Qatar limits who can register .qa domains and tightens transfer and renewal rules from October 2026

The Qatar Domains Registry (QDR), which the Communications Regulatory Authority operates, has set a new group of domain name glossary termdomain name A readable internet name made of labels separated by dots. Full definition of domain name policies that take effect on 22 October 2026. The rules change how .qa names are registered, transferred, renewed and managed, and they apply to individual holders, businesses, registrars glossary termregistrar A company that registers domain names for customers with the registry. Full definition of registrar, resellers glossary termreseller A business that sells domains using another registrar's accreditation. Full definition of reseller and hosting providers. QHost Technologies, a CRA-accredited .qa registrar, says it is informing its customers about the changes.

Eligibility is the most significant change. Until now, .qa names could be registered by individuals and businesses anywhere in the world, with no residency, company registration or physical presence in Qatar required. Under the revised policy, which QHost cites as Section 5.17, second-level registrations are limited to defined applicant glossary termapplicant An organization that has applied to ICANN to run a new gTLD. Full definition of applicant groups: commercial businesses subject to commercial registration or trademark requirements, ICT companies and service providers, individuals who are citizens or residents of Qatar, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and government and military entities. The provisions refer to requirements already set for restricted extensions such as .com.qa, .net.qa and .name.qa. The new version no longer explicitly permits unrestricted registration by applicants worldwide, so foreign applicants will need to check the criteria before registering. The policy does not state that existing internationally registered names are automatically cancelled or revoked. QHost advises existing holders to keep registrant glossary termregistrant The person or organization that holds a domain name registration. Full definition of registrant details accurate and registrations active, and says no new application is needed only because of the update.

Transfers change in three ways. The registrar transfer window rises from two calendar days to five, unless the transfer is accepted earlier. A new restriction bars transfers within 60 calendar days of a domain's initial registration or its most recent transfer between registrars. Each inter-registrar transfer must also include a mandatory one-year renewal glossary termrenewal Paying to extend a domain registration for more time. Full definition of renewal payable to the gaining registrar glossary termgaining registrar The registrar a domain is being transferred to. Full definition of gaining registrar. Registrars cannot charge a separate transfer fee but may charge customers for that renewal. QHost says it will stop offering free zero-year transfers.

Grace periods glossary termgrace period A window after a registry action when it can be reversed, usually with a refund to the registrar. Full definition of grace period for new registrations glossary termnew registrations Domains newly created in a period, also called adds or creates. Full definition of new registrations and renewals extend from three days to five days. Grace periods let registrars reverse eligible transactions under the registry glossary termregistry The central database and system of a top-level domain, or loosely the organization that runs it. Full definition of registry's conditions. QHost notes that grace periods do not guarantee refunds, which remain subject to registrar terms, and that it charges a service fee for cancellation and refund requests.

The policy also introduces a 30-day redemption period for domains deleted outside the initial grace period, during which the sponsoring registrar can request restoration. It is followed by a one-day Pending Delete period, after which the domain becomes eligible for permanent removal from the registry and re-registration.