Highlights of Qatar’s 2024 Laws

In 2024, Qatar issued 20 laws and one decree by law. Nine laws amended existing legislation, six replaced repealed laws, five addressed new topics, and one related to approving the state budget.

Comparing the past five years, 17 laws were issued in 2023, 10 in 2022, 21 laws and two decrees by law in 2021, 20 laws and four decrees by law in 2020, and 25 laws and two decrees by law in 2019.

In 2024, 27 issues of the official gazette were published, averaging two per month. Notably, November saw four issues, and December eight, with Issue 26 on December 31 featuring constitutional amendments and their explanatory memorandum.

No law was published within the two-week period mandated by Article (142) of the Constitution. Thirteen laws were published over a month and a half after issuance, four laws after more than two months, and the state budget law remains unpublished.

For instance, eight laws issued on September 1, 2024, were not published in Issues 12 (September 12) or 13 (September 19) but rather in Issue 14 (October 17).

Non-compliance with the constitutional timeline raises concerns about the official gazette’s electronic system established by Law (12) of 2016.

Twelve laws followed the constitutional default for implementation, taking effect one-month post-publication. Two laws took effect six months after publication, two the day after publication, and three on the date of issuance. however, the state budget law and Decree by Law No. (1) of 2024 will take effect on January 1, 2025.

All laws were proposed by the Council of Ministers, except the Shura Council’s internal regulations law, proposed by the Council under Article (97) of the Constitution.

Shura members did not propose any law, continuing a trend seen in previous years, despite Article (105) allowing such proposals.

A key milestone in 2024 was Qatar’s first constitutional amendment since 2004.

It revised 14 articles, added Article 75 Bis, a paragraph to Article 125, and repealed three articles. The amendments, referendum results and ratification were published in Issues 16, 20, and 26 of the official gazette, respectively.

One decree by law was issued in 2024 under Article (70) of the Constitution, permitting emergency measures in Parliament’s absence.

However, the urgency criterion was unfulfilled, as it takes effect four months after publication, on January 1, 2025.

Notably, this decree by law was assigned an independent sequential number, deviating from a 64-year practice.

Decrees by law equate to laws upon Shura approval, which can amend existing laws or vice versa.