Qatar, a nation of striking desert landscapes, futuristic skyscrapers, and rich Arabian heritage, offers a blend of tradition and modern luxury. Whether you’re exploring the bustling Souq Waqif in Doha, marveling at the Museum of Islamic Art, or venturing into the golden dunes, understanding how to access cash is essential. While Qatar has a highly developed banking system with widespread card acceptance, cash is still useful for taxis, small vendors, and traditional markets. This guide covers everything you need to know about cash and ATMs in Qatar, including withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance, ensuring a seamless experience.
Where to find ATMs in Qatar?
You can find ATMs at:
- Urban Areas: In Doha, the capital city, and other major urban areas, ATMs are widely available, especially near bank branches, shopping malls, and commercial districts. Banks such as Qatar National Bank (QNB), Doha Bank, and Commercial Bank of Qatar operate extensive ATM networks throughout the country.
- Tourist Spots: Popular destinations like the Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif, and The Pearl-Qatar have ATMs in their vicinity, often within or near tourist facilities. ATMs are commonly found in shops, transportation hubs, and nearly all banks.
- Rural Areas: In smaller towns and remote regions, ATM availability can be limited. It’s advisable to carry sufficient cash when traveling outside major cities.
Best ATMs to use in Qatar for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Qatar are those owned by popular banks such as:
- Arab Bank,
- Qatar International Islamic Bank,
- Qatar Islamic Bank, and
- Dukhan Bank.
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Qatar, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or, Charge in QAR).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate. Now if you ‘Accept’, you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
- If you Decline, the ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in QAR’.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Qatar?
Yes, many foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Qatar. ATMs commonly accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Plus, Cirrus cards. Some of them accept UnionPay cards. Others like American Express, Diners, Discover and Rupay cards are generally not accepted.
What are the ATM opening hours
Most ATMs operate 24/7.
What are ATMs called
ATMs in Qatar are usually found by a signage of word ‘ATM’ is widely used or signage has bank name without the words ‘ATM’.
Language options at ATMs
ATMs in Qatar primarily present Arabic and English as language options.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Qatar?
ATMs in Qatar dispense cash only in the local currency, Qatari Riyal (QAR).
ATM withdrawal limits in Qatar?
ATMs in Qatar have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of QAR 5,000 per transaction. Most ATMs do not have daily withdrawal limits.
ATM Fees in Qatar
There are some fee-free ATMs in Qatar. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Qatar charge between QAR 10 and QAR 15 per transaction to foreign card holders and some bank ATMs do not charge any ATM Access Fees. So there are some fee-free ATMs you can use in Qatar as a foreign cardholder.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Qatar. These are:
1. Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
2. Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Qatar
Use the lower fee ATMs in the country.
Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Qatar?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Qatar. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Qatar.
Safety at ATMs
Qatar is known for its low crime rate, making it a relatively safe destination for travelers. However, there have been recent warnings from the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) and the Ministry of Interior regarding the threat of skimming devices used by cybercriminals to commit financial fraud. Skimming devices are discreetly installed on ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) machines, and other card readers to capture card information and record PINs entered by users.
To protect yourself from skimming:
- Use ATMs Inside Bank Branches: These machines are less likely to be tampered with.
- Inspect the Card Reader: Gently wiggle it to check if it’s loose or out of place, which may indicate tampering.
- Look for Unusual Attachments: Be cautious of small, out-of-place attachments around the card slot.
- Cover the Keypad: Use your other hand to block the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent hidden cameras from capturing your input.
- Be Vigilant: Watch out for individuals lingering around ATMs, as they could be potential perpetrators or lookouts for skimming operations.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Qatar takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs in Qatar?
Yes, its possible. There are some fee-free ATMs in Qatar. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Qatar charge between QAR 10 and QAR 15 per transaction to foreign card holders and some bank ATMs do not charge any ATM Access Fees. So there are some fee-free ATMs you can use in Qatar as a foreign cardholder.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted?
Absolutely yes! You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Qatar.
Bitcoin ATMs
Currently, there are no Bitcoin ATMs operating in Qatar. Cryptocurrency activities are subject to regulatory restrictions in the country.
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Qatar
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs here.
Citibank: No Citibank ATMs.
Barclays: No Barclays ATMs.
HSBC: Yes, there are many HSBC ATMs here.
Standard Chartered: No Standard Chartered ATMs here.
