Minimum wage in Qatar 2026: QAR 1,000 basic, up to QAR 1,800

By the HRPricing editorial teamReviewed October 18, 2026How we research and score

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Qatar's minimum wage is QAR 1,000 a month in basic pay, plus at least QAR 500 for housing and QAR 300 for food when the employer does not provide adequate housing or food, under Law No. 17 of 2020, in force since March 20, 2021 for all workers of every nationality and sector, domestic workers included (labor ministry notice published by the Embassy of Qatar in Manila, checked October 18, 2026). We found no later revision, though we did not read an official 2026 notice. That is about $275 a month in basic pay, or about $495 at the full QAR 1,800, at the US Treasury rate of 3.64 riyals per dollar for September 30, 2026. Secondary sources say expatriate staff carry no employer social insurance and earn an end-of-service gratuity instead.

Qatar's minimum wage is a single, non-discriminatory national floor of QAR 1,000 basic pay a month, with fixed minimum allowances for housing and food that the employer owes only when it does not provide them.

Minimum wage
QAR 1,000a month
In US dollars
about $275a month
In force since
March 20, 2021
Next change
None confirmed as of October 2026
See Deel pricing on Deel’s site
On this page
  1. Three possible totals
  2. Other minimum wage rates in Qatar
  3. Per year and per hour
  4. Gratuity and social insurance
  5. Hiring in Qatar through an EOR

Three possible totals

The allowances depend on what the employer provides in kind:

  • Housing and food both provided: QAR 1,000 basic
  • Housing provided, food not: QAR 1,300
  • Neither provided: QAR 1,800

The same floor applies regardless of nationality, which was the point of the 2020 law: one rate for Qatari and migrant workers, in every sector.

Other minimum wage rates in Qatar

RateAmountIn USDEffectiveSource
Minimum housing allowance, where the employer does not provide adequate housingQAR 500 a monthabout $137March 20, 2021source
Minimum food allowance, where the employer does not provide adequate foodQAR 300 a monthabout $82.42March 20, 2021source

US dollar figures use exchange rates from the European Central Bank (Oct 16, 2026) and the US Treasury (quarter ended Sep 30, 2026), and move with the exchange rate.

Per year and per hour

At the full QAR 1,800, a year comes to QAR 21,600, about $5,934. Secondary sources give Qatar's standard week as 48 hours, 8 a day (we did not read the Labor Law text), so the basic wage works out to QAR 1,000 x 12 / (48 x 52) = about QAR 4.81 an hour. We found no revision of the rate since 2021 in our sources, but we did not read an official 2026 notice, so check before you budget for 2027.

Gratuity and social insurance

We could not read the official social insurance or Labor Law pages, so this section rests on secondary sources (WTW, Deloitte and a 2023 law firm summary). They say the employer pays no social insurance for expatriates. Instead, after one year of continuous service, the employee earns an end-of-service gratuity of at least 21 days' basic pay per year, pro rata, lost on summary dismissal for gross misconduct. At the minimum, that is QAR 1,000 / 30 x 21 = QAR 700 a year, counting a 30-day month.

Qatari nationals are different: Law No. 1 of 2022 sets employer social insurance at 14% (WTW), while Deloitte's 2026 guide still shows 10% of basic salary. Confirm the rate with your provider.

Hiring in Qatar through an EOR

An employer of record holds the employment contract and runs payroll. Fees run from a $99 starting price at Native Teams (its help center says EUR 99) to $699 at Oyster per employee each month (vendor pricing pages, October 16, 2026); Deel's $599 is more than the full $495 minimum package, so EOR use in Qatar mostly suits salaried professionals. See our scored EOR list, the Qatar hiring guide, when your own entity makes sense and the employer cost index. Unlike Qatar, Gulf neighbors Saudi Arabia and the UAE have no general minimum.

See Deel EOR pricing on Deel’s site

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Qatar?
QAR 1,000 a month basic, plus at least QAR 500 for housing and QAR 300 for food if the employer does not provide them, under Law No. 17 of 2020, in force since March 20, 2021.
What is Qatar's minimum wage including allowances?
QAR 1,800 a month when the employer provides neither housing nor food (QAR 1,000 basic + QAR 500 + QAR 300), about $495 at the US Treasury rate for September 30, 2026.
Does Qatar's minimum wage apply to domestic workers?
Yes. Law No. 17 of 2020 covers all workers of every nationality in all sectors, including domestic workers, according to the labor ministry's implementation notice.
What is the Qatar minimum wage in USD?
QAR 1,000 is about $275 a month and QAR 1,800 about $495, at the US Treasury rate of 3.64 riyals per dollar for September 30, 2026.
Do employers in Qatar pay social insurance for expatriates?
Not according to secondary sources (WTW and Deloitte): expatriates have no social insurance and instead earn an end-of-service gratuity of at least 21 days' basic pay per year after one year of service. Qatari nationals are covered by social insurance. We could not confirm this on an official page.
Sources (9)
  1. WTW: Qatar: expanding the social security system to the private sector (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  2. Deloitte: Qatar tax highlights 2026 (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  3. U.S. Department of the Treasury: Treasury Reporting Rates of Exchange (rates for Sep 30, 2026)
  4. Deel: Deel pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  5. Payoneer WFM (formerly Skuad): Skuad pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  6. Oyster: Oyster pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  7. Native Teams: Pricing (checked Oct 18, 2026)
  8. Native Teams: Pricing plans, features, benefits and how they work (help center) (checked Oct 18, 2026)
  9. Embassy of the State of Qatar, Manila: ADLSA notice on Law No. 17 of 2020: Embassy of the State of Qatar, Manila: ADLSA notice on Law No. 17 of 2020 (checked October 18, 2026)

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