Currency Guide - Qatar
The small desert country of Qatar is surrounded on three sides by the Persian Gulf. The land side borders Saudi Arabia. Its major export used to be fish and pearls. Now it is a leader in the oil and gas industry. The coinage is the riyal. It lists as QAR on the market with 100 dirhams equal to 1 riyal.
History
The coins of Alexander the Great made their way into and through Qatar in the 4thcentury B.C. These sparked any number of imitations. There were also Greek coinage from Iran and Iraq circulating in the country. Under the control of Islam Qatar had Iranian and Iraqi currency. It did not, however, have its own mint.
As a British protectorate in 1916, Qatar used the Indian rupee. This form was the Gulf Rupees, in common with other Persian Gulf countries. This remained the currency until 1966. The British Royal mint issued special coinage for Qatar. These were the result of a monetary union between Dubai and Qatar. The product was the Qatar and Dubai Currency Board (QDCB).
The QDCB chose the riyal as their currency. Coins appeared in both Arabic and English. These joint issues did not last long. In 1971, Qatar became a sovereign state while Dubai joined the United Arab Emirates. The termination of the monetary agreement came into effect on May 3, 1973. The Qatar Monetary Agency took control of currency. Coins in dirhem and riyal came out from the royal mint featuring the nation’s symbols of a boat and 2 palm trees.
Today, the money system remains the same. There are banknotes and coins in the post-QDCB-style. Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 dirham. Banknotes are issued in 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 riyal
Obtaining Qatar Riyals
You can exchange your own currency for Qatar riyals and dirhem at moneychangers and banks. There are different rates so check and compare carefully. The other option is the easily accessible ATM.
Protecting Your Currency
Crime in Qatar is low. Yet, you should still take the usual precautions to protect your valuables.
Using Your Qatar Riyals
Shopping in Qatar can be a modern or traditional experience. The main city of Doha has many expensive and modern malls for you to explore. Yet, there are also the traditional souqs. You can buy products from other countries or try to purchase traditional handicrafts. There are the generic Arabic perfumes and dates. Tehre are also burka hoods for falcons at the Falcon Souq or \hand-woven baskets at the Omani Market. You can also see about purchasing the standards: silver jewelry and traditional dress.
Travel Tips and Warnings
- Islamic religion and practices are the basis of the country. Use common sense in your dress and behavior, particularly during religious holidays.
- Women do face restrictions, but many are less stringent than in other countries e.g. wear a scarf dress and skirt covering the shoulders and knees.
- Visit Doha with its picturesque port and Doha Fort. There is also the looming and highly visible Aspire Tower, the Qatar National Museum and Palm Tree Island.
- Go to watch the camel races or see camels at Al-Shaniya.
- Take a trip to the “inland” sea of Khor Al-Adaid.
- There is a fort at Al-Zabura now host to the Regional Museum.
- Be sure to see the rock carvings at Jebel Jassassiyeh.
Overview
Qatar is a nation on the Persian Gulf. Its only border is that of Saudi Arabia. A producer of oil with a high standard of living, Qatar is fast in becoming a modern nation.
For factual information and data, go to www.qatarvisitor.com. For travel information, see www.experienceqatar.com.
Currency Summary
Current currency: riyals
100 dirham equal 1 riyal
Coins: 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 dirham
Banknotes: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 riyal