Qatar

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Qatar, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2.

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Qatar, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120.

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Qatar. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance.

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122.  Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Qatar at 62 out of 100 (33rd out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  relatively clean).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations

Articles

The US State Department's page on QATAR may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

QATARI AUTHORITIES HAVE EXTENDED THE MANDATORY QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ARRIVALS INTO THE COUNTRY THROUGH DECEMBER 31 TO CURB THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19). INDIVIDUALS ARRIVING FROM "HIGH RISK" COUNTRIES - INCLUDING NATIONALS, RESIDENTS, AND VISA HOLDERS - HAVE TO TEST NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19 NO MORE THAN 48 HOURS BEFORE TRAVEL. THEY WILL THEN BE SUBJECTED TO SEVEN DAYS OF HOME QUARANTINE. IF TRAVELERS CANNOT OBTAIN A COVID-19 FREE TEST FROM THEIR COUNTRY OF DEPARTURE, THEY MUST QUARANTINE THEMSELVES IN A HOTEL FOR SEVEN DAYS BEFORE TAKING THE COVID-19 TEST, AND THEN UNDERGO HOME QUARANTINE FOR ANOTHER WEEK. THOSE FROM "LOW RISK" COUNTRIES, HAVE TO TAKE A COVID-19 TEST UPON ARRIVAL AND HOME QUARANTINE FOR ONE WEEK.  ALL TRAVELERS WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO A SECOND COVID-19 TEST AFTER COMPLETING THEIR HOME QUARANTINE. IF THE TEST IS POSITIVE, AUTHORITIES WILL TRANSFER INDIVDUALS  TO A GOVERNMENT FACILITY FOR ISOLATION. WEARING OF FACEMASKS IN PUBLIC REMAINS MANDATORY NATIONWIDE. NATIONAL CARRIER QATAR AIRWAYS (QR) HAS RESUMED OUTBOUND FLIGHTS TO SELECT DESTINATIONS. QATARI CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS CAN TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY AND RETURN AT ANY TIME.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu.

If you are traveling to Qatar on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic

The quality of medical care in Qatar is generally adequate, although serious illnesses or injuries may require medical evacuation. In a health emergency, dial 999 for an ambulance.

Tap water may be contaminated. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, drink bottled or purified water. Street vendors and other unregulated food distributors should be avoided. Travelers should avoid raw meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Risks of disease in Qatar include West Nile virus (risk is highest in spring and summer), sand fly fever (risk is highest from April to October), and leishmaniasis (risk peaks from July to September). Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, a viral illness new to humans, remains rare, occasional cases have been reported in Qatar since 2012.

Qatar has a low crime rate. Most serious crimes occur in communities housing temporary workers in Doha. Elsewhere, pickpocketing is the biggest problem.

Women should dress conservatively and travel with trusted male companions whenever possible. Lone women commonly face harassment and should not engage their harassers.

Members of the LGBTQ community should maintain a low profile, as behavior associated with queerness is prohibited and punishment may be harsh.  

Police in Qatar are generally professional, well-trained, and polite to travelers.

Legal/Political

Exit Bans: Exit bans can be placed on people for various reasons, including:

  • labor or financial disputes
  • personal debt (including credit card debt and bank loans)
  • outstanding contracts or leases
  • traffic fines
  • bounced checks
  • pending legal matters
  • gestures or behavior reported by Qataris that are viewed as “offensive.”

U.S. citizens have been subjected to exit bans which bar them from leaving Qatar; some have also been placed in prison pending payment of debts. Once placed under an exit ban, you are barred from leaving the country until the case is abandoned or resolved by the court. This process could take months or even years. The Government of Qatar does not offer any social support for those who remain in the country, who must rely on local charities or help from family or friends.

Always carry a copy of your passport for proof of identity, or authorities may detain you for questioning.

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be deported, arrested, or imprisoned. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. 

Criminal penalties for certain offenses are harsher than those in the U.S.:

  • Incidents involving obscene language, gestures, or insulting comments often result in arrest, overnight imprisonment, and/or fines.
  • Alcohol-Related Offenses: Qatar maintains a zero-tolerance policy against drinking and driving. Penalties for public intoxication and other alcohol-related offenses are severe, including immediate arrest, heavy fines, imprisonment, and/or deportation.
  • Illegal Drug Usage: Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and steep fines.

In case of arrest: Qatari authorities do not routinely notify the U.S. embassy of a U.S. citizen’s arrest.  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. If you are not allowed to do so, ask a friend or family member to contact the U.S. Embassy.

For more serious crimes, Qatari authorities may not allow U.S. Embassy officials to visit until the initial interrogation is completed.

Qatari police sometimes arrest U.S. citizens without providing access to legal counsel. You could be arrested for being a:

  • Potential witness to a crime (including traffic accidents involving injuries; slander, traffic arguments, etc.)
  • Relative of a suspect
  • Crime Suspect

If arrested—regardless of the charge—you may spend 1-2 nights in jail before a hearing takes place. Once an arrest is made, only the Qatari Public Prosecution and Courts have the authority to grant a release.

LGBTI Travelers: Same-sex sexual relations between men are against the law, even if relations are consensual.  Penalties include lashings, lengthy prison sentences and/or deportation.

There is no law criminalizing same-sex sexual relations between women, though cultural norms are conservative.