Doha, Qatar: The Official Gazette remains the primary and legally binding source for publishing laws, decrees, and legislative decisions in the State of Qatar, serving as the authoritative reference for citizens, residents, government entities, and legal professionals.
Rawya Matar Al Mansouri, Assistant Director of the Official Gazette Department at the Ministry of Justice, explained that the Official Gazette is a publication issued by the Ministry of Justice through its Official Gazette Department. It contains laws, Amiri decrees, Cabinet decisions, ministerial resolutions, and any other legal instruments that legislation requires to be published.
Speaking to Qatar TV recently, Al Mansouri noted that the Gazette dates back to the early 1960s, with its first issue published on January 2, 1961, during the reign of the late Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani. The inaugural edition included Law No. (1) of 1961 establishing the Official Gazette for the Government of Qatar, marking the beginning of the country’s formal legislative publication system.
She said the primary objective behind establishing the Official Gazette was to ensure that citizens and residents are informed of all laws and decisions issued by the legislative authority, providing an official and transparent mechanism for publishing legislation.
“The Official Gazette is the first place anyone should refer to when looking for information about the State’s laws, amendments, decrees, and regulations,” Al Mansouri said. “Once legislation is published in the Official Gazette and the legally prescribed period specified in the legislation has elapsed, it becomes enforceable and binding on everyone.”
She stressed that publication in the Official Gazette is what gives legislation its legal effect, making it applicable and enforceable throughout the country in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.
Al Mansouri also clarified the distinction between the Official Gazette and daily newspapers. While newspapers may report on newly issued laws or government decisions as part of their news coverage, they do not constitute official legal publications and carry no legal authority or binding effect.
“Daily newspapers are media outlets that provide news and information. Although they may publish reports about new laws or regulations, publication in a newspaper does not create legal obligations or legal consequences,” she explained.
By contrast, she said, the Official Gazette is published exclusively by the Ministry of Justice and serves as the State’s official legislative record. The publication of a law or regulation in the Gazette is the legal basis for its implementation and enforceability.
“The Official Gazette is the official and trusted source,” she said. “Newspapers may reproduce or report on legislation, but the legally recognised and binding version is the one published in the Official Gazette by the Ministry of Justice.”
