Qatar’s public transport includes taxis, buses, limousines, Doha Metro and the Lusail Tram.
Public transportation in Qatar is operated by Mowasalat Co (Karwa).
See Accessible Qatar in the Living in Qatar section for transportation services for people with special needs.
Sila: A new app by the Ministry of Transport of Qatar’s integrated public transport system that makes planning a journey and payments a lot easier and smarter. sila.qa
Karwa Taxis and Metro Express Services
Mowasalat (Karwa Taxi) is the exclusive taxi operator in Qatar. On arrival at Hamad International Airport (HIA), just follow the signs for the taxi rank and stress-free transportation. Karwa Taxis are always available at prominent locations such as shopping centres, hotels, hospitals, business centres and more. Travellers with special needs can book a minivan via the Karwa Taxi app, suitable for two or three wheelchairs and accompanying passengers. In addition, you can access the Metro Express service through the Karwa Taxi App: In certain areas you can request a shared ride to the closest Metro or Tram station. It is a service that is provided free of charge, when combined with a Metro or Tram ride.
Tariff Day: Meter starts at QAR7 (includes the first 1.8 km), then QAR1.6 per km. Minimum fare is QAR7.
Tariff Night: Meter starts at QAR7 (includes the first 1.8 km), then QAR1.9 per km. Minimum fare is QAR7.
Tariff at HIA: Meter starts at QAR25 (includes the first 1.8 km), then Day or Night Tariff will be applied.
Waiting charge: QAR8 for every 15 minutes.
For bookings, download the Karwa Taxi App, call 4458 8888, or hail from the side of the road.
Doha Limousine (by Karwa) Services
Doha Limousine provides three categories of limousine – Limousine, Electric and Van. All are available at the HIA limousine rank, by booking through the Karwa Taxi App, or calling 4458 8888. A Doha Limousine can be booked for specific journeys, by the hour, or rented on a short-term or long-term basis. All limousines are metered and tracked by a quality assurance team.
Cost per journey: Prices start from a minimum rate of QAR55 from the airport and QAR40 from within the city. Overall charges depend on the category of vehicle and distance.
VIP Limousines: Available at HIA and all major five-star hotels.
Payment options for Karwa Taxi and Doha Limousine: Karwa Taxi and Doha Limousine are committed to providing their customers with a seamless and flexible payment experience. For both services, a wide range of payment options is accepted. Customers have the choice to pay cash (all major currencies are accepted) or through a variety of digital payment methods including NAPS (only for cards issued in Qatar), VISA, Mastercard, AMEX, Google Pay, Apple Pay, i-Pay, Ooredoo Pay, PayPal, Scan & Pay, and the Karwa Taxi App Wallet.
Karwa Public Transportation Buses and Metro Link Services
Mowasalat (Karwa) provides sustainable and eco-friendly public transportation services using a variety of brand-new vehicles, mainly electric buses. Mowasalat (Karwa)’s public transport network offers smart and integrated transport solutions across Qatar with eight modern bus stations connecting public bus services to all other modes of transportation. In addition to the public bus network, Metro Link Bus services supplement the country’s Doha Metro by shuttling passengers to and from metro stations from dedicated stops in a radius of 2 to 5 km around each Metro Station. For more information, download the Karwa Journey Planner app, call 4458 8888 or email [email protected]
Other Taxi/Limousine Services
Al Futtaim Vehicle (AVR) Rentals 800 0225
Fox Transport 4462 2777
Golden Cab 3058 4748
gulfcar 800 0881
Oasis Rent A Car 4413 0011
Regency Fleets 4032 5301
Uber App available on iOS and Android
Doha Metro
The Doha Metro has opened a new dimension in Doha’s public transport. The Doha Metro Red Line was the first line to open in 2019, extending north to south from Lusail City to Al Wakra with a branch to the airport. The Green Line runs from Al Mansoura district to Al Riffa – Mall of Qatar in the west. The Gold Line runs across town from Ras Bu Abboud to Al Aziziya – leading to Villaggio Mall. Travel cards and credit can be purchased at self-service Travel Card Vending Machines (TVMs) in all Doha Metro stations. 105, qr.com.qa
Standard Travel Card: A reusable plastic card (valid for five years) costing QAR10, with Travel Credit added by ‘Topping Up’ from a TVM. This Travel Card does not permit travel in the Gold Club sections. This card is currently available at licensed retailers like LuLu, Jumbo and Carrefour.
goldclub Travel Card: A reusable plastic card (valid for five years) costing QAR100 available from the goldclub offices at Doha Metro stations. This card permits travel in the goldclub sections. Add Travel Credit by ‘Topping Up’ at a TVM at any Doha Metro and Lusail Tram stations.
Purchase a Standard or Gold Travel Card and top up per journey. With a Standard Travel Card, it costs QAR2 per journey, with a goldclub Travel Card, QAR10 per journey. Anyone aged five and above needs a Travel Card. While children aged four and below do not need a Travel Card, they must be accompanied by a fare-paying adult. A child must be nine years old or above to travel alone. Younger children should be accompanied by someone at least 16 years of age.
Operating hours: Saturday to Wednesday 6 am – 11 pm, Thursday 6 am – 11:59 pm, and Friday 2 pm – 11:59 pm.
There are two free feeder bus services, Metro Link and Metro Express, which connect customers to the Doha Metro stations. The bus’s operating hours align with the metro’s.
Metro Link: A feeder bus network providing first and last mile connectivity to Qatar Rail customers within a 2 to 5 km radius of the Doha Metro stations. qr.com.qa/metrolink
Metro Express: A complementary pilot ride-sharing feeder service that connects specific service zones around Metro stations. Metro Express serves a total of six Metro stations on the red line, from West Bay QIC to Qatar University serving adjoining areas and important landmarks. The service uses a fleet of branded Mercedes Vito vans, seating seven passengers per vehicle. Metro Express service is exclusive for registered Metro passengers and can only be used in conjunction with a metro journey. Customers can book a ride through the Metro Express Doha app. qr.com.qa/metroexpress
Education City Tram
Qatar Foundation (QF) has launched the Education City (EC) Tram – a pioneering transport system that brings a new form of sustainable travel to Qatar and elevates the nation’s profile as a nerve centre of innovation. The tram has free wi-fi and is electrically-powered, and uses a groundbreaking form of battery-charging (Modular on board energy storage unit) technology.
The EC Tram network has three lines, Yellow, Blue and Green. The Green Line, connecting North and South campuses, is now testing and will launch soon. With a total 24 stations, it enables car-less, park-and-ride connections between QF’s schools, universities, centers, and facilities inside and outside EC, including schools, universities, hotels, Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) and Sidra Medicine, and frequently crosses Al Gharrafa and Al Rayyan Junctions. The Education City station on the Doha Metro Green Line connects the EC Tram to the Doha Metro. 4454 1086, educationcity.qa/ec-tram
Fare: Free
Operating hours: Saturday to Wednesday 6 am – 10 pm, Thursday and Friday 6 am – 4 pm.
Children who are not 12 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult when riding the Tram.
Lusail Tram
The Lusail Tram is becoming the main transportation hub for Lusail City, the largest single sustainable development in Qatar. The network includes four lines and 25 stations aboveground and underground. Lusail Tram connects to the Doha Metro through two interchange stations at Lusail and Legtaifiya. Of the 25 stations across four lines that comprise the Tram network, seven Orange Line stations are available for travel initially. The available stations are Legtaifiya, Marina, Marina Promenade, Yacht Club, Esplanade, Lusail Central (Place Vendôme) and Energy City South. qr.com.qa/metro-tram
Fare: The existing Travel Card is valid on both the Lusail Tram and the Doha Metro with no additional costs. However, customers must always remember to Tap In & Tap Out using the validator on board the tram to avoid extra charges.
Operating hours: The tram’s operating hours align with the metro’s.
Msheireb Tram
With nine stations, the self-powered environmentally-friendly Msheireb Tram interconnects all of Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD), making it easier for visitors to move from one spot to the other. Running around a closed-loop circuit with a 2 km track, Msheireb’s self-powered trams have 33 seats with onboard CCTV and WiFi. There are currently three trams going around nine stops, with a tram arriving every six minutes with a 400-m hop-on/hop-off zone. msheireb.com
Fare: Free
Operating hours: Saturday to Thursday 9 am – noon/4 pm – 9 pm, Friday 4 pm – 9 pm.
Last tram will depart 15 minutes before closing time. Timings are according to the display screens at every stop.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
Qatar currently has more than 100 charging stations for electric vehicles, established by Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa), through the National Programme for Conservation & Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed).
EV charging stations: • Alfardan Towers, Al Dafna • Crescent Park, Lusail City • Doha Festival City • Ezdan Mall – Al Wakra • Fire Station • Hamad Port • Kahramaa Awareness Park • Kahramaa Headquarters • Katara Cultural Village • Lusail Marina Promenade, Lusail City • Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl – Doha • Ministry of Transport • MOI’s General Directorate of Traffic • Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) • Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) • Qatar Foundation (QF) Headquarters • Qatar National Library (QNL) • Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) • Qatar Scientific Club • The St. Regis, Doha
Kahramaa announced the inauguration of a platform to control and monitor the network of EV charging stations earlier this year. Boasting the launch of over 160 fast chargers, they are steadfast in their mission to commission 300 units by the close of 2024, with an ambitious target of 600 units come 2025.
As part of the nation’s push towards clean energy, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has begun installing 653 electric chargers and 713 inverters in 41 under-construction sites under the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme. In addition, Ashghal will construct the largest electric charging station in the region, which will be operated by solar energy and will feature high-efficiency solar cell shades, becoming the first bus station in the region working purely on solar energy.
In addition, Qatar Fuel (WOQOD) is installing fast EV charging stations in its petrol stations across the country. At least 100 were installed in 2022.
