Employer of record in Qatar: costs, gratuity and rules for 2026
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For an expatriate employee in Qatar the employer pays 0% in social insurance on top of salary, so the main cost beyond pay is the end-of-service gratuity of at least 21 days' basic pay per year of service after the first year, according to Pinsent Masons' guide to Qatar Labor Law 14/2004 (May 2023, a secondary source more than three years old). The EOR charges its fee on top, published from $199 a month by Payoneer Workforce Management (formerly Skuad) to $699 by Oyster when checked in October 2026. The rule US companies get wrong is that Qatari nationals are different: they are covered by social insurance under Law No. 1 of 2022, at 14% for the employer according to WTW (May 2022, an older secondary source), while Deloitte's 2026 guide still shows the older 10% of basic salary.
An employer of record in Qatar is a Qatari company that employs your worker on its own payroll, pays their salary and allowances and owes the end-of-service gratuity, while you direct the work.
- Minimum annual leave
- 3 weeks with 1 to 5 years'…
- Currency
- QAR
On this page
How a Qatar package is put together
Qatar pay is built from a basic salary plus allowances, and that split decides what the gratuity costs, because the gratuity is calculated on basic pay.
- Minimum wage: QAR 1,000 a month basic, plus at least QAR 500 for housing and QAR 300 for food when the employer does not provide them, under Law No. 17 of 2020, in force since March 20, 2021. It covers all workers, including domestic workers (Qatar embassy notice of the ministry announcement).
- Gratuity: at least 21 days' (three weeks') basic pay for each year after one year of continuous service, pro rata. It is lost on summary dismissal for gross misconduct.
- Probation up to 6 months; notice of 1 month with up to 2 years' service and 2 months beyond that; leave of 3 weeks with 1 to 5 years' service and 4 weeks after 5 years; a 48-hour week, 8 hours a day (Pinsent Masons, a secondary source from May 2023).
For Qatari nationals, social insurance applies. WTW (May 2022) reports the employer at 14% and the employee at 7% under Law No. 1 of 2022, with employee contributions based on earnings up to QAR 100,000. Deloitte's Qatar Highlights (June 2026) shows employer 10% and employee 5% of basic salary. We show both because the sources disagree.
We have not confirmed Qatar's labor terms on an official government page: the social insurance authority and legal portal did not return content when our research ran. Payroll frequency and public holidays are also not yet confirmed. Check terms with Qatar's labor ministry before you sign.
Employment costs and rules in Qatar
| Item | Qatar |
|---|---|
| Employer social contributions | 0% for expatriate employees (no social insurance); Qatari nationals 14% employer under Law No. 1 of 2022 (WTW), though Deloitte's 2026 guide still shows the older 10% of basic salary |
| What the employer pays | Qatari nationals only: social insurance employer 14%, employee 7% (Law 1/2022 per WTW); Deloitte Highlights 2026: employer 10% / employee 5% of basic salary. Expatriates: no social insurance; end-of-service gratuity instead |
| Caps and ceilings | WTW: employee contributions based on earnings up to QAR 100,000; employer cap not stated |
| Employee contributions | 0% for expatriates; 7% for Qatari nationals (WTW; Deloitte shows 5%) |
| Minimum wage | QAR 1,000/mo basic, plus at least QAR 500 housing and QAR 300 food allowances where the employer does not provide them (Law No. 17 of 2020, in force Mar 20, 2021); covers all workers and domestic workers |
| Annual leave | 3 weeks with 1 to 5 years' service; 4 weeks after 5 years (Labor Law 14/2004) |
| Probation | 6 months |
| Notice period | 1 month with up to 2 years' service; 2 months above 2 years |
| Severance | End-of-service gratuity: at least 21 days' (3 weeks') basic pay per year after 1 year of continuous service, pro rata; lost for summary dismissal for gross misconduct |
| Standard work week | 48 hours a week, 8 a day |
| Sample salary used | QAR 145,600 a year = USD 40,000 at the QAR 3.64 peg (QCB site blocks automated retrieval; peg not read on an official page today) |
Checked October 16, 2026. Source type: official (Qatar Embassy notice of the ADLSA minimum wage implementation) for minimum wage; secondary (WTW May 2022; Deloitte Qatar Highlights June 2026; Pinsent Masons May 10, 2023) for social insurance and labor terms. Sources are listed at the end of this page.
What an EOR charges to employ someone in Qatar
| Provider | EOR fee per employee per month | Deposit | Entity model (provider claim) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payoneer Workforce Management | from $199 | None listed | Claims owned entities across APAC, MEA, Europe and the Americas |
| Pebl | $399 | Not listed | About 90% of employees on Pebl-owned entities |
| Playroll | from $399 | One month's salary per employee, refundable | No clear owned-entity claim |
| Rivermate | $319 to $639 | Not stated | Claims 38 owned entities |
| Multiplier | $459 (annual) or $499 (monthly) | Sized from costs, fees and notice period (method published, no fixed amount) | Claims owned entities in 160+ countries |
| Rippling EOR | Quote only (third-party reference: $499) | Not listed | Claims Rippling entities; no partner mention |
| Deel | $599 | Not stated by Deel | Claims owned entities in 130+ countries |
| Remote | from $599 | Waived for startups; otherwise not stated | Claims 100% owned entities in 90+ countries |
| Atlas | from $599 | Not published | Claims owned entities in 160+ countries |
| Papaya Global | from $650 | Refundable deposit, amount not stated | Uses in-country partners |
| Oyster | $699 | At least one month of total service cost, refundable (per its terms) | Owned entities and partners |
| Globalization Partners (G-P) | Quote only | Not stated | Information page claims 100+ wholly owned entities |
Source: each provider’s pricing page, checked October 16, 2026. Fees are the provider’s charge on top of salary and the employer contributions above. Some providers adjust prices by country.
The yearly cost of a QAR 145,600 expatriate hire
USD 40,000 converts to QAR 145,600 at the fixed peg of 3.64 QAR per USD, though we did not read the peg on an official page. The table assumes the whole package is basic pay, which overstates the gratuity: in practice part of it is housing and food allowance.
| Line | Basis | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross package | USD 40,000 at the 3.64 peg | QAR 145,600 |
| Social insurance (expatriate) | none | QAR 0 |
| End-of-service gratuity accrual, if all pay is basic | 21 days' pay, 365-day year | QAR 8,376.99 |
| Same accrual on a 30-day month basis | 21 x QAR 404.44 | QAR 8,493.33 |
| EOR fee at $599 a month | $599 x 12 | $7,188 |
Source: Pinsent Masons Qatar labor law guide (May 10, 2023) for the gratuity rule; WTW (May 2022) and Deloitte Qatar Highlights 2026 for social insurance; $599 fee as listed by Deel and Remote on Oct 16, 2026. The 3.64 peg was not read on an official page.
The math: QAR 145,600 x 21 / 365 = QAR 8,376.99, or 5.75% of the package. On a 30-day month, QAR 145,600 / 12 = QAR 12,133.33 a month, a day is QAR 404.44, and 21 days come to QAR 8,493.33 (5.83%). Ask the EOR which basis it uses. The gratuity is owed at the end of employment, and only after a full year of service, so ask whether the provider bills it monthly as an accrual, at the end, or through the deposit.
The provider fee is $7,188 a year at $599, $2,388 at $199 (Payoneer WFM), $4,788 at $399 (Pebl, Playroll) and $8,388 at $699 (Oyster). Compare it with other countries in the EOR cost index.
Qatar contractors and sponsorship
Paying a Qatar-based contractor skips the gratuity, which is the main extra cost for an expatriate employee. The usual misclassification test applies: full-time work for you alone, on your schedule, looks like employment, and the gratuity is the cost a reclassification would bring back. Check the person's residence and work status before you contract, too. For real project work, contractor management platforms or a contractor of record can handle payment.
Picking an EOR for Qatar
The top two on our provider scores are Multiplier (79) and Oyster (64). Ask each one how it funds the gratuity and what the deposit covers. Oyster's deposit is at least one month of total service cost; Multiplier sets its deposit from costs, fees and notice periods. Ask who holds the work visa and whether the Qatar employer is the provider's own entity.
See the EOR ranking and the Oyster, Remote and Deel reviews, plus EOR pricing for deposit details.
Your own Qatar company
A Qatari entity of your own means company registration, immigration paperwork for each foreign hire and a monthly payroll. Our EOR versus own entity guide covers when it pays off. Gulf comparisons: United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an employer of record cost in Qatar?
Do employers pay social insurance for expatriates in Qatar?
What is the social insurance rate for Qatari nationals?
How is end-of-service gratuity calculated in Qatar?
What is the minimum wage in Qatar?
Sources (11)
- Payoneer Workforce Management (formerly Skuad): Skuad pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Pebl: Pebl EOR pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Playroll: Playroll pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Multiplier: Multiplier pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Deel: Deel pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Remote: Remote pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Oyster: Oyster pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- manila.embassy.qa/en/media/news/detail/1442/08/09/the-ministry-of-a... (checked October 16, 2026)
- wtwco.com/en-ae/insights/2022/05/qatar-expanding-the-social-securit... (checked October 16, 2026)
- deloitte.com/content/dam/assets-shared/docs/services/tax/2026/dttl-... (checked October 16, 2026)
- pinsentmasons.com/out-law/guides/qatar-labour-law-employers-need-know (checked October 16, 2026)
This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Rules and rates change, so check the official source linked above before you file or sign a contract. Read our disclaimer.