Qatar issued an income tax law on Tuesday, which could make it the first Gulf country to tax the income of individuals. The official Qatar News Agency said the bill would take effect as of January 1, without giving details.

"Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the emir's deputy and crown prince, issued today ... the income tax law," QNA reported.

"The law stipulates that it would be enacted as of the first of January 2010 and publication in the official gazette," it said. - Reuters