Citizens and companies from other Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) can now launch joint ventures with foreign partners provided they retain majority ownership of 51 per cent in a joint entity, according to a new law passed recently in Qatar.

Existing operators have been warned to comply with its provisions within six months or face action, The Peninsula reported. The Qatar-based daily noted this was the first time citizens and companies from other GCC countries have been given the right to set up air freight firms in Qatar on their own.