Picture a Doha furniture maker shipping display pieces to a design fair in Milan, or a production company flying camera kit to a shoot in London. Each time those goods cross a border, customs can ask for duties and taxes on items that will come straight home again. The ATA Carnet exists to avoid that cost. It is about to become easier to use. On 23 October, The Peninsula reported that Qatar Chamber and the General Authority of Customs had trained more than 35 customs officials on the electronic ATA Carnet, a move that Sheikha Tamader Al Thani, Director of International Relations and Chamber Affairs at Qatar Chamber, said "reduces reliance on paper documents, accelerates transaction processing, and enhances data accuracy and transparency" (The Peninsula). For SMEs planning to exhibit or work abroad, now is a good time to learn how carnets work.

What an ATA Carnet is

Qatar Chamber describes the carnet as "a passport for goods (a set of colour coded forms)". It is an internationally recognised customs document that allows goods to be imported temporarily without duties or taxes, as long as they are re-exported within the time limits set by customs (Qatar Chamber). Qatar Chamber is the only organisation in Qatar authorised to issue and guarantee carnets, and Qatar began accepting them on 1 August 2018, when the Chamber became a guaranteeing member of the international ATA chain (Norfolk Chambers of Commerce).

According to Qatar Chamber, carnets can cover:

  • Commercial samples and advertising film;
  • Goods for international exhibitions and fairs;
  • Professional equipment, including press and broadcasting, film and music, surgical, educational and stage equipment.

The International Chamber of Commerce says a carnet can be used for several trips within a validity of up to one year, and only for goods that are "not perishable or consumable" (ICC). Stock you intend to sell abroad is not covered; a carnet is for goods that come back.

Where it works, including the Gulf

The ATA system now operates in 81 countries and customs territories, following Saudi Arabia's entry on 1 June 2024 (ICC). Coverage varies by country and by type of use, so always check before you travel. In the Gulf:

  • Saudi Arabia accepts carnets for goods for display or use at exhibitions, fairs, meetings or similar events, but not for professional equipment or commercial samples (ICC).
  • Bahrain and the UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) are listed by Qatar Chamber as accepting carnets for exhibitions only.
  • Major markets including the EU countries, the UK, the US, China (exhibitions only), India (exhibitions only), Japan, Korea, Singapore and Turkey are on Qatar Chamber's list.

Qatar Chamber's published country list appears to be older than the current ICC figure, so confirm the latest coverage and any restrictions for your destination with the Chamber.

What it costs and how to apply

Carnet fees were reset under the Chamber's fee reduction that took effect on 20 October 2024, according to Gulf Times. The current figures, which match Qatar Chamber's own page, are:

  • Issuance for one visit: QAR 1,000 for Chamber members, QAR 2,000 for non-members;
  • Each additional country: QAR 100 (members) or QAR 200 (non-members);
  • Urgent issuance: QAR 500 within 24 hours, QAR 400 within 48 hours, QAR 250 within 72 hours;
  • Additional sheets for listing goods: QAR 25 (members) or QAR 50 (non-members);
  • Cancellation: QAR 500.

Qatar Chamber does not publish a security deposit figure. Because the Chamber guarantees the carnet to customs, ask it directly whether security is required for your goods and how much, before you budget.

Applications can be submitted online through Qatar Chamber's portal or at its ATA Carnet counter, open Sunday to Thursday, 7am to 2pm, where approved carnets are also collected. Contact details are on the Chamber's ATA Carnet page, and its verification service lets customs and partners confirm a carnet is genuine.

The mistakes that cost money

Most carnet problems come from paperwork rather than policy. The rules for goods entering Qatar on a carnet, set out by Roanoke Insurance Group and Norfolk Chambers, also show the discipline customs authorities expect:

  • No split shipments. Qatar does not accept split shipments. The items listed at entry must be the same items re-exported, and partial imports must be re-exported as one consignment.
  • Late re-export is expensive. In Qatar, goods re-exported after the deadline attract QAR 1,000 for each week or part week, up to 20% of the goods' value. Goods that are never re-exported become liable for import duties, taxes and penalties.
  • Missing stamps. If the carnet is not presented on re-export, a regularisation fee of QAR 500 to QAR 1,000 applies, even with other proof.
  • Undervaluation. Understating values can lead to seizure, confiscation and prosecution.
  • Vague event details. Note the event name, venue and dates on the importation voucher.

The following is general guidance. Build the general list carefully, with serial numbers for equipment and realistic values, and give one person responsibility for getting every voucher stamped on entry and exit. Treat the final re-export date as a hard deadline in the project plan, not an afterthought.

Going electronic

The ICC's digital carnet system, eATA, went live on 1 June 2026 in 30 countries: the 27 EU member states, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. The ICC says more customs administrations are expected to join before the end of 2027, and that ATA procedures are set to become fully digital worldwide by 1 January 2028 (ICC). The Qatar Chamber–Customs training covered issuance and use of electronic carnets, temporary admission and re-export, carnet tracking and closing transactions. Qatar Chamber has also run e-ATA Carnet training for Saudi Arabia's ZATCA. Until electronic processing is confirmed for both your departure and destination points, keep the paper carnet as your working document and ask the Chamber which format applies to your trip.

The Vision 2030 and NDS3 connection

Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy aim for a more diversified economy in which private companies compete beyond the domestic market. For a small company, an international trade show is often the most efficient way to meet distributors and buyers, and carnets remove one of the hidden costs of getting there. A digital carnet that moves faster through customs makes it easier for Qatari manufacturers, designers, creative studios and technology firms to test new markets without tying up cash in duties on goods they will bring home.

What to do next

  • List your next three events abroad and check each destination's carnet coverage for your type of goods (exhibition, samples or professional equipment).
  • Compare costs: estimate the duties and taxes you would pay or deposit without a carnet against the Chamber fee and security.
  • Check membership: Chamber members pay half the non-member issuance fee.
  • Apply early to avoid urgent fees, and ask about security requirements and electronic processing.
  • Assign a carnet owner for every trip, responsible for stamps, deadlines and one-consignment re-export.

Sources

Photo: Wojciech Kotlicki / Pexels

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