Qatar
Qatar has no freedom of panorama, and a 2025 law makes publishing images of identifiable people without consent a criminal offence even in public.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Qatar Media Corporation or the relevant authority for commercial shoots; site management for heritage and museums
Cost: Casual personal photography generally needs no permit; commercial shoots require a permit and often a local crew
Commercial shoots need a permit. Government, military, security, airport, port, and industrial sites are strictly off-limits.
Drone / airspace
Regulated by the QCAA; registration and permits are limited to citizens or residents via a Qatar-registered entity, so tourists are effectively barred
Drones are commonly seized at customs. For detail, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
No by default for people: under Law No. 11 of 2025, publishing images of identifiable individuals without consent is a criminal offence even in public
Crowd shots are lower risk; avoid identifiable individuals, especially women and families.
Freedom of panorama
Restricted (no freedom of panorama)
Under Law No. 7 of 2002, reproduction of architecture and public art is permitted only for non-commercial personal use and teaching, so you may not sell images of copyrighted buildings or public art.
Practical notes
- Never photograph government, military, police, airport, port, embassy, or oil and gas sites; it is treated as a security matter.
- Do not photograph local people, particularly women and families, without clear permission; publishing an identifiable image without consent is a crime.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: