HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani has issued Decision No 163 for 2018 amending some of the stipulations of Decision No 242 for 2016 regarding the conditions, regulations, and the procedures to grant a temporary licence for some places or parts of them to practise commercial, industrial, or similar general commercial activities from homes. 
The new ministerial decision cancelled the condition regarding the need to place an identification board at the entrance of the house where such a commercial activity is licensed to operate.
However, these places should not place on the walls of the house any promotional or advertising announcements, and the same applies to related promotional material and display screens. 
The decision came as a response to the public demand in this regard and as part of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce's incentives to owners of small businesses and to ease the procedures for those applying for such commercial licences. 
In addition, it has been noted that placing an identification board indicating the commercial activities practised in the house or part of it could cause some embarrassments to the other residents there. This in turn could be a reason for discouraging many to apply in the first place for this type of licence. 
According to the ministry, the decision was issued to safeguard the privacy concerns particular to the Qatari society and to maintain the continuity of the home-based projects.
The MEC decision comes as part of the ministry's commitment to regulate business environment and create an investment environment favourable to the private sector and entrepreneurs and as part of its set of initiatives for the holy month of Ramadan.