Qatar sets new training requirements for government employees seeking promotion

Qatar’s Civil Service and Government Development Bureau has outlined the training courses and development alternatives required for Qatari government employees nominated for promotion under Decision No. 11 of 2026.

The framework applies to Qatari employees subject to the Civil Human Resources Law and nominated for promotion, including those progressing up to the Excellent Grade.

It marks a shift away from linking employee training primarily to financial grade and instead connects professional development with leadership, behavioural and technical competencies, as well as performance evaluation results.

How many training hours are required?

Under the framework, the annual training requirement is divided across three main routes:

• 20 hours of in-person training courses
• 10 hours of online training through the Kafaa platform
• 20 hours through approved training alternatives

This gives employees several ways to complete their annual professional-development requirements rather than relying entirely on classroom-based courses.

What counts as a training alternative?

The approved alternatives shown by the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau include:

• job rotation;
• on-the-job training;
• developmental secondment; and
• job attachment.

These options are intended to give employees practical workplace experience alongside formal training.

Training linked to competencies and performance

The new framework connects professional development with employee competencies and performance outcomes rather than treating training as a requirement based only on financial grade.

The approach is aligned with Qatar’s National Training and Career Development Plan for 2026, which introduced a competency-based model covering leadership, behavioural and technical skills.

The national plan also connects training with performance evaluation and individual development plans.

Special 2026 requirement for some employees

The Bureau’s guidance also includes a transitional provision for 2026.

Employees who did not complete the required training hours during the previous interim period must complete 60 hours of in-person programmes during 2026.

Employees who have already completed those outstanding requirements only need to meet the regular annual training requirement and do not need additional hours.

Part of wider government workforce reforms

The changes follow amendments to Qatar’s Civil Human Resources Law and its executive regulations, which introduced measures aimed at strengthening performance, accountability, skills development and government-sector efficiency.

The Civil Service and Government Development Bureau is also conducting workshops for training officers and human-resources representatives across government entities to explain the new training regulations, promotion requirements and individual development plans.

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