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Qatar

Law No. 9 of 2022 Regulating the Right to Receive Information

Law No. 9 of 2022 Regulating the Right to Receive Information

RTI Rating: 43 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
15 days
Extension
15 days
Residency Required
None

Authority must decide within 15 calendar days from submission. May extend for additional 15 days if needed. Must notify requester within 7 days after decision is made. Information delivery within 7 days after approval notification. Expedited requests handled within 2 days for urgent cases.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • {'notes': 'Official form required; must be submitted to the concerned authority', 'method': 'official_form'}

Law requires use of official request form submitted to the concerned authority. Specific submission channels (online, mail, in-person) not detailed in available sources.

Required Elements

  • Official request form
  • Requester information (natural or legal person)
  • Description of information requested

Fees

Fees limited to reproduction and delivery costs (Article 19). No centralized fee schedule; each authority sets its own rates. Inspection of documents and electronic copies are implicitly free. No provision for initial free pages.

Exemptions

  • State Security
    Information harmful to security and economy of the state, public interest, or international relations
  • Privacy
    Information affecting sanctity of private life
  • Third-Party Confidentiality
    Information under confidentiality agreements or containing commercial/professional secrets
  • Preparatory Documents
    Information on policies, decisions, experiments or tests in preparation stage
  • Investigation/Prosecution
    Information harmful to investigations, arrest, or personal safety
  • Personal Records
    Educational, medical, employment records, account/banking information
  • Intellectual Property
    Information violating IP rights or fair competition
  • Statutory Confidentiality
    Information confidential in nature, protected, or not authorized for disclosure under laws in force
  • Necessary Circumstances
    Necessary circumstances that prevent request answering (Article 17(5))

All exemptions in Article 20 are mandatory except the vague "necessary circumstances" catch-all in Article 17(5). No public interest override test exists for any exemption. No harm test required for some categories (state security, public interest). No sunset clauses. RTI law does not take priority over other confidentiality laws (Article 2), creating conflicts. RTI Rating score: 43/150 (Weak).

Appeal Process

1

1

Qatar has a severely limited appeal system with NO independent oversight body—a critical weakness identified by RTI Rating (0/30 on appeals). Internal review to the agency head is the only available remedy. No external appeals mechanism exists, leaving requesters without recourse if the agency denies the internal appeal. The Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA) administers requests but does not serve as an independent appeals body.

Sources & References