The Customs & Ports General Authority is a legal entity having a budget included in the State budget, and was formed in accordance with the Decree in Law No 17 of 2001, dated 01.08.2001. The Authority, which is based in Doha city, started its business on 25.10.2001.

The Authority seeks to develop and improve the services provided at customs, ports, and land transport utilities and operate them in accordance with the best principles and standards. 
 
 Key goals of the Authority are as follows: 
 Controlling all goods imported to the State by land or sea at the customs points in the State.
 Inspect, evaluate and clear goods permitted to be entered to the State and levy fees and duties payable in accordance with the applicable tariff, and deposit them in the general treasury of the State.
 Controlling exported goods, issue licenses for such goods, and controlling import and export of goods within postal parcels. Issue permits for goods in transit (direct and indirect transit) and follow-up supervision of such goods until they are re-exported, and levy the legally prescribed transit fees.
 Issue permits for temporary admission of imported goods with the purpose of re-manufacturing or finalizing processing of such goods, as well as vehicles and other items that can be admitted to the State in accordance with such system.
 Taking all necessary procedures and precautions for preventing smuggling.
 Making settlements of customs offences and smuggling in accordance with the legally prescribed procedures.
 Taking administrative and legal measures against unsettled customs offences and smuggling crimes. 
 Managing civil ports, harbors, docks and sea points, and arranging ship guiding, tugging, and docking, organizing movement of ships of all types and sizes, and loading and offloading of goods, with the exception of ports excepted in accordance with a cabinet resolution. 
 Controlling ship industry, rigs, and marine facilities in accordance with the applicable rules and specifications of international maritime classification.
 Investigating, in coordination with the concerned authorities, marine accidents that occur to civil and commercial ships in the territorial waters, regional seawaters and the economic zone, in addition to ships with Qatar flag abroad and supervising sea wreckage in the territorial waters, regional seawaters and the economic zone.
 Ensuring that shipments correspond to the information contained in bills of lading and other papers and documents. 
 Propose rates and tariff of marine and land transport and shipping and propose collection of the charges and fees payable for all the services provided by the Authority. 
 Controlling national companies engaged in marine navigation and transport and marine transport and services agencies. 
 Setting out requirements to be satisfied by means of transport used in practicing licensed business in coordination with concerned authorities. 
 Representing the State in meetings, conferences and all activities held by international organizations in matters relating to the business of the Authority. 
 A number of achievements followed incorporation of the Customs & Ports General Authority, thanks to intensive efforts and continued work by those in charge of this great landmark. All members of the Board of Directors have studied development stages and upgrading work systems that help boost efficiency and abilities of all divisions and units of the Authority. 
 The Authority has 15 departments all working in accordance with state-of-the-art automated systems, in addition to permanent cooperation with other governmental ministries, authorities and organizations, all in service of the public and businesses dealing with the Authority. 
 Authority cooperates with GCC member states through the customs union at all its stages, which has now become a tangible reality and a good model for the future of this region.
 The Authority has also become an independent entity, following which a new organization chart has been applied to all divisions under the management of the Authority. Every department now contains a number of sections and units operating within the plan drafted by the Board of Directors. This caused a notable improvement in the general performance.