Qatar’s Ministry of Defense announced that it was opening military enlistment to individuals who are not covered under Qatar’s National Service Law.
This means that residents born in Qatar, children of Qatari mothers, and Qatari citizens who are not required to perform mandatory national service can now volunteer to do so.
The decree was issued by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani.
Qatar had introduced mandatory military enlistment in 2014 after it had been voluntary.
Monday’s decree said that recruitment was open for male and female residents born in Qatar and to Qatari mothers. They will be granted a monthly allowance of up to 1,900 dollars.
Conditions for enlistment include being 18 and 25 years of age, being medically fit and having no criminal or felony record.
The decree included adding three categories to the National Service recruitment, the first covers Qatari nationals who are not bound to perform national service, the second covers non-Qatari nationals born to a Qatari mother, and the third covers non-Qatari residents born in Qatar.
Conscripts from the second and third categories, who complete their service may then be eligible to receive permanent residency.
