Exit Permit System to be Scrapped in Qatar?

According to reports in local media, Qatar is reconsidering it's exit permit system. This is good news since the current system is painful and requires expatriates to obtain permission to leave Qatar.

The Prime Minister went as far as saying that the current system had been likened to "slavery".

According to the report,

Qatar yesterday hinted at some changes being introduced to the exit permit system soon. “It is difficult to retain the exit permit system in its existing form,” the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani told Qatari businessmen.

“The system (exit permit) is being criticised. It is being likened to slavery,” the Premier said point-blank. He was addressing a meeting of Qatari businessmen convened by the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce at the Doha Sheraton. The objective of the meet was to discuss the woes of the private sector and ways to resolve them.

His remarks came in response to a question raised by a member of the audience who said the private sector would like the sponsorship and the exit permit system to be retained. And in case there are some modifications being made to the system, there needed to be some alternative mechanism in place to protect the rights of Qatari employers, the questioner said.

“It can’t remain like this,” the Premier said of the exit permit system. Present was the Minister of State for Interior Affairs H E Sheikh Nasser bin Abdullah Al Thani. He said his Ministry had, though, recommended that the sponsorship and exit permit system be retained

This is a really positive step in the economic and social development of Qatar.