- What
- Gaming and screen incentive programmes; licensing with 100% foreign ownership.
- Who
- Entities licensed by Media City Qatar; the screen incentive is for Qatari entities only.
- From abroad
- A company in Qatar is required — Entity must hold a Media City Qatar licence; the licence itself allows 100% foreign ownership; The Qatar Screen Incentive is limited to Qatari entities (including SPVs) licensed by Media City Qatar All programmes open to founders from abroad →
Checked · October 2026 · mediacity.qa/en · How we check ↗
In detail
Media City Qatar is a media hub (regulator, developer and investor) in Qatar. Doha media hub established by Decree No. (13) on 30 May 2019 as cluster regulator, developer and investor, located in Msheireb Downtown Doha. It licenses media companies, digital startups and content creators with 100% foreign ownership through a digital one-stop platform, and lists incubation programmes and business acceleration initiatives among its services. Two incentive programmes take online applications: a Gaming incentive for entities licensed by Media City Qatar, and the Qatar Screen Incentive - a rebate on qualifying spend, run with the Film Committee - for Qatari entities (including SPVs) licensed by it. Applying does not guarantee approval.
- Amount
- Incentive programmes for licensed entities - rates not published on the application pages
- Terms
- No
- Eligibility
- Entities licensed by Media City Qatar (Gaming incentive) · Qatari entities, including SPVs, licensed by Media City Qatar (Screen incentive)
- Sectors
- Gaming and development studios, film and series production, TV and video, OTT, e-publishing, user-generated content, media technology
- Services
- Licensing with 100% foreign ownership
- visas and permits
- tax-free business benefits
- coworking, offices and production-ready studios
- roadshows and startup engagement programmes
- Status
- Open - Gaming and Screen incentive application forms live (checked September 2026)
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what Media City Qatar publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“Complete the application form below to apply for Media City Qatar Gaming incentive program. The incentive program is applicable only to entities licensed by Media City Qatar.”
“Established by Decree No. (13) on 30 May 2019, Media City Qatar was created as a cluster regulator, developer, and investor to strengthen Qatar’s media sector”
“Media City Qatar is currently located in Msheireb Downtown Doha — a premier destination for business, media, and culture.”
“MCQ provides licensing and permits for media companies and content creators, allowing 100% foreign ownership and full operational rights through a seamless, digital platform built for media registration and compliance.”
“Media City Qatar (MCQ) is a state-of-the-art media hub in Doha, built to empower media companies, digital startups, and creative professionals.”
“state-of-the art studios, post-production facilities, incubation programs, and business acceleration initiatives that support startups and entrepreneurs”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare government programmes in Qatar
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Media City QatarGaming and screen incentive programmes; licensing with 100% foreign ownership. | not published | No equity | Open |
| Invest QatarFDI facilitation, stakeholder introductions and direct pitching to VC funds via Gateway. | not published | No equity | Active |
| Qatar Development BankBacking via Startup Qatar, targeting a QAR 1 billion portfolio by 2030. | not published | Not published | Active |
| Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)Business licensing; Web Summit Qatar 2026 incentives waive fees for the first three years. | not published | No equity | Active |
| Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ)Free zone investment incentives and benefits. | not published | No equity | Active |
| QCB FinTech Regulatory SandboxLive testing of fintech under QCB supervision for up to 12 months; Express 3–6 months. | not published | No equity | Active |
| QFC Digital Assets LabRegulatory pathway to QFC licences; no funding stated. | not published | No equity | Open |
| Startup QatarInvest Qatar platform routing founders to the QDB-powered Investment Program. | not published | Not published | Active |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
More programmes that take no equity →
Questions founders ask
What does Media City Qatar offer?
Gaming and screen incentive programmes; licensing with 100% foreign ownership.
Does Media City Qatar take equity?
No equity — incentives for licensed entities.
Can founders from abroad apply?
A company in Qatar is required — Entity must hold a Media City Qatar licence; the licence itself allows 100% foreign ownership; The Qatar Screen Incentive is limited to Qatari entities (including SPVs) licensed by Media City Qatar.
Is there a deadline?
No closing date is published; applications are open.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · mediacity.qa/en · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/mediacityqa · Checked October 2026