Qatari hotels told to stop service tax

Qatar told its hotels to stop taxing its customers and ensure all their bills are in Arabic or they will face punitive measures, a local daily said on Monday.

The hotels in the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter have been given until the end of this month to abide by the new rules, Sharq Arabic language newspaper said, quoting Sheikh Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani, director of the consumer protection department at the Qatari labour and trade ministry.

“We have given them one month to annul all service fees they have imposed without any justification or legal basis,” he said.

“The hotels and restaurants have no right to impose fees on their services…ministry inspectors will start visiting hotels and restaurants after the end of the deadline to ensure they all adhere to the new rules.”

Al Thani said hotels and restaurants had also been asked to issue their bills to customers in Arabic but added they can use other languages along with Arabic.

“Those who do not comply will be fined QR10,000…the existing law stipulates that they must use Arabic in their bills and announcements,” he said.

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