The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued its first formal guideline governing food and goods delivery via digital platforms — reshaping obligations for apps, restaurants, and couriers alike.

Qatar’s delivery sector has grown at a remarkable pace over the past decade. Apps connecting consumers to restaurants, supermarkets, and retailers have become a fixture of daily life in Doha. Until now, however, the relationships between platforms, providers, and couriers operated with limited regulatory structure. That has changed.

In April 2026, Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (“MOCI”) published its Guideline for Delivery Activities and Services via Digital Platforms and Applications, the country’s first dedicated regulatory framework for the sector. Grounded in existing competition protection and consumer rights legislation, the guideline draws clear lines around pricing, transparency, promotional offers, and the conduct of all parties involved.

Businesses operating in this space, whether as platforms, restaurants, or independent couriers, should treat compliance as an immediate priority.

One of the guideline’s most commercially significant provisions is its protection of provider pricing autonomy. Restaurants and retailers may set different prices on delivery platforms than they charge in-store and platforms cannot require price parity. This directly challenges practices that some global platforms have historically imposed on partners.

All commissions, fees, and deductions charged to providers must be fully disclosed in written contracts. Any amendment to these terms requires the provider’s written approval. Hidden margins, undisclosed financial conditions, and the exploitation of a provider’s dependence on a platform to impose unfair terms are expressly prohibited.

When it comes to how providers are ranked, platforms must disclose the criteria they use, including distance, ratings, delivery time, reliability, and capacity, and must clearly label any placement that results from paid advertising.

The guideline introduces a clear fault-based framework for cancellations. If a consumer cancels before food preparation begins, no cost falls on the consumer. Cancellation after preparation begins entitles the provider to recover actual costs only, but no penalty charges or inflated fees.

For cash-on-delivery orders, platforms must implement a prior confirmation mechanism and establish contractual rules that allocate responsibility when an order goes uncollected. Where non-collection results from a provider error, the provider bears the cost. Where it results from platform or courier fault, the platform is liable.

All discounts, promotional campaigns, and prize draws must be licensed by MOCI before launch. Prices before and after discounts must be displayed with full transparency. Inflating prices ahead of a “discount” is expressly prohibited, as is changing discount rates without prior approval or running offers beyond their licensed period.

Key obligations for each party

  • For platforms: pricing, commissions, and ranking criteria must be fully disclosed; price parity clauses are prohibited; paid placements must be labelled.
  • For providers: products must be sold at the price shown on the platform; hidden charges at the door are not permitted; product descriptions must be accurate in all material respects: including ingredients, weight, calories, and special attributes.
  • For delivery companies: pricing must be registered and electronically linked with the Ministry; any changes to pricing data must be reported promptly.
  • For couriers: no payments beyond what appears on the platform may be requested. This includes tips presented as mandatory; orders must be delivered intact, on time, and using approved equipment such as temperature-controlled bags.

Oversight sits with MOCI’s Consumer Affairs sector, which has authority to conduct pre- and post-market monitoring, intervene to deter violations, and document breaches under Qatar’s competition protection and consumer rights legislation.

If you would like to discuss how this guideline affects your operations, contracts, or compliance obligations, our commercial and regulatory team in Doha is available to assist.

Authors: Dean Jaloudi, Partner and Jehan Saleh, Associate.