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Qatar’s Ministry of Justice on October 11 inaugurated the new Official Gazette website and Al Meezan legal portal to make legislation more accessible and strengthen public participation in the lawmaking process. The platforms support immediate publication of laws upon approval and consolidate extensive legal resources into user-friendly digital interfaces available in Arabic and English. Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi led the launch ceremony, framing the initiative as a key component of the country’s digital transformation agenda. The move aligns with directives from the Prime Minister to improve government efficiency through technology.
Dr Abdulla al-Khaldi, director of the Official Gazette Department, said the website represents a fundamental shift by eliminating delays tied to printed editions. “Previously, we had to wait for an issue to be published before we could access the legislation,” he said. “Now, however, the legislation and law will be published immediately upon receipt, without waiting for a new issue to be released.” Users will receive mobile notifications when fresh content appears, allowing them to track regulatory changes in real time, al-Khaldi added.
The Al Meezan portal integrates more than 9,659 legislative instruments, 3,758 judicial rulings and 709 agreements into a centralised, searchable database that links laws to their judicial applications and related opinions. According to a report by The Peninsula, the platform also functions as a dedicated channel for citizens and specialists to comment on draft legislation and offer recommendations during public consultations. Both sites meet accessibility standards for persons with disabilities, ensuring broad participation across society and institutions.
The launch advances objectives set out in the Third Qatar National Development Strategy 2024-2030, which the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers said targets digitising 90 percent of government services while lifting customer satisfaction rates to at least 85 percent. The strategy further calls for sustainable economic growth averaging 4 percent annually through 2030 by fostering innovation, diversifying revenue streams and building a competitive knowledge-based economy. These digital legal tools are expected to reduce barriers for local and international investors seeking reliable regulatory information.
Development of the platforms resulted from collaboration among the Ministry of Justice, Supreme Judicial Council, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, National Planning Council, Civil Service and Government Development Bureau, and Council of Ministers Secretariat General. The integrated system builds on Qatar National Vision 2030 by promoting transparency, cutting administrative delays and supporting a business climate that attracts skilled talent and foreign capital. Officials stated that the project reflects a national partnership aimed at embedding technology across public services.
Any artificial intelligence components incorporated into the portals provide guidance only, with the ministry stressing that official legal texts published in the Gazette remain the sole authoritative reference. The portals are accessible to all individuals and entities via www.officialgazette.gov.qa and www.almeezan.qa, marking a concrete step toward the Digital Agenda 2030 goal of contributing 40 billion QAR to non-hydrocarbon GDP while generating thousands of new ICT-related jobs.
