Qatar Cabinet approves draft amendments to QFMA law, refers it to Shura Council

Qatar's Cabinet approved a draft law amending certain provisions of Law No. 8 of 2012 concerning the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) and decided to refer it to the Shura Council. The Peninsula Qatar reported that the decision came at the weekly Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday morning at the Amiri Diwan.

According to The Peninsula Qatar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani chaired the meeting. Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi briefed the press afterwards on the Cabinet's decisions.

The Peninsula Qatar reported that the draft law was prepared by the QFMA in coordination with relevant entities. It is part of an effort to develop the legislative framework for capital markets in line with the rapid evolution of financial products and instruments.

The newspaper said the draft expands the QFMA's scope to encompass digital securities and off-market activities. It also consolidates the regulation of investment funds and collective investment schemes under the authority's supervision. In addition, it strengthens the QFMA's mechanisms for addressing violations and restructures the penalties for capital market offenses.

All of this is aimed at enhancing investor protection and upholding the principles of disclosure, transparency and fair trading, according to The Peninsula Qatar's account of the briefing.

The Peninsula Qatar also reported that the Cabinet approved the draft executive program for the memorandum of understanding between the governments of Qatar and the Kingdom of Morocco in the field of endowments and Islamic affairs. It likewise approved the draft executive program for the cooperation agreement between the governments of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt in the field of youth and sports, for the years 2026, 2027, and 2028.

At the start of the meeting, the Cabinet commended the participation of the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in the 8th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, held on Tuesday in Moscow, the newspaper reported. The Cabinet also congratulated the winners of the first edition of the Qatarization Award in the Private Sector (2026).

The Cabinet concluded the meeting by reviewing several reports, The Peninsula Qatar said. They included the semi-annual report of the national committee for combating environmental damage and encroachments for the period from Feb. 1 to July 31, 2026, and the first semi-annual report for 2026 on implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy (2024-2030).