Qatar has again stepped up enforcement of a law this year that requires businesses, residential compounds and all public areas around the country to be monitored by closed circuit television (CCTV).

This means that all public areas in compounds and residential towers such as pool areas, clubhouses, streets, sidewalks, underground parking, and boundary walls will be monitored on camera to comply with the law.

As this regulation is starting to be slowly enforced again this year across Qatar, you may see more cameras and monitoring in your compounds and towers. Some of the compounds and residential towers already have monitoring in place.

The positive aspect of the additional surveillance is that it should help to improve safety and security in places such as underground parking lots and streets where previously there was no monitoring. It will also make investigations easier for authorities in case of accidents or thefts from vehicles.

This enforcement is in line with Qatar's efforts to tighten security throughout the country and to keep an eye on everything and everywhere possible.

Qatar's Surveillance Law No. 9 of 2011

Law No. 9 of 2011 mandates that surveillance cameras be installed in residential compounds, hospitals, malls, banks, hotels, warehouses and other locations, and is enforced by the MOI's Security Systems Department (SSD).

However, these systems are prohibited in private areas like bedrooms, treatment or patient rooms in hospitals, changing rooms and toilets.

SSD has made it mandatory for business to have a control room with CCTV (or a small control unit for small businesses) before they can renew their company registration. Inspectors usually check the facilities and inspect if the surveillance cameras are functioning properly.

Last year, Ministry of Interior made it mandatory for shopping malls to install CCTV in their parking lots.

By law, CCTV recordings must be saved for 120 days, and cannot be edited before being handed over to competent government departments upon request.

However, there are very few places from which businesses can buy the CCTV cameras. A surveillance system is expensive to purchase and fix the system as per the regulations.

Those who violate the law could face up to three years in jail and fines of QR50,000, as well as the suspension or cancellation of their business license.

Read the complete Surveillance Law No. 9 of 2011