Payment methods in Qatar: what customers actually use
Updated September 2026
If you sell in Qatar, the payment methods you offer decide who can buy from you. This page lists each method, who runs it, how common it is according to Qatar Central Bank, and what it takes to accept it.
The headline from QCB’s December 2025 figures: point-of-sale 49% of payment value, Fawran instant transfers 25%, e-commerce 24%, mobile wallets 2%. Cards and bank rails dominate; wallets are a complement.
At a glance
| Method | Run by | Where it is used | How a merchant accepts it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa and Mastercard | International schemes via Qatari acquirers | Online and in store | Card acquiring through a gateway or bank |
| Himyan debit card | Qatar Central Bank, over the NAPS network | Online and in store, domestic | Card acquiring through a local acquirer |
| Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Wallet | Global wallets, tokenised cards | Mostly mobile and contactless | Comes with card acquiring that supports network tokens |
| Fawran | Qatar Central Bank instant payments | Bank to bank, 24/7 | Through your bank; Request to Pay for invoices |
| QR payments | QMP wallets, licensed fintechs, banks | Cafes, retail, delivery | From your provider or bank; check which apps can scan it |
| E-money wallets (Ooredoo Money, iPay, CWallet) | QCB-licensed issuers on Qatar Mobile Payment | Small-ticket, on the go | Wallet or QR integration where the issuer offers it |
| Buy now, pay later | QCB-licensed BNPL providers | Online retail | Provider integration at checkout |
| Cash on delivery | Your courier | Online retail | Courier agreement; consider phasing out as digital methods grow |
Cards: Visa, Mastercard and Himyan
Cards are the baseline. Visa and Mastercard are acquired locally by Qatari banks; QNB is described as the country’s largest acquirer and Commercial Bank is a Visa acquirer. Since March 2024 Qatar also has its own domestic scheme, Himyan, owned by Qatar Central Bank and issued by the major banks as a debit card. Himyan transactions route over the national NAPS network, which QCB positions as cheaper for merchants than the international schemes.
Ask your gateway two things: whether it supports 3-D Secure on every card, and whether Himyan is accepted online through its acquirer.
Device wallets
Apple Pay (since 2021), Google Pay (since 2022) and Samsung Wallet (since 2022) are all live in Qatar and supported by the NAPS network for tokenised transactions. They are a presentation of the card, not a separate rail, so a gateway with network-token support enables them without extra contracts.
Fawran and bank transfers
Fawran, live since March 2024, moves money instantly between Qatari bank accounts for individuals and businesses, using a mobile number or alias. Request to Pay, added in July 2024, lets a business request a payment that the customer approves in their banking app. By December 2025 QCB counted 3.6 million registered accounts and Fawran carried a quarter of payment value.
For invoices, high-value orders and B2B, a Fawran or bank-transfer option can be the difference between a paid and an abandoned order, and it avoids card fees.
E-money wallets and QR
Qatar Central Bank licenses three e-money issuers, Ooredoo Money, iPay and CWallet, on its Qatar Mobile Payment rail, which supports person-to-business transfers and QR at registered merchants. Licensed fintechs such as SkipCash also built QR-based acceptance. Usage is small in value terms (2% in December 2025) but relevant for low-ticket, in-person and delivery use cases.
Buy now, pay later and cash on delivery
QCB’s 2025 annual report lists two licensed buy-now-pay-later providers, so instalment options at checkout are available through regulated partners. Cash on delivery remains common in regional e-commerce; it converts well for first-time buyers but carries return and reconciliation costs, so many stores keep it while nudging customers toward prepaid methods.
Which methods to offer
- Always: Visa, Mastercard and Himyan with 3-D Secure, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay through network tokens
- For invoices and orders above a few thousand riyals: Fawran or bank transfer, ideally with Request to Pay
- For cafes, retail and delivery: a QR option customers can scan with the apps they already have
- For fashion and electronics: consider a licensed BNPL partner
- Review your mix quarterly against your own data; QCB’s monthly statistics show the market moving toward instant payments
Rapid Gateway is launching in Qatar with cards, 3-D Secure and local bank and QR methods in one checkout, settled in Qatari Riyal, alongside invoicing, WhatsApp commerce and CRM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most used payment method in Qatar?
By value, card payments at point of sale led with 49% in December 2025 according to Qatar Central Bank, followed by Fawran instant transfers at 25% and e-commerce card payments at 24%. Mobile wallets were 2%.
Is Apple Pay popular in Qatar?
Apple Pay has been available since 2021 and is supported by all major Qatari card issuers and the NAPS network. QCB does not publish a separate Apple Pay share; it is counted within card payments.
Can customers pay by bank transfer online in Qatar?
Yes. Fawran enables instant bank-to-bank transfers, and Request to Pay lets a business send a payment request that the customer approves in their banking app.
Should I offer cash on delivery in Qatar?
It still helps first-time buyers convert, but it costs more to operate. Many stores offer it alongside prepaid methods and encourage cards, wallets or Fawran with faster delivery or small incentives.
Is there a Qatari domestic card?
Yes, Himyan, launched by Qatar Central Bank in March 2024 and issued by the major banks. It routes over the national NAPS network and is also accepted in Kuwait, Bahrain and, through a link with mada, Saudi Arabia.
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