The legal framework for civil claims in Qatar
The Civil Code promulgated by Law No. 22 of 2004 is the core source of the rules on contracts, liability for wrongful acts, unjust enrichment and limitation. The procedure for filing a claim, conducting the case and appealing judgments is governed by the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law promulgated by Law No. 13 of 1990, as amended. After judgment, the Judicial Enforcement Law No. 4 of 2024, in force since November 2024, applies and created a dedicated Enforcement Court.
Limitation periods to watch
| Type of claim | Limitation period | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Compensation for a wrongful act (tort) | 3 years from when the injured party learned of the harm and of the person liable, or 15 years from the act, whichever is sooner | Article 219 |
| Personal rights in general | 15 years, unless the law sets another period | Article 403 |
| Periodic, recurring rights such as rent and salaries | 5 years | Article 404 |
| Fees of professionals such as doctors, engineers and lawyers | 5 years | Article 405 |
| Annulment of a contract | 3 years depending on the ground, and in all cases 15 years from conclusion of the contract | Article 161 |
| Unjust enrichment | 3 years from knowledge of the right to compensation, or 15 years from when the right arose, whichever is sooner | Civil Code |
Deadlines for appealing civil judgments
The period to appeal a civil judgment is thirty days, or twenty days in urgent matters, unless the law provides otherwise (Article 164 of the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law). A further challenge to the Court of Cassation is available in the cases and under the procedures set out in Law No. 12 of 2005 on cassation challenges in non-criminal matters.
Common compensation claims in Qatar and civil actions
Compensation for harm
A tort claim rests on three elements: fault, harm and a causal link between them. The claimant bears the burden of proving the harm and its extent, and the court frequently appoints an expert to assess it, so the quality of medical, technical and financial evidence directly affects the amount awarded.
Contract disputes
Where one party breaches a contract, the other may, depending on the circumstances, seek performance or termination with damages. We always start with the contract and the parties' correspondence, because notice clauses, penalty clauses and performance periods often decide the direction of a dispute before it reaches court.
Enforcing judgments and instruments
Enforcement requests are now handled by the Enforcement Court, with procedures increasingly carried out electronically. The Judicial Enforcement Law gives cheques the force of an enforceable instrument, and gives registered or notarised leases that force for eviction after the lease expires, which shortens the path for a number of claims.
What to prepare before meeting a civil litigation lawyer in Qatar
- The contract, its annexes and all related correspondence.
- Invoices, receipts and bank transfers proving the sums claimed.
- Medical reports, police records or technical reports relating to the harm.
- Photographs and digital evidence with their dates.
- A timeline showing when the harm occurred and when you learned of it and of the person responsible, as this sets the start of the limitation period.
- Any notices you sent or received, and any earlier judgments or decisions in the same dispute.