Law No.

(9) of 2012
Amending some provisions of Law No. (13) of 1997 Concerning the Civil
Defense

We, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar

Having pursued the Constitution,
And the Law No. (13) of 1997 concerning the Civil Defense, amended by Decree
Law No. (35) of 2005,
And the Law of Military service issued by Decree Law No. (31) of 2006 amended by
Law No. (9) of 2012,
And on the proposal of the Minister of Interior,
And the draft law submitted by the Ministerial Cabinet,
And after consulting the Advisory Council
Decided the following Law:
Article (1)
The following texts shall replace the texts of articles (7), (8/ Clause 1), (14) and (20)
of the Law No. (13) of 1997 referred to;
(Article 7):
In the case of occurrence of public disaster or existing conditions likely it may occur,
the Minister of Interior, after the approval of the Ministerial cabinet, shall declare the
state of emergency, also declares the end of this state upon the disappearance of its
requirements.

Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
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(Article 8/ Clause 1):

1. Employees in the field of Civil Defense, other than the Police Force employees,
shall be subject to discipline and punishment rules applicable to the police force
employees, in accordance with the provisions of the Military service law promulgated
by Decree law No. (31) of 2006.
(Article 14):
The real estate owners, its users, owners of commercial, industrial and general
similar stores, and others, as well as owners of consulting offices, construction
contractors and engineers, each within its competence, shall implement measures and
requirements of safety and security set forth in the table attached to this law, at their
own expense and on the dates set by the Civil Defense Department.
It is not allowed to change the type of activity, or modify the drawings or design of
the properties referred to in the previous paragraph, unlike the license issued for that
without the approval of the Civil Defense Department.
The Minister of Interior, by his decision, may amend the measures and requirements
of safety and security referred to in the first paragraph of this article.
(Article 20):
Without prejudice to any severer punishment stipulated in any other law, whoever
violates the any of the provisions of articles (8/clause 2), (14), (15), (16), (17) and (18)
of this law shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding three
years, and with a fine of not exceeding two hundred thousand (200,000) Riyals, or
either one of these two punishments.
The punishment shall be the imprisonment for a period not exceeding six years, and a
fine not exceeding four hundred thousand (400,000) Riyals, if the crime caused a
permanent disability of a person. The punishment shall be the imprisonment for a
period not exceeding eight years and a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand
(200,000) Riyals, or either one of these two punishments, for whoever violates any of
the provisions of articles (8/clause 2), (14), (15), (16), (17) and (18) of this law.
The punishment shall be the imprisonment for a period not exceeding six years, and a
fine not exceeding four hundred thousand (400,000) Riyals, if the crime caused a
Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
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permanent disability of a person. The punishment shall be imprisonment for a period

not exceeding eight years and a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand (500,000)
Riyals, if the crime caused the death of a person.
Article (2)
The following two texts shall be added to the Law No. (13) of 1997 referred to:
(Article 2/ clause 19)
Lay out requirements of safety and security in the facilities and buildings,
commercial shops and similar industrial, public and other facilities

(Article 6/ 2nd Paragraph)

Without prejudice to the provisions of any other law, the Minister of Interior or his
delegate may issue license to establish centers or institutes for education and training
basics and principles of civil defense, and the Minister shall determine, by his
decision, the fees, conditions and criteria of licensing, its duration and renewal, as
well as supervision and monitoring of these centers or institutes, and the license
repeal conditions.
Article (3)
All competent authorities, each within its competency, shall execute this Law. And it
shall be published in the official gazette.

Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani

Emir of the State of Qatar

Issued at the Emiri Diwan on: 11/10/1433 A.H

Corresponding to: 29/08/2012
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original Arabic Text.
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Table of Safety and Security Measures and requirements

First: Measures and requirements of initial approvals of Civil Defense
Department
S.No
Description
1. Approval of the Department before starting the construction.
2. Renewal of approval of the Civil Defense Department when necessary.
3. Review with the Civil Defense Department upon request in case of notification
of the existence of violations.
Second: Measures and requirements of buildings and facilities
a) Measures and requirements for the approvals of building and
constructions
S.No
Description
1. The necessity to obtain the approval of the Civil Defense Department
after the completion of construction.
2. Do not divert the type of activity in the buildings without the approval of
the Civil Defense Department.
3. Do not add or modify the drawings without the approval of the Civil
Defense Department.
4. Do not make internal partitions without the approval of the Civil Defense
Department.
5. Do not connect utilities to the facility without the approval of the Civil
Defense Department.
6. Do not make modifications in the design without the approval of the Civil
Defense Department.
7. Do not refrain from implementing some of the requirements of safety and
security.
8. Design passages with reflective paints.
9. Comply with the fixed width of (2meters) in the main passages, and
(1.5meters) in sub-passages in the warehouses as per the issued approval.
10. Necessity of having separator fire throttle in the air-conditioning
connections.
11. Necessity of separating commercial shops from warehouses with wall or
anti-fire door.
Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
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12. The building shall not be used for uses comprising high risks or for
industrial purposes, unlike the issued approval.
13. Necessity of painting the gas fuelling pipes with yellow color.
b) Preventive requirements:
S.No
Description
1. Comply with the implementation of the exits and entrances to the site
according to the plans approved by the Civil Defense Department, Urban
Planning Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning,
and Roads Projects Department of the Public Works Authority.
2. Do not put obstacles in the entrances causing delay in the arrival of the
Civil Defense vehicles and equipments.
3. Comply with standards and specifications for construction materials
adopted by the State.
4. Comply with constructional requirements adopted by the Civil Defense
Department.
5. Comply with the protection of internal pillars, structures and dividers and
hanging ceilings with insulating materials as per the Civil Defense
Department approval.
6. Taking into consideration the consultancy office that supervises the
installation of fire and safety equipments and their facilities
7. Do not remove the doors resistant to the spread of fire between the parts
of the building without the consent of the Civil Defense Department.
8. Do not change specifications of the doors resistant to the spread of fire
without the consent of the Civil Defense Department.
9. Comply with distances between the parts of the building as adopted by the
Civil Defense Department.
10. Comply with the barriers prohibitive and resistant to the spread of fire
and smoke horizontally and vertically.
c) Measures and requirements of using emergency exits
S.No
Description
1. Comply with the standards for emergency exits, according to the issued
approval.
2. The emergency exits shall reach to outside or to passage protected from
fire.
Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
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3. Put signs showing the emergency exits.

4. Provide the required number of emergency exits as per the conditions,
standards and measurements adopted by the Civil Defense Department.
5. Setup the insulation preventing leakage of smoke.
6. Setup fire-resistant doors according to the standards adopted by the Civil
Defense Department.
7. Exigency of having emergency lighting in corridors and basement.
8. Exigency of lighting indicative signs of emergency exits.
9. Put signs indicating to emergency exits.
10. Do not disable the lighting of emergency exits.
11. Setup the hand barriers at the emergency exits according to the standards
adopted by the Civil Defense Department for protection from falling
while using the exits.
12. Provide materials of non-slipping from stairs.
13. Absence of materials causing slipping on the emergency exit flooring.
14. Setup the emergency exit doors in the right direction as determined in the
plans.
15. Setup the auto closing device for the exit doors.
16. Perform the particular maintenance for the doors and their opening
mechanism.
17. Comply with the width of passages appropriate to the length of the
passage and number of inhabitants per floor, in accordance with the
issued approval.
18. The floors of passages shall be free from pits or damage
19. Do not put in the corridors materials which hamper the process of
evacuation and emergency escape.
20. Provide natural ventilation for emergency exits according to the issued
approval.
21. Do not close or block ventilation in places stipulated as per the adopted
building rules and regulations.
22. Respect to execute the required number of stairs, balconies and windows
as determined in the approved plans.
23. Comply with the approved safety requirements for escape passages.
d) Measures and requirements of engineering services:
S.No
Description
Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Provide devices and equipments to take down and open the lifts.
Exigency of having warning boards in the lifts.
Respecting the maintenance of lifts and stairs.
Deliver a copy of keys of the lifts to the Civil Defense Department.
Exigency of having a board describing the agency responsible for
maintenance of the lift and its emergency telephone numbers.
6. Exigency of a maintenance contract for the lift with one of the accepted
agencies.
7. Exigency of maintenance of ventilation system and central airconditioning.
8. Exigency of having smoke detectors in central air-conditioning and
ventilation system channels.
9. Exigency to cover electrical wiring so as not to pose a risk which may
cause fire.
10. Setup automatic breakers to electrical current in the event of error.
11. Do not overload to single electrical socket.
12. Exigency of having breaker switches for illuminated advertisement boards
mounted on the facades and roofs.
13. Do not leave combustible waste.
14. Take care not to spill oil and Greases on the floor.
15. Clean the floors from wastes or inflammable substances.
16. Conform fuel tank to the specifications of approved Qatari standards.
17. Exigency of having closing valves for the liquid fuel at the starting and end
of the pipelines.
18. Isolate fuel tanks rooms from the rest of the buildings.
19. Comply with safety requirements in the steam boilers.
20. Exigency of safety distances between the steam boilers in accordance with
the adopted standards.
21. Do not leave any flammable wastes near the steam boilers sites.
22. Exigency of sensors of liquid or gaseous fuel steams.
23. Exigency of having natural ventilation openings in the fuels storages.
24. Do not use flammable substances within the construction materials used
in the storages.
25. Put plaques of stored materials to identify their contents.
26. Conform the walls of fuel storages to the adopted technical specifications
at the Civil Defense Department.
Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
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27. Conform the electrical wirings to the adopted Qatari standards

specifications.
28. Exigency of sewage for the disposal of any material leaked from the tank
storages.
29. Conformity of lights to the standards specifications.
30. Do not leave any flammable wastes near the tank storages.
31. Follow up of periodic maintenance of the fuel tank storages.
32. Do not store the gaseous fuels materials more than the permitted volume.
33. Do not use tanks over than their required capacity as per the stipulated
prevention and design.
e) Measures and requirements of fire fighting and alarm systems:
S.No
Description
1. Installation of equipments and devices of fire fighting conforming to the
technical specifications adopted by the Civil Defense Department.
2. Continuous maintenance of fire fighting equipments and systems.
3. Respecting the periodic inspection of equipments and alarm systems to
assure their soundness according to the instruction of Civil Defense
Department.
4. Do not remove a banner or sign belonging to the Civil defense
department.
5. Exigency of installing dry nozzles network in a two-storey building with
an area of more than (1000) square meter for each floor, or more than 3
storey with a height of more than (28) meters.
6. Exigency of installing wet nozzles network in a building of more than
two-storey with an area of more than (1000) square meter for each floor,
or with a height of more than (28) meters.
7. Exigency of installing network of automatic spraying extinguisher with
other materials in the places of risks, and especially where it is not possible
to use water, and as determined by the Civil Defense Department.
8. Exigency of providing slopes in the commercial buildings for the use of
people (handicapped persons) in accordance with the issued permit.
9. Keeping the firefighting and safety equipments in special boxes painted
with red color10. Exigency of provision and readiness of a reserve source
Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
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of electric current in tall buildings and in the buildings requiring elevator

for fire.
11. Exigency of having automatic fire extinguishing system in the basement
according to the adopted design by Civil Defense Department.
12. Non-existence of a fire lifts, if it is higher more than six floors or 20
meters.
Third: Measures and requirements of commercial shops with all their various
activities:
S.No
Description
1. Exigency of presence of the Civil Defense Department approval in a
remarkable place at the shop.
2. Exigency of getting the Civil Defense Department approval for the
temporary commercial exhibitions.
3. Do not change the commercial activity to another unauthorized activity
without the Civil Defense Department approval.
4. Do not change Commercial showrooms to stores.
5. Do not change part of the shop to accommodation.
6. Not setting up or allocate a kitchen inside the shop in accordance with the
issued approval.
7. Exigency of having emergency exits or their closure in accordance with
the issued approval.
8. Do not store foodstuff near the chemicals.
9. Do not leave electrical wires exposed or electrical extensions carelessly;
those are to be placed in insulated tubes.
10. Exigency of presence of signals indicating the emergency exits in
accordance with the issued approval.
11. Exigency of the fire extinguishers suitability to the present commercial
activity, in accordance with the issued approval.
12. Do not move equipments of safety and fire prevention from one place to
another.
13. Place safety and fire prevention equipments in the suitable place in
accordance with the requirements of the Civil Defense Department.
14. Respect to do not store in the passages and mezzanine inside the shop
without leaving enough space in the passages and comply with the
Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
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15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.

allowable storage rate as per the requirements of Civil Defense

Department.
Exigency to provide adequate ventilation outlets, as per the issued
approval.
Exigency of continual maintenance of safety and fire prevention
equipments.
Install iron or plastic suction fans as approved by the Civil Defense
Department.
Exigency of continual maintenance of suction fans and main exhausters to
drive out smoke.
Put insulator around convection ovens in restaurants and bakeries.
Place copper tubes between gas cylinders and ovens in restaurants and
bakeries.
Do not expand in the shop without the approval of the Civil Defense
Department.
Follow the conditions of the right storage in the warehouses in
accordance with the Civil Defense Department requirements.
Comply with carrying the gas cylinders outside the kitchen.
Exigency of having boxes to keep the gas cylinders in restaurants and
bakeries.
Put guiding boards in a remarkable place of the shop clarifying the
directions for use of the safety equipments and evacuation during fire.
Do not put any obstacles that may preclude the use of safety and fire
prevention equipments.
Do not create iron or wooden mezzanine in the shop without the
approval of the Civil Defense Department.
Do not occupy workers accommodation buildings with numbers greater
than their absorbing capacity.

Forth: Measures and requirements of Petrol stations operating in the State:

S.No
Description
1. Keep and maintain the safety and security equipments.
2. Smoking by workers is prohibited during official working hours round the
clock.
3. Place boards stating the smoking is prohibited and to stop the engine.
Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
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4. Do not use gas in the commercial shops neighboring and surrounding the
station in order not to create danger to tanks and filling places.
5. Workers shall wear their uniform during official working hours.
6. Do not store any flammable substance within the boundaries of the
station which may produce any damage to the station and the surrounding
area.
7. Do not supply from the petrol stations to the unauthorized vehicles
transporting petroleum products (tanks).
8. Comply with all stated in the clauses of the Qatari standards specifications
No. 118/1989 related to the vehicles of gas transport and distribution.

Disclaimer: This translation is not decisive and has no determinative effect except to the extent of its guidance and conformity with the
original Arabic Text.
DG / GR 2013