Can I use contactless or card to pay for public transport in Qatar?

One thing I didn’t like in Qatar was how strict they are about tickets. I once boarded a bus in West Bay thinking I could just hand the driver cash, but he flatly refused and pointed me to buy a Karwa Smart Card first. Had to walk back to the vending machine. ATMs at the airport (QNB and Doha Bank) only dispensed big QAR notes, which weren’t helpful for taxis either. Definitely sort out your Karwa card early.

I was surprised how modern the system felt in Doha. The metro lines were spotless, and tapping in with my Karwa Smart Card was fast and easy. I topped up at a Doha Bank machine in Al Sadd and used the same balance for buses too. Even the airport connection was seamless. I kept a bit of QAR cash from a Commercial Bank ATM, but for public transport itself, cards or the Karwa pass are the norm.

I stayed near Souq Waqif and used the metro daily. Bought a rechargeable Karwa Smart Card at Msheireb station, topped it up with my Visa card at a vending machine, and never touched cash for metro rides. For the Karwa buses to The Pearl, same card worked fine. The only time I used riyals was paying a cash-only taxi near the Corniche when my Karwa app didn’t connect. ATMs from QNB were reliable, but honestly I didn’t need more than a little cash for side expenses.

In Doha, public transport is mostly cashless now. The Doha Metro and Karwa buses use the Karwa Smart Card, which you buy at stations or vending machines. You load the card using cash or card at kiosks. Single-use tickets are also available, but no paying the driver directly with notes. ATMs from Qatar National Bank (QNB), Doha Bank, and Commercial Bank are everywhere - including inside metro stations like Msheireb. While cash is useful for taxis or souq purchases, for metro and buses you’ll be fine with a card-loaded Karwa pass.