Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA)

The QFMA was established under the Law No. 33 of 2005 regarding the establishment of Qatar Financial Markets Authority and transfer Doha Securities Market (DSM) (QSE currently) to Qatari Shareholding Company to regulate and supervise the financial markets in Qatar by taking all the supervisory and regulatory powers needed to exercise its functions under this law.

The QFMA officially undertook its responsibility in September of 2007, where the market, the listed companies and financial services companies were informed that the official functions of supervision and regulation were transferred from the market to the Authority after such functions were with the market for the last 10 years.

To keep up with developments in the financial markets, Law No. (8) of 2012 was issued regarding Qatar Financial Markets Authority and entered effect on October 18th of 2012 to replace the repealed law No. (33) of 2005.

Vision

Advancement of Qatari capital markets to serve as a model for financial services.

Mission

Investor’s protection, maintenance of Qatari capital markets’ stability, integrity and transparency; and development of proficiency and knowledge to enhance the growth and diversity of the national economy.

Key Functions

• Regulate, control and supervise the financial markets.
• Regulate the dealing of the securities activities with fairness, competitiveness and transparency.
• Raise public awareness of securities activities and promote in securities’ investment and development.
• Monitor the investors’ dealing rules governing activities related to trading of securities and other type.
• Implement disclosure policy to achieve fairness, transparency and prevent conflict of interests and internal information exploitation.
• Combat the causes of crimes related to the financial markets.
• Enhance liaison, communication and information exchange with foreign financial markets, and regional and international regulators, organizations and institutions to benefit from their dealing methodologies to develop the financial markets within the State of Qatar.
• Conduct studies, collect information and compile statistics on the financial markets’ activities and publish relevant reports.

Our Jurisdiction

By virtue of Law No. (8) of 2012, the Authority shall have the responsibility for implementation and enforcement of laws and regulations applicable to supervise and regulate the securities and the relevant activities in the State of Qatar, and therefore the functions of the Authority are reflected as follows:

• Issue rules and regulations concerning the capital market and dealing in securities within the State of Qatar, based on international standards that fit with the needs of the Qatari market and achieve the regulatory objectives of the Authority.
• Ensure integrity and transparency of the market by monitoring trading operations in parallel with the Qatar Exchange as the competent authority, to detect manipulations, violations or suspicious transactions in the market, and take necessary procedures in this regard in accordance with the rules and regulations.
• Follow-up the disclosures of listed companies, supervise trading, and monitor the compliance of licensed companies and approved individuals with the ongoing regulatory requirements.
• Carry out inspection visits (periodic and non-periodic) to the licensed companies and the stock market.
• License the listing of securities for trading in Qatar Exchange.
• Support the growth and development of capital market in the State of Qatar by encouraging the insertion of new financial instruments and trading mechanisms, applying advanced technology and raising investor awareness.
• Issue Licenses for financial institutions to conduct business and approve individuals to conduct the regulated activities and the functions subject to QFMA’s jurisdiction.