Doha Airport And Us Dollars: Accepted Or Not?

If you're travelling through Doha Hamad International Airport, it's important to know which currency to use. The official currency in Qatar is the Qatari Riyal (QAR), and while some sources suggest that merchants at the airport will accept US Dollars, Euros, and GBP, others advise that you'll probably need to exchange your money before you can spend it. It's always a good idea to have some local currency when travelling, and it's worth noting that you may get a poor exchange rate at the airport.

Doha Airport Accepts Euros, US Dollars and GBP

Doha Airport, also known as Hamad International Airport, accepts Euros, US Dollars, and GBP. However, the official currency in Qatar is the Qatari Riyal (QAR), and you may find that some merchants will not accept foreign currency. Therefore, it is advisable to exchange your money before spending or using a multi-currency card from a provider like Wise, which allows you to add a balance in USD and switch to QAR to lock in the exchange rate. Additionally, having multiple payment methods is recommended as a backup plan in case one method is not accepted.

When travelling to Qatar, it is important to be aware of the restrictions on importing and exporting foreign currency. While there are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency you can bring in or take out of the country, you must declare cash, precious jewellery, and all financial means if their value exceeds QR50,000. Israeli currency is prohibited in Qatar.

If you need to exchange currency, it is best to avoid exchange providers at airports or hotels, as they typically offer unfavourable exchange rates due to their captive market and lack of competition. Instead, consider using a travel debit card or visiting a currency exchange shop in a city centre, as you are more likely to get a better exchange rate.

Additionally, when paying for goods or services in Qatar, be cautious of dynamic currency conversion. If you are asked whether you want to pay in your local currency or QAR, it is advisable to choose the local currency to avoid extra costs.

In conclusion, Doha Airport accepts Euros, US Dollars, and GBP, but it is beneficial to have multiple payment options, including QAR, to ensure a smooth transaction during your stay in Qatar.

Exchanging Money at the Airport

When it comes to exchanging money at Doha International Airport, there are a few things to keep in mind. While the airport does accept US Dollars, Euros, and GBP, it is always good to have some local currency on hand. The official currency in Qatar is the Qatari Riyal (QAR), and you may get better exchange rates and lower costs if you exchange your money beforehand.

Currency exchange providers at the airport typically offer less favourable rates due to the captive market and limited competition. However, if you need to exchange money at the airport, you can do so at the currency exchange shops or ATMs located there. Just be aware that the fees for currency exchange at the airport can be high.

To get a better exchange rate, consider using a travel debit card from a provider like Wise, which offers low-cost conversions and convenient withdrawals. Alternatively, you can carry some cash in USD and exchange it at a currency exchange shop in the city centre, where rates are likely to be more competitive.

When exchanging money in Qatar, it is important to be aware of the customs regulations. If you are carrying cash, jewellery, or precious stones that exceed a certain value, you will need to declare them upon arrival. The current threshold for declaration is QAR 3,000 (approximately USD 825). Refusing to disclose or providing incorrect information about the value of your possessions is considered a criminal offence and may result in confiscation.

Additionally, there are restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into Qatar. While there are no specific limits on the import or export of local or foreign currency, it is important to declare any amounts that exceed QAR 50,000.

Currency Exchange Shops in Doha

Doha International Airport accepts Euros, US dollars, and GBP. However, if you want to exchange currency in Doha, there are several currency exchange shops and bureaus to choose from.

Al Dar for Exchange Works

Al Dar for Exchange Works has multiple locations in Doha, including:

• Muaither: +974 4480 2525
• Rail Mshereib: +974 4411 7465
• Salwa: +974 4450 1616
• C-Ring: +974 4040 7116
• Al Nasser: +974 4436 0555
• Al Khor: +974 4472 2448
• Villagio Mall: +974 4451 9966
• Bin Omran: +974 4486 2227
• Landmark Mall: +974 4411 7118
• West Park: +974 4479 0203
• Al Mamoura: +974 4416 0099
• Ezdan Mall: +974 4478 2788
• Barwa Baraha: +974 4416 5584
• Safari Mall: +974 4431 7677
• Mall of Qatar: +974 4421 1432
• Umm Slal: +974 4411 4927
• Tawar Mall: +974 4486 7903
• Ezdan Mall Wakrah: +974 4487 0699
• Safari Mall Al Khor: +974 4477 0826
• Birkit Al Awamir: +974 4436 0555
• 02 Mall: +974 4040 7070
• HIA Orchard: +974 4040 7070
• Al Meera Muraikh: +974 4040 7070
• Al Meera Thakira: +974 4040 7070
• Al Meera Bu Sidra: +974 4040 7070
• Jeryan Jenaihat Al Meera: +974 4040 7070
• Al Meera Umm Qarn: +974 4040 7070
• Plaza Mall: +974 4479 0203
• Ezdan Oasis: +974 4040 7070
• Rail HIA: +974 4427 4309
• HIA Concourse: +974 4040 7070
• HIA Bus Pavilion: +974 4040 7070
• Madinatna: +974 4040 7070
• Umm Salal Ali Al Meera: +974 4047 5315

Alfardan Exchange

Alfardan Exchange can be contacted at +974 4453 7777. Their physical address is Grand Hamad Street Alfardan Center Doha, Qatar.

Al Jazeera Exchange

Al Jazeera Exchange has many locations, including:

• Al Sadd: +974 4436 3822, +974 4436 3595
• Bin Mahmoud: +974 4435 2444
• City Center Mall: +974 4450 3861
• Asian Town: +974 4435 5829
• Umm Salal: +974 3168 1235
• Al Attiya Market: +974 4450 1211
• Umm Al Dome (AlRayyan): +974 4465 5759
• Al Wakrah: +974 4444 3919
• Sanaya Al Asmakh: +974 3168 0110
• Najma: +974 4466 3515
• Rawdat Al Khail: +974 4471 5307
• Safari Mall: +974 4443 6165
• Square Mall, Izghawa: +974 4482 9855
• Barahat Al Janoub: +974 3168 8801
• Birkit Al Awamer: +974 3168 6277
• Sanaya Al Kassarat: +974 3168 4443
• Doha Mall: +974 3168 5508
• Al Aziziyah: :+974 3168 3388
• Bin Omran: +974 3168 5577

Al Mana Exchange

Al Mana Exchange has several locations, including:

• Msheireb: +974 4442 4226, +974 4431 8410
• Airport Road: +974 4448 9027, +974 4448 9028
• Muntazah: +974 4469 2262, +974 4450 6127
• Asian Town: +974 4029 0847, +974 4029 9692
• Industrial Area: +974 4475 6515

Al Mirqab Exchange

Al Mirqab Exchange has many locations, including:

• Al Difaaf Street, Al Sadd: +974 44130145
• Doha Souq Mall, Al Nasr: +974 4443 8072
• Ibn Dirhem street, Mansoura: +974 4431 0169
• Street 27, Sanaiya: +974 4481 5324
• Next to New Grand Mart, Al Khor: +974 4460 3819
• Unit No. 01, Bldg. No. 326, Birkat Al Awamer: +974 4416 2655
• Near Shahaniya Petrol Station B: +974 4498 5263

Al Sadd Exchange LLC.

Al Sadd Exchange LLC. can be contacted at +974 4432 3335 or +974 4432 3336. Their physical address is Al Ameer Street, Fereej Al Soudan.

Al Zaman Exchange

Al Zaman Exchange has many locations, including:

• Old Al Ghanim: +974 4442 3416
• Lulu Hypermarket D-Ring Road: +974 4465 0768
• Sanayya: +974 4451 0088
• Al Khor: +974 4421 3444
• Matar Qadeem: +974 4465 5559
• Al Mansoura: +974 4435 7552
• Abu Hamour: +974 4462 1271
• Bin Omran: +974 4416 2002
• Al Khairitiyat: +974 4476 0097
• Al Murra: +974 4466 9814
• Birkat Al Awamer: +974 4432 4742
• Al Wakra: +974 4447 5140
• Ezdan Oasis: +974 4037 9787
• Plaza Mall: +974 4046 2106
• Grand Mall: +974 4046 0597
• Al Mansoura metro station: +974 4047 1103
• Oqba Ibn Nafie metro station: +974 4047 9838
• Jeryan Al Meera: +974 4478 5380
• Gulf Market, Al Gharafa: +974 4479 279
• Regency Shopping Complex Building, Izghawa: +974 4017 8336
• Next to Al AD Hypermarket, Shahaniya: +974 4486 3533
• Unit 3, Building 96, Muaither: +974 4493 2153
• Building 34, Al Wusail Street, Umm Salal Ali: +974 4491 9081
• Almeera Hypermarket Fox Hills,Lusail: +974 4492 9151
• Almeera Hyper Market, Abu Nakhla: +974 4434 0258
• Almeera Mall, Hazm Al Markhiya: +974 4480 4078
• Lulu Mall, The Pearl Island: +974 4415 0833

Arabian Exchange Company

Arabian Exchange Company has many locations, including:

• Msheireb: +974 4443 8300
• Industrial Area: +974 4450 4041
• Tawar Mall: +974 4411 0037
• Barwa Labour Camp: +974 4478 3569
• Al Wukair: +974 4441 1016
• Al Khor: +974 4444 9894
• Al Shahaniyah: +974 4415 1835
• Barwa Labour Camp Branch: +974 4478 3569
• Abu Sidra Mall: +974 4464 6654
• Shop 5, Building 79, Umm Qarn: +974 4441 2212
• Lulu Hypermarket, Al Hilal: +974 4434 0001
• Janoub Square, Al Wakra: +974 4039 4600
• Al Meera Shopping Complex, Ain Khaled: +974 4039 5000

City Exchange Qatar

City Exchange Qatar has several locations, including:

• Near Bank Street: +974 4476 9777
• Industrial Area 23, Street 23: +974 4450 3306
• Industrial Area 19, Street 19, Dreams Hypermarket: +974 4437 7403
• Al Shafi Street, Al Rayyan: +974 4480 8584
• Al Gharaffa, near International Islamic Bank: +974 4486 4652
• Quality Hyper Market, Salwa Road: +974 4416 1896
• Bin Mahmoud, near Badriya Signal: +974 4441 0907

Doha Exchange

Doha Exchange has several locations, including:

• Souq Waqif: +974 4442 4520 | +974 4442 3737
• Mesaieed Mall: +974 4477 1741
• Commercial Street, Al Wakrah: +974 4466 4416
• Shop 9, Middle East Food Mart, Sanaiya: +974 4039 2609
• Building 15, Al Nada Street, Doha Al Jadeeda: +974 4479 3880 | +974 4486 4904

Eastern Exchange

Eastern Exchange has many locations, including:

• HBK Building: +974 4443 9593, +974 4432 3354, +974 4441 2655
• Al Aziziya: +974 4411 6680
• Al Atiya: +974 4450 0661
• Grand Mall: +974 4488 4200
• Al Wakra: +974 4463 1313
• Al Khor: +974 4488 4100
• Shop 16 Block-C, Mukaynis: +974 5077 4904
• Near Paris Hyper Market, Umm Salal Ali: +974 4476 0710
• New G Max Hypermarket Building, Al Shamal, Al Ruwais: +974 4498 4364

Gulf Exchange

Gulf Exchange has 16 branches across Qatar. They can be contacted at +974 44383222 or +974 44383223. Their physical locations include:

• Ali Bin Abdulla St.: +974 4438 3247
• Industrial area: +974 443 8321
• Mesaieed: +974 4438 3297
• New Rayyan: +974 4438 3234
• Barwa Village: +974 4438 3243
• Asian Town: +974 4438 3289
• Shahaniya: +974 4438 3217
• Ruwais: +974 4429 3601
• Ras Laffan: +974 4429 3632
• Mansoura: +974 4429 3660
• Sailiya: +974 4429 3671
• The White Palace metro station: +974 4429 3625
• Shop - 22,23, Block D, Mekaines: +974 4429 3650
• Building 4, Street 674, Commercial Road, Umm Salal: +974 4429 3655
• Opposite Al Mandarin, Old Airport: +974 4429 3675
• Building 81, Muaither Commercial Road: +974 4429 3691
• Barahat Al Janoub: +974 4429 3695

Habib Qatar International Exchange

Habib Qatar International Exchange has several locations, including:

• City Centre Mall: +974 4463 1978, +974 4442 5151
• Fereej Abdulaziz: +974 44328853, +974 4443 4143
• Najma: +974 4460 4304
• Al Khor: +974 4437 7182
• Umm Ghuwailina: +974 4441 4989

Islamic Exchange

Islamic Exchange has several locations, including:

• Jabr Bin Mohammed Street: +974 4442 6177
• Al Mansoura Street: +974 4435 6683
• Shahaniya: +974 4490 8453
• Industrial Area: +974 4450 9413

LuLu Exchange

LuLu Exchange has many locations, including:

• LuLu Hypermarket, D-Ring Road: +974 4414 9135
• LuLu Hypermarket, Al Gharafa: +974 4414 5636
• LuLu Hypermarket

Using a Debit Card in Qatar

Doha International Airport accepts Euros, US dollars, and GBP. There are also currency exchange options and foreign currency ATMs available at the airport.

You can use your UK bank debit card in Qatar as long as the sales merchant accepts either Visa or Mastercard, and you have the required cleared funds. Most larger stores, shops, restaurants, and hotels in Qatar accept both credit and debit cards. However, some smaller and independent stores or restaurants might be cash-only, so it is always worth carrying some local currency with you.

ATMs are widely available in Qatar and can be found in most shopping malls, hotels, and some souqs. You can use your debit card to withdraw cash from these ATMs, but there is usually a fee for using ATMs operated by banks other than your own. There is also typically a limit on the amount that can be withdrawn in one day from ATMs, generally around $450 to $700 in local currency.

When using your debit card in Qatar, be cautious about the risks of fraud and theft. Keep your PIN safe by using one hand to enter it and the other to shield it from prying eyes and hidden cameras. Try to stick to ATMs in banks and avoid street cash machines. Watch out for "skimmers" in ATMs, which steal information from credit and debit cards.

Customs and Currency Declaration

Hamad International Airport in Doha has two customs channels. If you have nothing to declare, you can select the Green Channel. If you have something to declare, you must select the Red Channel.

Items that must be declared include:

• Alcoholic beverages (these cannot be imported under any condition)
• Foreign currency, jewellery, and precious stones that exceed the permitted limits
• Prohibited and restricted weapons and firearms
• Illicit material
• More than 400 cigarettes
• Personal items and gifts whose value exceeds QAR 3,000 (USD 825)

If you are unsure which channel to use, ask for assistance. If a customs officer requests it, you must disclose any amount of currency, jewellery, or precious stones in your possession. Refusing to disclose or providing incorrect or incomplete information is a criminal act and may result in confiscation of the items.

You may also need to pay taxes or duties on items you bring into Qatar.

Doha Airport does accept US dollars, as well as Euros and GBP.

Frequently asked questions