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- Placing Advertisements in Qatar (Terms & Regulations)
- Requirements for issuing different business activities licenses
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- Types of Banners (Annual)
- Types of Banners (Temp)
Placing Advertisements in Qatar (Terms & Regulations)
View the general terms for placing advertisements in Qatar:
- Apply, pay the required fees and obtain a license through Single Window Portal before placing any advertisements.
- Get approvals to place advertisements on both sides of transport vehicles.
- Single Window shall determine the advertisement content, its location, area, duration, conditions and specifications.
- Written permission is needed for an advertising license to be transferred or assigned to a third party. This applies to temporary licenses and on a case-by-case basis. Unless there is a renewal, the advertisement shall be removed at the expiry of its term.
- The licensee shall carry out all the maintenance requirements on adverts if needed or notified by authorities. If the licensee does not comply within seven days from the date of a written notification, the authorities may remove the advert at the expense of the licensee.
- Loudspeakers, megaphone, public address systems shall not be used for advertising without a license.
- The license issuing authority shall not be liable for any material or moral damages caused to a third party or to the advert itself.
- The licensing authority reserves the right to supervise and inspect the adverts to ensure they abide by provisions of law. It is also entitled to revisit and review existing sites and forms of adverts and oblige their owners to implement required procedures within a specified period. It may also remove what it deems is contrary the provisions of the without compensation.
- Authorized individuals have been appointed as judicial officers by an attorney general decision, in agreement with the Minister of Commerce and Industry to control and report violations of provisions of this law.
- The law prohibits shredding, distorting or destroying advertisements.
- All advertisements should respect public morals. There should be no mention of language or words that are against any religious beliefs or general ethics
- Before placing an advert, each licensee shall take into account the security and safety requirements and avoid distorting or covering the landscape from the public.
- Advertising alcoholic items and cigarettes or other items prohibited by law is not allowed.
- Adverts should be placed in a way that they do not distract the flow of traffic, other forms of transport and pedestrians. The use of fluorescent lights that may deflect or endanger other motorists’ visions prohibited.
- All license conditions described in these requirements must be adhered to.
- All applied and modified fees should be paid in full when renewing or modifying
- The adverts’ trademarks, names and data should not contradict the data in the license application.
- If the business has an additional advert apart from its trade name, the sponsor’s product logo or name must not exceed 30 per cent of the total advertising space. There should one advert on each side of the building.
- Posters, writings, embossing or painting on walls that may put neighbors in harm’s way shall not be used as advertising
- Ventilation facilities, emergency exits and entry points on buildings should not be obstructed
- The measurements, standards and dimensions shall remain as set by the authorities. Electric lamps or flammable material shall be placed at a safe distance away from cloth or flammable adverts
- Advertisements shall not break with the aesthetics of an area. It should match the style and design of the surroundings and the existing adverts. In case an applicant is not the owner of a particular site where the advert is to be placed, a written consent of site owner must be attached to the application.
- Adverts are not allowed in the following locations:
- Places of worship.
- Historical or archaeological buildings and surrounding walls.
- Trees and plant containers.
- Street signs and traffic signals.
24. The advertisement must be located in places that do not cause any harm to parties using the building and shall contain environmentally friendly elements that are heat, cold and extreme weather resistant
25. The authority director shall has the final say on the position and status of existing banners before issuance of license or when there is doubt or disagreement between the authority and the owner.
26. The authority may amend the license duration when it deems necessary or due to public demand.
27. Billboards on residential complexes and villas that have temporary commercial licenses shall have prominent marking.
Regulations and Violations
- Competent authority’s employees reserve the right to remove an advert if a removal order has been issued and not complied with by the owners. The owner will cover all the costs for the removal.
- Construction, modification or maintenance of billboards and displays shall conform to the building and electricity laws.
- Billboards that are deemed unsafe and a danger to the public and property shall be removed without prior notice and in accordance with the law.
- Any billboards installed without a license shall be removed at the expense of the licensee.
- Any billboards that are installed or maintained in a way that obstructs at emergency entry and exit points of any building shall be removed at the expense of the licensee.
- Authorities may order the removal of any billboard that is placed or maintained in an incorrect manner within 7 days. If it does not comply with the decision, the billboard owner will be held legally accountable.
Required Maintenance of a Banner
- Any billboard that is repainted or replaced with the aim of changing the business activity, business or the advertised property shall be considered a new billboard. On the other hand, painting the billboard for regular maintenance to maintain its condition is not considered as a new.
- Billboards must be maintained regularly to safeguard public safety and the aesthetic view.
- Regular maintenance or repairing, painting, repainting or cleaning do not require a license.
- A license shall be taken when construction and electrical alterations or changes in the size, shape or location of the sign are determined.
License Cancellation
License shall be cancelled in the following cases:
- If a law enforcement official concludes that the activities conducted in the business do not match the information mentioned in the application form or the business violates any advertising provisions of the law. A notification shall be sent to the owner or applicant and given two days to rectify the situation. The official shall notify the licensee in writing for non-compliance and issue a notice period after which no party is permitted to continue work. Any installed material must be removed.
