Doha, Qatar: Academics and legal experts emphasised the importance of aligning national legislation with international standards and modern investment requirements to foster the competitiveness of the national economy, improve the business environment, and attract investments.
In a roundtable discussion on enhancing the role of the legal profession in developing the legislative framework and improving the investment climate in Qatar, convened as part of the Doha Legal Forum, the panelists stressed the importance of preserving legislative identity and national sovereignty.
Chairman of the Board of the Qatar Lawyers Association, Lawyer Mubarak Abdullah Al Sulaiti, affirmed that the association plays an active role in developing the nation's legislation by providing guidance on draft laws and legislative proposals, particularly legislation related to judicial procedures, civil procedure, and family law.
This is part of supporting what he described as the legislative reform movement in Qatar, in accordance with international legal standards and societal requirements.
He explained that the association participates through specialized legal committees composed of a select group of lawyers, focusing on reviewing draft legislation and providing technical feedback to ensure alignment with rapid developments, and underscored the importance of involving relevant experts in drafting legislation to achieve effectiveness and fairness.
Al Sulaiti also highlighted the association's role in promoting awareness through organizing conferences and workshops and providing specialized digital platforms, thereby contributing to raising professional standards in legal practice, training lawyers, and reinforcing confidence in the legal system.
He emphasised that the judicial environment is one of the primary factors investors consider before making investment decisions, and that the speed of dispute resolution, integrity of the judiciary, clarity of procedures, and ease of profit repatriation are essential elements of an attractive investment environment, cautioning that procedural complexity or restrictions on capital movement could hinder investment attraction.
Al Sulaiti further stressed the importance of developing a comprehensive dispute resolution system, noting that it should not be limited to arbitration alone, despite its importance, but should also strengthen amicable settlement and reconciliation mechanisms, which provide faster, more flexible, and cost-effective solutions.
Dr. Noura Al Sahlawi, Senior Lawyer and Law Professor at Qatar University, emphasized that aligning Qatari legislation with international standards and modern investment requirements remains one of the key challenges amid the economic and legislative transformations Qatar has undergone over the past two decades. She noted that this issue represents the core of the current legislative, economic, and institutional transformation.
Al Sahlawi pointed out that legislative alignment is a fundamental condition for the success of countries seeking integration into the global economy, without undermining legal sovereignty or legislative identity. She noted that the quality of laws, clarity of provisions, and speed of procedures are now decisive factors in boosting legal certainty and the attractiveness of the business environment.
Dr. Al Sahlawi highlighted Qatar's recent legislative progress, including updates to company laws, regulation of foreign investment, strengthening arbitration independence, and issuing legislation in technology, financial services, e-commerce, labor, taxation, and customs, alongside the development of specialized courts, most notably the Investment and Trade Court.
She clarified that legislative alignment does not imply copying ready-made legal models, but rather adapting them to the national context while preserving the nation's legal and economic specificity, noting that investors seek legislative stability, clear procedures, and effective dispute resolution channels.
Al Sahlawi addressed the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements and modern business models, such as fintech, digital trade, and artificial intelligence, calling for a proactive legislative vision based on planning and flexible laws capable of keeping pace with these transformations.
Finally, she underscored that simplifying legal procedures, digitizing services, unifying government service channels, and setting clear timelines for finalizing transactions are core pillars for optimizing the investment climate, reducing capital flight, and fostering the confidence of both domestic and foreign investors.
