: The maximum is 48 hours a week, at 8 hours a day.
- Annual leave: At least 3 weeks of paid leave a year after one year of service, rising to 4 weeks after 5 years.
- Probation: Probation can last up to 6 months, and only once with the same employer.
- Notice period: After probation: 1 month's notice if you have worked 2 years or less, and 2 months if you have worked more than 2 years.
- Law
- Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004, as amended (including Decree-Law No. 18 of 2020 and Law No. 9 of 2026)
- Authority
- Ministry of Labour (MOL)
- Who it covers
- Covers most private-sector employees in mainland Qatar. It does not cover government ministries and bodies, the armed forces and police, domestic workers (such as house drivers, cooks and gardeners), casual workers, the employer's family members, or most farm workers. Since Law No. 9 of 2026, part-time and freelance workers are also outside the law unless the Council of Ministers extends it to them. Companies in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) follow the separate QFC Employment Regulations.
Working hours
The maximum is 48 hours a week, at 8 hours a day.
- Time spent travelling to and from work does not count as working hours.
- You should not work more than 5 hours in a row without a break of at least 1 hour.
- The hours, overtime and weekly rest rules do not apply to people in senior or managerial positions.
Article 73
Sources:icnl.orgpinsentmasons.com
Ramadan working hours
During Ramadan the limit drops to 36 hours a week and 6 hours a day.
- The Ministry of Labour confirmed these limits for the private sector for Ramadan 2026, in line with the Labour Law.
- The Ramadan limit is set in the same article as normal working hours.
- Government employees follow separate Cabinet rules, not the Labour Law.
Article 73
Sources:icnl.orgmarhaba.qa
Overtime
Overtime pays at least your basic wage plus 25%, and total work cannot exceed 10 hours a day.
- Non-shift workers who do overtime at night get the basic wage plus at least 50%.
- The 10-hour daily cap can be exceeded only to prevent a serious loss or a dangerous accident, or to deal with its effects.
- Overtime rules do not apply to senior and managerial staff.
Article 74
Sources:icnl.orgpinsentmasons.com
Weekly rest
You get at least 24 hours of paid rest each week, normally on Friday.
- If you must work on your rest day, you get another day off plus either your normal rest-day pay or your basic wage plus at least 150%.
- Workers who are not on shifts cannot be made to work two Fridays in a row.
- Official public holidays are paid, including 3 days for Eid Al-Fitr, 3 days for Eid Al-Adha and National Day on 18 December.
Article 75
See public holidays →Sources:icnl.orgmondaq.com
Annual leave
At least 3 weeks of paid leave a year after one year of service, rising to 4 weeks after 5 years.
- Your employer sets the leave dates based on work needs. Leave can be split into no more than two parts, and only with your consent.
- On your written request, up to half of your leave can be carried over to the next year.
- You cannot give up your annual leave. If your job ends before you take it, you must be paid for the unused days.
- You may not work for another employer during any of your leave.
Article 79
Sick leave
After 3 months of service: 2 weeks on full pay, then 4 weeks on half pay, then unpaid leave.
- You need a medical report from a doctor approved by your employer.
- Your employer cannot dismiss you or give you dismissal notice while you are on sick leave.
- After 12 weeks of sick leave in total, your employer may end your contract if a doctor confirms you are unfit to return to work.
Article 82
Maternity leave
50 days on full pay, at least 35 of them after the birth, once you have one year of service.
- You need a certificate from a licensed doctor showing the expected delivery date.
- If health problems after the birth stop you from returning, you can take up to 60 extra days of unpaid leave with a medical certificate.
- For one year after the birth you get a nursing break of up to 1 hour a day, counted as paid working time.
- Your employer cannot dismiss you while you are on maternity leave.
Article 96
Paternity leave
The Labour Law does not give paternity leave; it is only available if your contract or company policy offers it.
- Ask about paternity leave before you sign your contract, as it depends entirely on the employer.
- Some employers offer paid paternity days at their own discretion, so check the company policy.
Sources:mondaq.com
Hajj leave
Muslim workers can take up to 20 days of unpaid leave for Hajj, once during their service.
- Your employer decides how many workers can take Hajj leave each year, giving priority to those with longer service.
- Your employer cannot dismiss you or give you dismissal notice while you are on Hajj leave.
Article 83
Probation
Probation can last up to 6 months, and only once with the same employer.
- If your employer finds you unfit during probation, it must give you at least 1 month's notice.
- To move to another employer in Qatar during probation, you give at least 1 month's written notice. The new employer pays your old employer part of the recruitment cost and ticket, capped at 2 months of your basic wage.
- To leave Qatar during probation, you give at least 2 months' written notice.
- Since Law No. 9 of 2026, a non-compete clause cannot be applied if your job ends during probation.
Article 39
Notice period
After probation: 1 month's notice if you have worked 2 years or less, and 2 months if you have worked more than 2 years.
- Notice must be given in writing. These are legal minimums, and a contract can set a longer period.
- Whoever does not serve the notice must pay the other side compensation equal to the basic wage for the notice period, or for the part not served.
- When changing jobs, you keep working for your current employer during the notice period unless both sides agree to shorten it.
- The 2-year threshold replaced the old 5-year threshold in September 2020.
Article 49
Termination and end-of-service gratuity
After one year of service you are owed an end-of-service gratuity of at least 3 weeks' basic wage for each year worked.
- Your employer can dismiss you without notice or gratuity only for listed reasons, such as using false documents, absence without a valid reason for more than 7 days in a row or 15 days in a year, being drunk at work, or assaulting a manager.
- You can leave without notice and keep your gratuity if your employer breaks the contract, deceives you, assaults you, or knowingly puts you in danger.
- When your job ends, the employer pays for your return ticket home unless you move to a new job in Qatar.
- Law No. 9 of 2026 added a new ground for dismissal without notice or gratuity: inciting others to strike for illegitimate reasons.
Articles 51, 54 and 61
Calculate your end-of-service gratuity →Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Qatar?
QAR 1,000 a month basic wage for all workers of every nationality, under Law No. 17 of 2020 (in force since 20 March 2021). If your employer does not give you food and housing, it must also pay at least QAR 300 for food and QAR 500 for housing.
Do I need an NOC to change jobs in Qatar?
No. Since September 2020 you can change employers without a No Objection Certificate. You only need to give the legal notice and apply through the Ministry of Labour's online service.
Do I need an exit permit to leave Qatar?
No. Exit permits were removed for workers under the Labour Law by Law No. 13 of 2018, and for most other expatriates from January 2020. Note that a new arrival on a work visa cannot leave until the residence permit is issued.
How many days of annual leave do I get in Qatar?
At least 3 weeks of paid leave a year after your first full year, and at least 4 weeks once you have 5 years of service. Public holidays such as the two Eids and National Day are on top of this.
How is the end-of-service gratuity calculated in Qatar?
At least 3 weeks of your last basic wage for each year of service, once you have completed one year, with part years paid pro rata. Allowances are not included unless your contract says so.
What changed in Qatar's labour law in 2026?
Law No. 9 of 2026, published on 25 June 2026, excluded part-time and freelance workers from the law, allowed non-compete clauses of up to 2 years with Ministry approval, tightened strike rules, and requires certificates for some vocational jobs. Leave, notice and gratuity rules were not changed.
Last reviewed: 17 Oct 2026. General information based on the official sources cited - not legal advice. Check with the relevant authority before acting.
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