Qatar's Sweetened Drinks Tax 2026: What Is Taxed, What Is Not and What to Expect

Soft drinks and sweet juices are part of daily life in Qatar, so this tax raised an obvious question: how much more will my drink cost? The honest answer is that the amounts have not been published in the news reports, and the tax falls first on importers and producers, not shoppers. This guide sets out what the General Tax Authority (GTA) has confirmed, what remains unknown and how to read a label. We used QNA, Qatar Tribune, The Peninsula and Gulf Times reports from July 2026, the GTA guide of 31 May 2026 as reported, and EY's tax alert. It is general information, not tax advice.

What is the new tax?

The GTA began applying an excise tax mechanism on sweetened drinks on Monday 6 July 2026. It was introduced under Law No. 2 of 2026, which amends the Excise Tax Law and its schedule of excise goods. The model is called tiered volumetric: the amount depends on the level of sugar or added sweetener in the drink, not on the size of the pack alone, and the more sugar a drink has, the more it is taxed. Reports say tax is payable only on drinks with medium or high levels of added sugar. Drinks with lower sugar are not taxed.

What is taxed?

• Sugar sweetened drinks such as soft drinks and juices with added sugar.
• Products that can be made into drinks and contain sugar or sweeteners, such as concentrates, powders and extracts.
• Packaged products. The GTA's guide defines a sweetened drink as a product to which a source of sugar or an artificial sweetener is added and which is intended for drinking.

What is not taxed?

• Drinks prepared for immediate consumption and served without sealed packaging, such as a cafe latte or fresh juice.
• Drinks with low added sugar.
• Drinks in non-taxable categories. The reports do not say how milk, infant formula or medical products are treated, so we do not make claims about them.

What has not been published?

None of the reports we found gives the sugar thresholds per 100 ml for each tier, or the tax per litre. They also do not say whether imported and locally made drinks are treated differently, or what the effect on shelf prices will be. The GTA guide of 31 May 2026 and the text of Law No. 2 of 2026 are the places to look. Anyone who writes a price table before those numbers are public is guessing.

Who pays the tax?

Businesses that hold excise goods must file a transitional declaration of their taxable stock through the Dhareeba platform. Holders of under 200,000 liters only file, with no tax payable. Holders of 200,000 liters or more must submit an audited inventory report and pay any tax due. Returns are due within 90 days of 6 July 2026, with payment within 30 days of filing. In practice the tax is paid by importers, producers and distributors. Whether and how much they pass on to shops and shoppers is a business decision, and we found no data on that yet.

What about the other excise changes?

On 17 September 2026, Cabinet Decisions No. 30 of 2026 and No. 31 of 2026 amended the Executive Regulations of the Excise Tax Law and updated the product schedules. EY reports clearer rules for the tiered tax on sweetened drinks and products that can be turned into them, new definitions covering tobacco, energy drinks, sweetened drinks, concentrates, powders, gels and extracts, mandatory registration of excisable goods with the GTA before import or production, and stronger audit powers. These changes are mainly for businesses. See also the new tariffs in Qatar's chicken and vegetable import tariffs.

What should shoppers do?

1. Read the label. Added sugar, syrup or sweetener in the ingredients is the sign that a drink could be taxed.

2. Compare prices on your regular drinks over the next months. Our supermarket guide lists where residents shop.

3. Watch your monthly budget, using the cost of living in Qatar guide.

4. Do not trust a social media post that quotes a price rise. Ask for the source.

For the broader tax picture for residents, see income tax in Qatar.

What we could not verify

• The tax rates and sugar thresholds.
• Whether the tax applies differently to imports.
• Any shelf price change so far.