The Cabinet has given its nod to a draft law that will regulate the work of real estate brokers in the country.
The matter was referred to the Advisory Council at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani at the Emiri Diwan yesterday.
The draft law will replace Law No 13 of 2011 regulating the real estate brokerage business.
This is being done to enhance the profession in line with the development witnessed by Qatar, contribute to the development of the country’s real estate market and determine controls to practise the profession in a comprehensive manner, in order to deal with the shortcomings that have emerged during the application of the existing law, according to a report by the official Qatar News Agency (QNA).
The draft law includes provisions related to the realty brokerage business licence and the establishment of a “committee of real estate brokers’ affairs” at the Ministry of Justice, in order to consider the grievances of stakeholders regarding decisions of the competent administration for such brokers, the obligations of brokers, disciplinary accountability and revocation of the licence, the report states.
Realty brokers have to adjust their existing operations in line with the new law within a maximum of six months from the date it comes into effect. The deadline can be extended through a resolution by  the Minister of Justice for a similar period or more.
In May this year, Gulf Times had reported – based on an article in local Arabic daily Al Sharq – that a new law on real estate brokerage was on the anvil. The report noted that the departments concerned had prepared the draft law, comprising a number of articles, to regulate the profession, real estate companies and offices.
Also yesterday, the Cabinet approved a draft law regulating the electricity and water connections and decided to refer it to the Advisory Council.
The draft law will replace Law No 4 of 1997 on the procedures and fees for the connection of electricity and water supplies, and Law No 29 of 2008 on the works of electricity and water supply, in order to keep abreast of modern developments in the field.
According to the QNA report, the draft law stipulates that Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) is responsible for electricity and water connection works in different buildings and facilities, and prohibits carrying out any of these works without obtaining a licence from the corporation.
Further, the Cabinet endorsed a draft law amending some provisions of Law No 6 of 2014 on organising real estate development. This was done in the light of a study conducted by a working group comprising representatives from the ministries of Economy & Commerce (MEC), Justice (MoJ) and Municipality & Environment (MME), as well as Qatar Central Bank (QCB).
The amendments contained in the draft law include modifying the ministry defined in the legislation, wherein the MME becomes the competent ministry instead of the MEC, and the establishment of one or more committees at the MoJ to settle real estate development disputes.
The committee is to be headed by a judge who ranks not lower than a president at the Court of First Instance chosen by the Supreme Judiciary Council. It will also include, as members, representative from the MME, MoJ, MEC and QCB.
The procedures for consideration of requests, the relevant rules to be followed before the committee and details of how its decisions are to be implemented will be issued by a decision of the Council of Ministers.
The Cabinet also approved a draft decision by  the Minister of Economy and Commerce to open commercial representation offices in the State. The minister prepared the draft law to replace Ministerial Decision No 142 of 2006 regulating commercial representation offices.
The draft law includes provisions on the documents that have to be attached with a licence application, duration of the licence, cancellation of a licence and closure of the office and functions of the office, among others.
The meeting also approved participation in Expo 2020 Dubai the formation of a committee to prepare for the event.
Further, the Cabinet endorsed draft air service agreements between the Qatar government and those of Togo, Pakistan and North Korea.
The Cabinet reviewed a draft regulation on human resources at the Qatar Financial Markets Authority and took the appropriate decision.