Qatari Start‑ups: 7 Legal Documents You Must Have Before Fund‑Raising

Introduction

Legal documents for startups in Qatar are more than formalities—they’re your foundation for successful fundraising. Investors, whether angel or VC, expect your house to be in order before any cheque is signed.

At Rowwad Advisory & Business Solutions, we support Qatari founders with legal and strategic readiness to confidently approach investors and secure funding.

Why Legal Readiness Matters in the Qatari Startup Ecosystem

Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is growing fast, backed by QDB, QSTP, and private VC funds. But many founders miss out on funding due to:

• Unclear equity structures

• Missing IP documentation

• Lack of shareholder clarity

• Poor due diligence preparation

“An investor-ready startup is a legally sound startup. You can’t scale trust without structure.”
— Head of Legal Advisory, Rowwad

The 7 Legal Documents Every Qatari Startup Needs

1. Founders’ Agreement

Outlines roles, equity splits, IP ownership, vesting schedules, and exit clauses. Critical to avoid future disputes between co-founders.

2. Company Registration & CR Certificate

You must be legally incorporated in Qatar, whether under the Ministry of Commerce or Qatar Financial Centre. Investors will ask for a clear, valid Commercial Registration (CR).

3. Cap Table (Capitalisation Table)

A transparent record of all shareholders, their equity percentages, and any convertible instruments. This must be current and clean before fundraising.

4. Intellectual Property Assignment & NDA

Ensure IP created by founders or contractors is transferred to the company. Include NDAs with anyone who has access to proprietary ideas or code.

5. Term Sheet (Draft)

Even before an investor sends theirs, be ready with a sample term sheet reflecting your preferred investment structure, valuation, and investor rights.

6. Bylaws or Shareholders’ Agreement

This governs voting rights, board structure, transfer of shares, and exit procedures. It’s the rulebook of your startup—and it must align with Qatari law.

7. Data & Privacy Policy (if applicable)

Especially important for tech, eCommerce, or SaaS start-ups. GCC privacy regulations are tightening, and investors want to see compliance readiness.

Common Mistakes That Cost Founders Investment

• Ignoring legal documentation until after investor interest

• Having IP owned by individual founders, not the company

• Conflicting shareholder terms across different documents

• Not updating CR or commercial address

• No formal employment or advisor contracts in place

Mini Case: A Qatari Start-Up That Lost a Term Sheet

A fintech startup in Qatar had secured verbal investor interest. During due diligence, the VC discovered:

• No signed founders’ agreement

• Disputed IP ownership with a freelance developer

• Unclear equity promises made to early contributors

Result: investor pulled out. After partnering with Rowwad, the startup cleaned up its legal framework—and raised successfully 6 months later.

FAQ: Legal Prep for Start-Up Funding

Q1: Can I raise funds without being incorporated?
Not formally. Investors won’t invest in unregistered entities. Incorporation is step one.

Q2: What if we haven’t written a founders’ agreement yet?
Draft one now—before raising. It’s your safety net and a signal of maturity to investors.

Q3: Are Qatari laws startup-friendly?
Yes. Both QFC and mainland offer flexible structures—but you must ensure compliance from day one.

Work with Rowwad to Build a Legally Investable Start-Up

Our legal and business advisory team at Rowwad helps start-ups across Qatar with:

• Entity structuring (Mainland, QFC, Free Zones)

• Drafting founders’ agreements, IP, and NDAs

• Investor term sheet strategy

• Legal due diligence prep

• Post-funding governance setup

Speak with our Lusail legal team today and ensure your start-up is investor-ready—on paper and in practice.