Registering a home business in Qatar now costs QR300 — down from QR1,500 — and the list of activities a family can legally run from its own address has grown from 15 to 63, taking in everything from date roasting and jewellery design to computer programming and website design.The Ministry of Commerce and Industry's permanent fee cut and expanded registry mark how far the productive families sector has travelled. What began as a social empowerment initiative aimed at topping up household incomes has become a working contributor to economic diversification, local production, women's entrepreneurship and small business development — a shift more than three decades in the making.Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) figures show its flagship Min Al-Watan (Home-Grown) initiative supported more than 708 productive families during 2025 — roughly 620 women and 78 men — and helped launch 75 new production projects, many of them run by beneficiaries of social support programmes. Over the years, more than 1,000 families have received official backing through empowerment, marketing and training schemes; direct beneficiaries currently exceed 680.This year has been a busy one for the sector. On May 13, the MSDF Family Empowerment Department opened the Old Market Bazaar at Tawar Mall, featuring 10 selected family-run projects and running to the end of June, with handmade crafts, perfumes, clothing and traditional food sold direct to the public. The ministry followed with the Made at Home exhibition at Katara Cultural Village from May 28-30, where selected projects across organic personal care, food production and fine art tested consumer response and looked at scaling up. Crucially, all revenue generated at these markets goes straight back to the families, with no fees or deductions — a direct route to liquidity and self-sufficiency.In July, MSDF opened a fresh registration wave on the Min Al-Watan portal for Qatari citizens with home-based businesses or distinctive handicrafts, under quality criteria that include health certificates for food projects and proof of local production. On July 8, it opened nominations for Qatar's Best Small Business Award, part of the 13th GCC Recognition Ceremony for Small Business Owners, pushing home projects towards regional standards.Women account for the majority of home-based business owners, working across food production and confectionery, fashion design, handicrafts, perfumes, cosmetics, event planning and home décor. The model offers income, a brand and an economic footprint without surrendering the flexibility of working from home — and successful ventures frequently graduate into registered commercial enterprises that go on to hire.The wider small business environment has become more accommodating in step. Qatar Development Bank reported supporting more than 2,000 companies during 2025, with around QR2bn in financing and investments exceeding QR350mn. It also facilitated more than 445 localisation deals worth over QR2bn, tying smaller producers into larger economic sectors.Digital commerce has done the rest. Social media and online storefronts let productive families reach customers across the country without the overheads of a retail unit, building loyal followings on personalised service and locally rooted products.Experts note that home-based enterprise remains one of the most accessible entry points into the economy — low capital, high flexibility, and room for innovation and family empowerment. Food is still the strongest performer, with steady demand for homemade meals, traditional sweets, specialty desserts, catering and customised orders. Fashion and tailoring follow, alongside handicrafts and gifts.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) Wednesday highlighted a Metrash service that enables users to authorise their spouses and children to activate the application on their own devices, even if they do not have a mobile number registered in their name.The service removes what had been a common obstacle for dependants seeking access to the application’s digital government services, since Metrash activation traditionally required a mobile number linked to the user’s Qatar ID.The ministry said the authorisation could be completed through a few simple steps.Users should open the application’s main menu, select “Delegation” and then choose “Relative Registration”. They must enter the relative’s Qatar ID number, mobile number and ID expiry date before clicking “Add”.Once the request is confirmed, the relative will be authorised to use the specified mobile number to activate Metrash on their device. The process can be completed digitally without visiting an MoI service centre.The facility is intended particularly for family members whose mobile numbers are registered under their sponsor’s name. It gives them direct access to Metrash services on their own devices without requiring a separate mobile subscription linked to their Qatar ID.Metrash provides citizens and residents access to more than 400 MoI services covering areas including residency, visas, traffic and official documents. The application also offers a digital wallet and is available in Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Hindi and Urdu, according to its official application listing.

Women Shaping Qatar’s Next Chapter: Local Leaders Gain Regional Recognition Qatar’s growing business and innovation ecosystem is being shaped by a diverse group of women leading across technology, entrepreneurship, investment, tourism, communications and other key sectors. This momentum is reflected in Inc. Arabia’s Women of Influence 2026, which recognises 60 female leaders across the MENA region for their contributions to business, innovation and economic growth. Among those recognised are several women who are playing an active role in Qatar’s business and professional landscape. Their stories offer a glimpse into the increasingly diverse ways women are contributing to Qatar’s continued growth, from building homegrown technology companies and investing in the next generation of startups to advancing innovation, shaping Qatar’s global image and driving new ideas across industries. Among the recognised leaders is Sabina Abuova, Co-founder and Chief Brand and Vision Officer at Snoonu, who has played a key role in building one of Qatar’s most prominent homegrown technology companies. Her journey reflects the growing presence of women at the heart of Qatar’s digital economy and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Also recognised is Rama Chakaki, President of Qatar Science & Technology Park, whose work focuses on strengthening Qatar’s position as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and deep technology. Her leadership reflects the growing importance of research, technology and startup development to the country’s future economy. Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje, Partner at Rasmal Ventures, represents another important part of this ecosystem: investment. Through her work in venture capital, she contributes to supporting and backing the next generation of entrepreneurs and technology businesses emerging from Qatar and the wider region. The list also highlights women contributing to Qatar’s tourism, communications and creative landscape, including Sharifa AlBarami, Digital Content & Design Manager at Visit Qatar, and other Qatar-based leaders whose work connects local businesses and institutions with regional and international audiences. Together, these women represent different sectors, experiences and career paths — but share a common thread: their work is contributing to an increasingly ambitious and dynamic Qatar. Their recognition also comes at a time when the conversation around women’s participation in the economy is evolving beyond representation alone. Women are increasingly taking leadership positions, building companies, influencing investment decisions, developing technology and shaping the narratives through which Qatar is experienced both locally and internationally. For the next generation of women entering Qatar’s workforce and entrepreneurial ecosystem, these stories offer something equally important: visible examples of what leadership can look like across different industries. From technology and venture capital to tourism and innovation, the women being recognised today are not only achieving success within their respective fields, they are helping shape what comes next for Qatar.