Qatar Urges Public to Use Only Approved CCTV Installers

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has urged residents to install surveillance cameras only through government-licensed companies, linking the move to stronger privacy protection and better security standards

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has called on the public to use only licensed and approved companies for installing security surveillance cameras, The Peninsula reported. The ministry said the measure is intended to help protect privacy while enhancing security.

According to the report, the approved list includes 162 companies registered with the ministry. These firms are licensed by the Security Systems Department under the General Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Systems.

The move is significant for Qatar’s video surveillance market because it reinforces official oversight of who can deploy CCTV systems and under what standards. It also signals a stronger compliance push at a time when governments across the Gulf are paying closer attention to both physical security and the cyber risks tied to connected devices. This last point is an inference based on the ministry’s linked security guidance.

The Peninsula added that the Ministry had previously advised camera owners to change passwords regularly and avoid accessing home surveillance systems through open or untrusted internet links, warning that poor cyber hygiene can compromise privacy.