Family Law
Marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance, and domestic violence protections under Qatar's codified Family Law and Sharia-based system.
Covered in this guide:
Qatar's family law is codified in Law No. 22 of 2006, applied to Muslim residents through the Sharia Courts. Non-Muslim expats can ask the Civil Court to apply their home country's law. Marriage needs mutual consent, mahr, two witnesses, the bride's wali, and mandatory premarital screening. Divorce runs through talaq, khul', faskh, or mutual agreement, with reconciliation required first. Custody follows the best-interests-of-the-child standard. Domestic violence is criminalised by Law No. 16 of 2020 on Family Cohesion and Protection from Domestic Violence.
Key Laws
Law No. 22 of 2006
Family Law
Codified marriage, divorce, custody, maintenance, and inheritance rules
Law No. 16 of 2020
Family Cohesion and Protection from Domestic Violence
Standalone domestic violence criminalization and protection orders
Law No. 11 of 2004
Penal Code
Criminal penalties for assault, abuse, and family-related offences
Constitution of Qatar
Article 21
Family as the basis of society; state protection of family and motherhood
Marriage Requirements and Registration
Marriage in Qatar is governed by the codified Family Law, which sets out clear requirements rather than leaving them to judicial discretion:Both parties must consent freely to the marriage. Forced mar...
Divorce Procedures
Qatar's Family Law recognizes several types of divorce, all of which must go through the courts to be legally effective:Talaq (husband-initiated): The husband can pronounce divorce, but it must be reg...
Child Custody (Hadana) Rules
Child custody in Qatar follows codified rules in the Family Law, centered on the child's welfare:Hadana (physical custody) is typically granted to the mother for young children: until age 13 for boys...
Child Support and Spousal Maintenance
Qatar's Family Law sets out clear obligations for financial support:The father is responsible for financially supporting his children, including housing, food, education, clothing, and healthcare.Chil...
Inheritance Rules
Inheritance in Qatar follows Islamic Sharia rules as codified in the Family Law:Fixed shares (faraid): The law prescribes specific shares for each heir. For example, a surviving wife receives 1/8 if t...
Domestic Violence Protections
Qatar enacted standalone domestic violence legislation in 2020 — Law No. 16 of 2020 on Family Cohesion and Protection from Domestic Violence — making it one of the few Gulf states with a dedicated DV...
Guardianship and Kafala
Qatar uses a guardianship system codified in the Family Law, based on Sharia principles:Wilaya (guardianship) over a child's person and property belongs to the father, then the paternal grandfather.Th...
Non-Muslim Family Law Application
Non-Muslims in Qatar have the option to apply their own national law rather than Sharia for personal status matters — a right that many expatriates do not realize they have:Qatar's Family Law (Law No....