Qatar International Exhibition Center: Privacy Policy

The emergence of the QIEC
The Qatar International Exhibition Center emerged as a public institution by virtue of Law No. (1) of the 2003. The administration and management of exhibitions, which was previously affiliated to the Ministry of Economy and Trade as a public facility run on commercial basis moved to the new institution.
The QIEC activities
In order to achieve its objectives as set in its establishment document, the QIEC spare no effort to develop the industry of exhibitions in the State of Qatar in a way that contribute to the development of various sectors, namely commercial and industrial, agricultural, tourism, and services through the adoption of new exhibitions specialized in these fields. The QIEC aims also at developing the existing ones through an annual comprehensive plan. The center is working also to develop the sector through international agreements and partnerships with the governing bodies specialized in the exhibitions and conferences industry. This will help the center to promote itself and to develop the industry locally. The center is also following up the decree (15/1997), issued by the Qatari government relating to joining the international agreement and its protocols and amendments as governed by the BIE and to coordinate with the department of organizations and conferences in the foreign ministry. Furthermore, the center plays a significant role in the practice of exhibitions organizing in the country, with the aim to develop the exhibitions organizing companies in spheres like required qualifications and the security conditions and the quality of services and competition between these companies.
QIEC Vision & Future plans
Qatar international exhibition center has adopted a motivating motto for the year ahead. That is to promote local, regional and international expos and conferences and to develop them in order to take part in the overall development witnessed by Qatar. This conviction emanates from the importance of the industry of exhibitions in promoting all economic sectors and to bring all the new inventions to the local market. To achieve these goals, the QIEC signed several contacts and conventions with exhibitions' organizers for its annual plan of expos that would affect all the sectors. For 2007 a comprehensive plan was prepared to touch all sectors as is shown in the events calendar of 2007 published in our website. The center is also aiming at developing its portal, where all the necessary information would be posted in order to help visitors and exhibitors to interact with the center using the latest technology. All forms and procedures will be available online. This is seen by officials at the center as an important step to expand the base of customers in the country. It will be also a window for exhibitors to market their products in the local market. It will be also a way to raise awareness about the objectives of the canter through promotion campaigns.
QIEC Administrative mechanisms
The QIEC represented by its board of directors has classified the exhibitions held in the country into categories and adopted new pricing and licensing policies as follows:
- Specialized exhibitions:
  These are the exhibitions held specifically to showcase products on the sidelines of conferences or festivals in the country and are held every year. These are called specialized exhibitions and spaces are reserved for them on a yearly basis like QP exhibition, watches and the Doha jewelry & watches etc…The price per a square meter for these shows is QR 10 and the total area is 10000 sqm including the permanent services leased by Qatar airways, the national hotels company, Qatar national bank and Qtel, which offer services to the exhibitors and visitors. Outside areas are also rented for QR 5 per sqm.
- Commercial exhibitions These are exhibitions with commercial purposes. Visitors can buy products during the exhibition. In order to control these expos, the board of directors decided to categorize them into three categories held in three seasons. The price of the rent is QR 15 per sqm inside and QR 5 per sqm for the outside.
- Exhibitions & festivals The QIEC controls these exhibitions and has the right to charge the organizing parties after approving the exhibition. The applications for such exhibition should be submitted to the center along with a study including all details about the exhibition such as the category, the place, the period of the expo and the sectors involved and the objectives. After assessing the application, the center issues the license for the exhibition. Some decisions were taken regarding the exhibitions held outside the center anywhere else in the country. Accordingly the center banned these exhibitions and festivals because they are poorly organized and the security measures were not implemented.
- Licenses & fees The center issues licenses for exhibitions organizers that complete all the requirements for a total of QR 1000 for non-commercial expos and QR 2000 for commercial exhibitions.
Development plans since the new management assumed power
- Creation of a new and developed website that reflects the image of the center and where visitors can find complete information and forms that they can print and send back to the center. It is also a source of information about the center's activities.
- The leasing and investment contracts were organized in a way to facilitate money collection from contractors.
- Established contacts with the international bodies specialized in exhibitions promotion and the center is getting the membership of these bodies as a specialized place for exhibitions in Qatar.
- Signed contracts with accredited organizing companies to sponsor important international expos such as the car show, which will be held annually like the watches and jewelry exhibitions that sponsored annually by the ministry of economy.
Human resources in QIEC
New Qatari qualified people were recruited in the framework of the Qatarization policy. Expatriates were also recruited. The qatarization reached 60% and the expats 40% to reach 55% of Qataris employed in the center (excluding workers, guards and messengers).

With the new vision based on "participation in promoting exhibitions and conferences in order to take part in the comprehensive economic development in the country" responsibilities and tasks were redistributed in a way to optimize the role of every member of the center. This vision is intended to raise awareness among the public that the center is one of the most significant pillars in Qatar.