{ "jurisdiction_id": "QA", "jurisdiction": "Qatar", "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/", "generator": "render_jid v13.3.0", "date_modified": "2026-08-11", "schema_version": "world-payments-v1", "counts": { "modules": 14, "sourced_findings": 53, "source_register": 96 }, "modules": [ { "code": "W1a", "name": "Licensing, Authorisation & Market Access", "confidence": "Confirmed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w1a-licensing-authorisation-market-access", "standing_position": "QCB licenses and supervises PSPs, e-money issuers and BNPL providers under its Payment Services Regulation; licensee count reached 15 in early 2026 with Karty's e-money licence grant, continuing QCB's fintech-modernisation agenda.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "Payment Services Regulation (Licensing and Regulating PSPs)", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Services/Financial%20Technology/PSR%20Final%20-%20English.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "Payment Services Regulations", "source": "https://www.tamimi.com/news/qatar-central-bank-issues-the-payment-services-regulations/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "Payment Services Regulations", "source": "https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/qatar-central-banks-payment-services-regulations-rasmalegal-2f", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "capital requirement", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Services/Financial%20Technology/PSR%20Final%20-%20English.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QCB Law No. 13 of 2012, Article 205", "source": "https://www.tamimi.com/law-update-articles/qatars-new-central-bank-law-key-developments-in-banking-regulation/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W1b", "name": "Conduct, Safeguarding & Financial Promotions", "confidence": "Confirmed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w1b-conduct-safeguarding-financial-promotions", "standing_position": "PSP customer funds are safeguarded via segregated client-money/escrow accounts; non-bank e-money issuers and merchant acquirers must perform an independent audit on the clients' money (escrow) account every six months and report to QCB. Conduct rules require clear contractual disclosure of rights/obligations in English and Arabic, and a dedicated QCB Customer Protection Department oversees fair-treatment conduct. A BNPL licensing regime (effective Aug 2023) sits alongside.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "safeguarding / escrow", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Services/Financial%20Technology/PSR%20Final%20-%20English.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "conduct / disclosure", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Services/Financial%20Technology/PSR%20Final%20-%20English.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "BNPL Regulations", "source": "https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=b5f8f35f-2b87-4905-9daa-56c718834704", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "BNPL capital requirement", "source": "https://fintechnews.ae/17728/qatar/qatar-central-bank-grants-license-to-7sab-bringing-total-number-of-approved-digital-payment-fintechs-to-10/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W2", "name": "Stablecoins & Digital Money", "confidence": "Confirmed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w2-stablecoins-digital-money", "standing_position": "Conservative split posture: e-money regulated onshore under PSR; QFC Digital Assets Framework (in force 1 Sept 2024) classes cryptocurrencies/stablecoins/CBDCs as Excluded Tokens, preserving the 2019 ban; wholesale CBDC in development.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "e-money regime", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Services/Financial%20Technology/PSR%20Final%20-%20English.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QFC Digital Assets Regulations 2024", "source": "https://www.qfcra.com/news/qfc-regulatory-authority-clarifies-that-cryptocurrencies-stablecoins-and-certain-other-virtual-assets-are-excluded-tokens-under-the-new-digital-assets-framework/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QFC Digital Assets Framework 2024", "source": "https://www.qfc.qa/en/media-centre/news/list/qatar-financial-centre-issues-qfc-digital-assets-framework-2024", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "CBDC project", "source": "https://coingeek.com/qatar-central-bank-issues-landmark-digital-payment-licenses-to-2-telco-providers/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W3", "name": "Operational Resilience & Critical Infrastructure", "confidence": "Assessed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w3-operational-resilience-critical-infrastructure", "standing_position": "Qatar's operational-resilience regime for banks rests on the QCB Technology Risks circular (2018), covering cybersecurity governance, IT operations, enterprise security, business continuity and fraud prevention, with a one-hour incident-reporting requirement and prior QCB approval for cloud/significant outsourcing. A parallel Information & Cyber Security Regulation for PSPs sets a sandbox/regulatory baseline including data-localisation. There is no DORA-equivalent statute; resilience is delivered through these QCB circulars.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QCB Technology Risks circular 2018", "source": "https://www.kiteworks.com/guide-compliance-guide-to-securing-sensitive-content-in-qatars-banking-sector/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "Information and Cyber Security Regulation for PSPs (2022)", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Documents/InformationSecurity/Information%20and%20Cyber%20Security%20Regulation%20for%20PSPs.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "outsourcing / cloud controls", "source": "https://www.kiteworks.com/guide-compliance-guide-to-securing-sensitive-content-in-qatars-banking-sector/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W4", "name": "Scheme & Network Compliance", "confidence": "High", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w4-scheme-network-compliance", "standing_position": "Domestic card and POS processing runs over NAPS (National ATM & POS Switch), with QPay as the NAPS-built e-commerce gateway; NAPS links to GCCNET and other GCC switches plus Lebanon and Egypt. NAPS does not provide direct Visa/Mastercard interfaces but routes those cards via member-bank agreements. QCB has set merchant fee reforms (debit MDR 0.5% micro-merchants, 1.1% elsewhere) and opened direct NAPS/QPay integration to fintechs (Sadad first, April 2025).", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "NAPS national switch", "source": "https://www.vixio.com/insights/pc-qatar-launch-national-payment-card-year-end", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "NAPS/QPay direct integration", "source": "https://qna.org.qa/en/News-Area/News/2025-4/14/qatar-central-bank-enables-first-fintech-direct-integration-with-naps-qpay", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "2", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "interchange/MDR reform", "source": "https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/01/22/3223623/28124/en/Qatar-Payments-Market-Trends-and-Expansion-Strategies-2026-2031-Fragmented-QR-Standard-Adoption-Among-SMEs-Affecting-Qatar-Payments-Market-Potential.html", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "scheme compliance enforcement", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/PublicationFiles/Penalty_Enforcement_Procedures_Financial_Institutions.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W5", "name": "Payment Corridor Dynamics", "confidence": "High", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w5-payment-corridor-dynamics", "standing_position": "Qatar is a major remittance-sending market (large expatriate workforce; India and Bangladesh leading outbound corridors), served by exchange houses and banks. Cross-border rails include SWIFT, QCB's IBAN standard, the GCC's AFAQ RTGS system (GPC-owned, Qatar a shareholder; expected to onboard) and the Arab Monetary Fund's Buna multi-currency platform. A Wage Protection System mandates payroll-account payment for workers since 2015.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "AFAQ GCC RTGS", "source": "https://rulebook.sama.gov.sa/en/operating-rules-cross-currency-payments-using-afaq-service", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "AFAQ onboarding", "source": "https://www.ib.barclays/our-insights/middle-east-payments-update.html", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "IBAN standard", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Documents/BankInstructions/EN/13-193.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "remittance corridor", "source": "https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/international-remittance-industry-qatar-outlook-2025-ken-kajal-rajput", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W6", "name": "Industry Structure & Commercial Dynamics", "confidence": "Assessed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w6-industry-structure-commercial-dynamics", "standing_position": "Qatar's financial sector is bank-led and highly concentrated: ~18 commercial banks with the top five (QNB, QIB, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Masraf Al Rayan) holding nearly 97% of assets; QNB is the largest bank in MEA by assets. Universal banks lead merchant acquiring and wallet innovation while telco wallets (Ooredoo Money, iPay) and fintech insurgents (SkipCash, CWallet, Karty) operate in payments; the fintech sector remains relatively nascent but growing under QCB/QFTH support.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "market concentration", "source": "https://grokipedia.com/page/List_of_banks_in_Qatar", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "sector structure", "source": "https://sdk.finance/blog/fintech-in-qatar-market-overview-growth-drivers-and-key-players/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "competitive landscape", "source": "https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/qatar-payments-market", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W7", "name": "Legal & Litigation", "confidence": "Assessed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w7-legal-litigation", "standing_position": "Payments-sector legal/enforcement framework is administrative and QCB-led rather than litigation-driven. QCB Law No. 13 of 2012 (chapters 8 dispute resolution, 9 sanctions) and Article 216 underpin financial penalties; Article 205 criminalises unlicensed financial services (up to 3 years/QAR 5m). QCB publishes AML/CFT-related enforcement outcomes. The QFC operates its own Civil & Commercial Court. No landmark public payments litigation surfaced in the baseline sweep.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "enforcement / sanctions", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/PublicationFiles/Instructions_Applying_Penalties_Financial_Institutions.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QCB Law No. 13 of 2012", "source": "https://www.tamimi.com/law-update-articles/qatars-new-central-bank-law-key-developments-in-banking-regulation/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "financial penalties", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Documents/BankInstructions/EN/11.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W8", "name": "Merchant Acquiring & Risk", "confidence": "Assessed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w8-merchant-acquiring-risk", "standing_position": "Merchant acquiring is bank-led (QNB the leader) with fintechs now able to acquire via direct NAPS/QPay integration. QCB merchant approval is required to add new merchants to a PSP's systems. Card-present and online dispute/chargeback handling falls under QCB-licensed providers and Qatari-court jurisdiction; the EMV/3DS liability shift governs fraud allocation. Acquirers must hold and audit escrow accounts and meet PCI-DSS/ISO 27001 controls.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "merchant onboarding / acquiring", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Services/Financial%20Technology/PSR%20Final%20-%20English.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "chargeback / liability shift", "source": "https://sadad.qa/en/payment-fraud-in-qatar-2/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "acquiring market", "source": "https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/qatar-payments-market", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W9", "name": "Product Innovation & Market Development", "confidence": "High", "moved_this_cycle": true, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w9-product-innovation-market-development", "standing_position": "Innovation driven by QCB Fintech Strategy: QMP interoperable wallet switch, Fawran instant proxy-ID A2A, QA-RTGS (Dec 2024, ISO 20022), national prepaid card with Apple/Google/Samsung Pay; open-banking framework targeted 2026 (industry-reported, unconfirmed); wholesale CBDC in development.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QMP instant switch", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/en/pages/qatarmobilepayment.aspx", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QA-RTGS / Fawran", "source": "https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/01/22/3223623/28124/en/Qatar-Payments-Market-Trends-and-Expansion-Strategies-2026-2031-Fragmented-QR-Standard-Adoption-Among-SMEs-Affecting-Qatar-Payments-Market-Potential.html", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "open banking", "source": "https://fintechnews.ae/25410/qatar/fintech-on-the-rise-in-qatar-driven-by-increased-adoption-of-digital-payments-and-strong-government-initiatives/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "national prepaid card", "source": "https://marhaba.qa/the-banking-network-in-qatar/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W10", "name": "Consumer Protection & APP Fraud", "confidence": "Confirmed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w10-consumer-protection-app-fraud", "standing_position": "Consumer protection is multi-layered: QCB's dedicated Customer Protection Department handles banking/payments complaints; the QFC runs an independent Customer Dispute Resolution Scheme (CDRS, max award QAR 400,000); and MOCI enforces Law No. 8 of 2008 on Consumer Protection for general commerce. There is no dedicated UK-style mandatory APP-fraud reimbursement scheme; fraud allocation runs through the EMV/3DS liability shift and QCB-supervised dispute processes.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QCB Customer Protection Department", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/en/pages/customer-protection-department.aspx", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QFC Customer Dispute Resolution Scheme", "source": "https://www.qfcra.com/customer-dispute-resolution-scheme/", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "Law No. 8 of 2008", "source": "https://www.lawgratis.com/blog-detail/consumer-law-qatar", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W11", "name": "AML/CFT & Financial Crime", "confidence": "Confirmed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w11-aml-cft-financial-crime", "standing_position": "Sentinel-fed: AML/CFT anchored in Law No. 20 of 2019; QCB risk-based supervision (updated 2021); QFIU as FIU; FATF 2023 MER 32 compliant/8 largely compliant of 40 with TF investigation/prosecution rated Low.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "FATF effectiveness ratings", "source": "sentinel://dwfgroup.com/en/news-and-insights/insights/2023/6/fatf-qatar-mutual-evaluation-qatar", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": "Qatar operates AML Law No. 20/2019 and Counter-Terrorism Act No. 27/2019, supervised by QCB, QFCRA and QFMA with NAMLC leading NRA/policy. FATF-MENAFATF's 2023 MER rated technical compliance very strong but flagged major effectiveness gaps in ML prosecution, PF sanctions implementation and BO data accuracy.", "instrument_type": "assessment", "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) per-JID baseline profile — Qatar", "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": "Sanctions: OFAC listing", "instrument_type": "sanctions_change", "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) sanctions_change_register (issue FIM-BASE-SANC-002)", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": "Enforcement: OFAC — Qatar-registered shell entity (Business Registration Number 182712)", "instrument_type": "enforcement_action", "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) enforcement_action_register (issue FIM-BASE-ENF-003)", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": "Enforcement: OFAC — Raoof Fadel and Maya Boustany (Doha, Qatar-based Hizballah network)", "instrument_type": "enforcement_action", "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) enforcement_action_register (issue FIM-BASE-ENF-002)", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": "Gap: political-constraint", "instrument_type": "gap", "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) gaps_register_cumulative (issue FIM-BASE-GAP-003)", "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": "Gap: regulatory-failure", "instrument_type": "gap", "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) gaps_register_cumulative (issue FIM-BASE-GAP-004)", "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W12", "name": "Correspondent Banking, Settlement & Access", "confidence": "High", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w12-correspondent-banking-settlement-access", "standing_position": "Settlement runs over QA-RTGS (ISO 20022, Dec 2024) and the QATCH/TERMS clearing systems, with QCB-registered IBAN. Cross-border correspondent access is augmented by GCC AFAQ RTGS interlinkage and AMF's Buna multi-currency platform — both restricting direct access to licensed banks. PSP settlement typically runs through bank partners (e.g. CWallet via QNB). Qatar's strong AML standing supports correspondent-banking relationships.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "Buna / AFAQ access", "source": "https://www.theasianbanker.com/updates-and-articles/cross-border-payments-in-the-middle-east-become-more-inclusive", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "QATCH/TERMS / IBAN settlement", "source": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Documents/BankInstructions/EN/13-193.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "correspondent banking CDD", "source": "https://www.qfiu.gov.qa/rules/files/AMLCFT_Instructions_052020_QCB_EN.pdf", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "1", "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "W13", "name": "Commercial Intelligence & Fintech", "confidence": "Assessed", "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/qatar/#w13-commercial-intelligence-fintech", "standing_position": "Payment-fintech-led but small-scale T12M commercial activity: SkipCash $4m Series A (Feb 2026, QDB-backed); product launches (QNB UPI acceptance, Apple Pay on national prepaid card, Doha Bank-Nium remittance); most fintechs partner banks for settlement; 2 acquisitions in 2025, 1 to Apr 2026.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "Series A funding", "source": "https://www.wamda.com/2026/02/qatar-skipcash-raises-4-million-series", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "product launch / integration", "source": "https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/qatar-payments-market", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": "M&A volume", "source": "https://tracxn.com/d/geographies/qatar/__fDFIn2Cl5qRmcQx-pCfoNvLxh2yttAOd5y8c1KmIKNg", "source_url": null, "source_tier": "3", "retrieved_at": null } ] } ] }