Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016)
Qatar's Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) establishes the data protection framework, with the Compliance and Data Protection Department under the Ministry of Transport and Communications overseeing enforcement. The law covers processing principles, consent requirements, data subject rights, cross-border transfers, and data security obligations. Applies to processing of personal data in Qatar. Separate provisions exist under the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Data Protection Regulations 2021, which are closely aligned with GDPR and applicable to QFC-registered entities.
Framework summaries on this platform are AI-assisted interpretations for educational and compliance planning purposes. They do not reproduce or replace the official standards. Refer to the authoritative source for the definitive text. Framework names and trademarks belong to their respective organisations.
Framework Domains (7)
Chapter 1 — Definitions and Scope
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 1 | Open Finance Implementation |
| Art. 2 | Consent Definition |
| Art. 3 | Objectives of Open Finance |
Chapter 2 — Obligations of the Controller
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 4 | Participating Institutions |
| Art. 5 | Legal Recognition of Data Messages |
| Art. 6 | Writing |
| Art. 7 | Minimum Standards |
| Art. 8 | Data Categories |
| Art. 9 | Free Data Sharing |
Chapter 3 — Processing of Sensitive Personal Data
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 10 | Consent Requirements |
| Art. 11 | Consent Revocation |
| Art. 12 | Data Ownership |
Chapter 4 — Data Breach Notification
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 13 | Data Security and Privacy |
| Art. 14 | Direct Data Flows |
| Art. 15 | Cybersecurity Requirements |
Chapter 5 — Rights of the Data Subject
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 16 | Data Quality |
| Art. 17 | Governance Structure |
| Art. 18 | Central Bank Supervision |
| Art. 19 | Consent Management Controls |
Chapter 6 — Cross-Border Data Transfers
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 20 | Executive Accountability |
| Art. 21 | Administrative Sanctions |
| Art. 22 | Suspension and Revocation |
Chapter 7 — Penalties and Final Provisions
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 25 | Criminal Penalties |
| Art. 28 | Administrative Measures |
| Art. 31 | Designation of Chief Privacy Officer |
| Art. 32 | Entry into Force |
Maps to 587 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016)?
Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) is a compliance framework from Qatar with 7 domains and 26 controls. Qatar's Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) establishes the data protection framework, with the Compliance and Data Protection Department under the Ministry of Transport and Communications overseeing enforcement. The law covers processing principles, consent requirements, data subject rights, cross-border transfers, and data security obligations. Applies to processing of personal data in Qatar. Separate provisions exist under the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Data Protection Regulations 2021, which are closely aligned with GDPR and applicable to QFC-registered entities. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) have?
Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) has 26 controls organised across 7 domains. The largest domains are Chapter 2 — Obligations of the Controller (6 controls), Chapter 5 — Rights of the Data Subject (4 controls), Chapter 7 — Penalties and Final Provisions (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) map to?
Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) maps to 587 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are BS 65000:2014 — Guidance on Organizational Resilience (54% coverage), Australia Consumer Data Right — Banking (CDR) (50% coverage), ILO Nursing Personnel Convention C149 (1977) (50% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) compliance?
Start your Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Qatar Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016) requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 26 controls and track your progress.
Start Your Compliance Journey
Create a free account to run self-assessments, get AI advisory, and track your compliance progress across 692 frameworks.
Get Started Free →Free forever — no credit card required