Community rules and Qatar's legal red lines

Qatar's legal red lines

The following are offences in Qatar, and posting them online carries the same legal liability.

1. 1

   No criticism of the head of state or government, no rumours

   Do not post content criticising the Emir, insulting the flag or inciting against the state, and do not post or share unverified news or rumours — especially on politics, security or conflicts. Basis: Penal Code Article 136 bis (up to 5 years' imprisonment) and Cybercrime Prevention Law Article 6.

2. 2

   Respect religion

   Do not post content that insults Islam or any other religion, and do not proselytise on this site. Basis: the Penal Code's provisions on offences against religion.

3. 3

   Respect privacy; no insults or defamation

   Do not post other people's photos, videos, documents, phone numbers or private-life details without their consent — this is an offence even if true. Do not insult, defame or threaten anyone. Basis: Cybercrime Prevention Law Article 8 (up to 3 years' imprisonment or a QAR 100,000 fine).

4. 4

   No pornography, gambling or content against social values

   Including explicit images, solicitation, gambling and betting. Basis: Cybercrime Prevention Law Articles 7 and 8 and the Penal Code.

Items and services you can't post

• ·E-cigarettes, pods, electronic shisha and chewing tobacco (banned from import, display and sale under Article 7 of Qatar's tobacco law)
• ·Alcohol and pork (sold only through Qatar Distribution Company; private resale is not allowed)
• ·Prescription medicines, narcotics and controlled drugs
• ·Weapons, ammunition and restricted blades
• ·Counterfeit, pirated or trademark-infringing goods
• ·Buying, selling or transferring visas or sponsorships
• ·Unlicensed money exchange or hawala; renting or selling bank cards, registered SIM cards or ID documents
• ·Adult products and sexual services

Our own rules

• ·Job posts must not charge applicants any fee or deposit, and should state the role, location and pay.
• ·Rental posts must be real properties, and must not ask for a deposit before a viewing.
• ·Second-hand posts should use real photos and describe condition and flaws; we don't take part in transactions — buyer and seller agree on the price.
• ·Reviews should describe your own real experience — no ads, no redirecting people off the site.
• ·Photos must not show other people's faces, ID documents or licence plates.

How we handle it

• ·Automatic checks when you post: prohibited items are blocked; sensitive topics such as politics, religion or privacy go to manual review before going live.
• ·All job and rental posts are reviewed by a person before going live.
• ·Anyone can report content; anything reported by 3 accounts is hidden automatically until we review it.
• ·Violating content is removed and repeat or serious offenders are banned; where the law may have been broken, we cooperate with the Qatari authorities.