Consultation on Representative Office and Wholesale Advisory Firm Amendments

QFCRA Qatar News

Published December 14th, 2025

Detected April 7th, 2026

Summary

The QFC Regulatory Authority has issued two Consultation Papers proposing amendments to the Representative Office Rules 2020 (REPO) and Investment Management and Advisory Rules 2014 (INMA). The proposed REPO amendments would tighten the authorisation framework for representative offices and make miscellaneous amendments to other parts of the regulatory framework. The proposed INMA amendments would introduce a new regulatory framework for authorised firms conducting advisory business for a new class of 'wholesale' customer. The Regulatory Authority is inviting public comments until 8 February 2026.

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What changed

The QFCRA is proposing to amend the Representative Office Rules 2020 to tighten authorisation requirements for representative offices operating in the Qatar Financial Centre. Simultaneously, the Authority is proposing amendments to the Investment Management and Advisory Rules 2014 to establish a new regulatory framework specifically for authorised firms providing advisory services to a distinct 'wholesale' customer classification. Both sets of draft amendment rules are subject to an eight-week consultation period ending 8 February 2026.

Authorised firms operating representative offices and investment advisers in the Qatar Financial Centre should carefully review the proposed amendments and prepare submissions to the Regulatory Authority. The introduction of a 'wholesale' customer framework may create new operational categories or modify existing obligations for advisory businesses. Firms may wish to request one-to-one meetings with the Authority to discuss the proposals and their potential impact on current business models.

What to do next

Submit comments on the draft Representative Office and Miscellaneous Amendments Rules 2026 by 8 February 2026
Submit comments on the draft INMA (Wholesale Advisory Firms) Amendment Rules 2026 by 8 February 2026
Review proposed changes to determine impact on current operations and licensing status

Source document (simplified)

QFC Regulatory Authority issues proposals on representative offices, wholesale advisory firms and other miscellaneous amendments

Doha, Qatar, Sunday, 14 December 2025

The QFC Regulatory Authority (“Regulatory Authority”) today issued two Consultation Papers on proposals to:

a amend the Representative Office Rules 2020 (“REPO”) that will tighten the authorisation framework for representative offices, as well as make miscellaneous amendments to other parts of the regulatory framework; and
b amend the Investment Management and Advisory Rules 2014 (“INMA”) that will apply a regulatory framework to authorised firms conducting advisory business for a new class of
‘wholesale’ customer
The proposed amendments are set out in the:
a draft Representative Office and Miscellaneous Amendments Rules 2026; and
b draft INMA (Wholesale Advisory Firms) Amendment Rules 2026.
The Regulatory Authority is proposing a consultation period of eight weeks to provide sufficient time for authorised firms to review the proposals. The Regulatory Authority is available to meet on a one-to-one basis with any firm wishing to discuss the consultation proposals.

You are invited to submit your comments by 8 February 2026.

Please click here to access the draft REPO and Miscellaneous Amendments Rules 2026.

Please click here to access the draft INMA (Wholesale Advisory Firms) and Amendment Rules 2026.