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The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) has issued Circular No. (3) of 2025, requiring all car dealerships to refrain from exporting new vehicles that have been registered for less than one year.The circular exempts authorised car agents and vehicles intended for personal use by individuals.The measure is designed to protect consumers, while maintaining the availability of new vehicles in the local market.It seeks to preserve a fair balance between supply and demand, prevent unjustified price increases, and avoid practices that may mislead consumers.The circular also shields commercial establishments from penalties under the Consumer Protection Law for practices such as withholding goods or removing them from local market through export.The Law No. (8) of 2008 on Consumer Protection and its executive regulations, issued under Ministerial Decision No. (68) of 2012, define suppliers’ obligations and enforcement mechanisms.Article 10 prohibits suppliers from withholding goods, refusing to sell them to manipulate market prices, imposing purchase conditions, or charging more than the publicly announced price.Article 14 forbids creating false or misleading impressions for consumers, including providing inaccurate information about product details (the country of origin).The circular takes effect from the date of issuance, and the ministry urges all car dealerships to comply with the circular to avoid violations and legal action.The MOCI will take strict action against any negligence or failure to comply with Law No. (8) of 2008 and its executive regulations, and will intensify inspection campaigns to ensure full adherence.

The Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting (Goic), in co-operation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), is currently implementing a project that aims to develop a mechanism to connect factories with research and development centres and universities in Qatar.In this regard, the Qatar Chamber’s (QC) industry committee recently held a meeting with Goic and reviewed the progress of the system, which could go a long way in enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of Qatar’s manufacturing sector.Describing the project as one of the key initiatives of the National Strategy for Manufacturing Industries 2023–30; Abdul Kareem al-Rashid, Strategic Planning Advisor at Goic, said the linkage targets six priority industrial sectors in Qatar: plastics, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, basic metal, and building materials. "The mechanism will be piloted in one of the factories operating within these sectors, in collaboration with a research centre, to jointly address a specific challenge," he said, adding one of the most significant expected outcomes of the project is the establishment of a practical and proven mechanism for sustainable co-operation between industry and research centres in Qatar.He also said the project seeks to raise awareness among factories about the importance of collaborating with research and development centres, while strengthening the overall innovation ecosystem that supports industrial development in the country.Abdulrahman bin Abdullah al-Ansari, QC board member, who chaired the meeting, stressed the importance of the project for Qatari factories operating in several vital sectors. Despite Qatar’s remarkable progress in scientific research, development, and innovation, he said "there is still no clear mechanism to connect factories with research and development centres or universities." He affirmed the QC's preparedness to cooperate with Goic and all relevant entities in matters related to coordinating with Qatari factories, whether through direct communication with them or by identifying the obstacles they encounter.He further emphasised the chamber’s commitment to supporting Goic during the pilot testing phase of the proposed mechanism.