The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Qatar has launched the third phase of its Food Safety Rating Program for Food Establishments, aiming to enhance compliance with food safety regulations across all dining venues in the country. This phase now includes all restaurants providing direct food services to customers, building on earlier phases that covered hotels, tourist restaurants, and those in shopping malls.
The program evaluates food establishments based on routine inspections, with each location undergoing at least three visits annually. Additional inspections may be conducted to ensure continued compliance. Establishments are rated across six categories: Urgent Improvement Necessary, Major Improvement Necessary, Improvement Necessary, Good, Very Good, and Excellent.
The rating results are available to the public through the "Watheq" online platform, and restaurants can also share their ratings on their own websites. A recent MoPH webinar explained the updated standards, reinforcing the Ministry's commitment to improving food safety awareness and cooperation among stakeholders.
The program was developed following a two-year field study and international benchmarking to ensure alignment with global best practices and Qatar’s food safety framework.
You can view food establishment ratings on the Watheq portal here.
