As an expat in Qatar, your personal status and legal capacity — including your ability to sign contracts, make financial decisions, or enter into legal agreements — are generally governed by the law of your home country (your nationality). This is established under Article 11 of Qatar's Civil Code (Law No. 22 of 2004), which states that the status and legal capacity of persons are governed by the law of the country to which they belong by reason of their nationality.
However, there is an important practical exception: if you are involved in a financial transaction concluded in Qatar with a Qatari national or a resident of Qatar, and you are considered legally capable under Qatari law, your counterpart cannot later challenge the transaction by claiming your home country's law deems you incapable — unless the other party was unaware of that incapacity at the time of the deal. This protects good-faith parties in everyday commercial dealings.
If a conflict arises between the laws of different countries regarding which rules apply to your specific situation, Article 10 provides that Qatari law will be used as the reference point to resolve that conflict. As a practical tip, expats entering into significant contracts in Qatar should ensure they meet both their home country's capacity requirements and Qatari legal standards to avoid any disputes.
This is general legal information, not legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, consult a lawyer licensed in Qatar.