Need a ride in Doha right now? Karwa is Qatar’s official taxi service and can be booked through the Karwa Official app, the Karwa website or Mowasalat’s 24-hour customer-service centre. You can also pick up a taxi from an authorised rank or hail an available turquoise Karwa taxi in many parts of the city.
Karwa taxis are metered. However, Mowasalat’s current public website does not display a complete tariff table, so the fare estimate shown in the Karwa app and the amount recorded on the taxi meter should be treated as the most reliable figures for an individual journey.
Recent fare guides continue to list a QAR 4 city flag fall, a QAR 10 minimum fare and daytime rates beginning at QAR 1.60 per kilometre. Short journeys around central Doha commonly cost somewhere in the low-to-mid tens of riyals, although traffic, waiting time, pickup conditions and distance affect the total.
Here is a practical guide to Karwa taxis, airport transport, limousine services, robotaxi trials and ride-hailing options in Qatar in 2026.
Who runs the taxis? Mowasalat (Karwa)
Mowasalat is Qatar’s public-transport operator and runs the country’s official taxi service under the Karwa brand.
Karwa’s turquoise taxis operate across Doha and other parts of Qatar. Mowasalat also provides Doha Limousine chauffeur services and an app-based Economy Service operated in collaboration with Fox Transport.
Standard Karwa taxis use a meter rather than the dynamic pricing model commonly used by ride-hailing apps. This means the fare is primarily affected by the applicable tariff, distance and time spent waiting in traffic rather than demand-based surge pricing.
The final amount can still be higher than the original app estimate if the journey takes longer, the route changes or the taxi spends additional time waiting.
How to book a Karwa taxi
There are several ways to request a Karwa taxi, whether you are leaving a hotel, travelling from a mall or arriving at Hamad International Airport.
The Karwa Official app
The Karwa Official app is available on the main mobile app platforms and allows passengers to request an immediate or future pickup.
Current app features include:
- Booking a standard Karwa taxi
- Booking an accessible taxi
- Booking Doha Limousine services
- Viewing an estimated fare
- Tracking the assigned vehicle
- Receiving driver and vehicle details
- Managing upcoming and previous bookings
- Receiving electronic bills
- Paying by credit card or Google Pay on supported devices
The app also states that there is no additional charge specifically for making an advance reservation.
Mowasalat’s Economy Service is available exclusively through the Karwa app and may provide a lower-cost alternative to the standard service, depending on availability.
The app is especially useful for visitors who are unfamiliar with Doha’s street names, building entrances or mall pickup points.
Phone booking
Karwa taxis can be booked or requested through the following official numbers:
- 4458 8888 — Mowasalat’s 24-hour customer-service centre
- 800-TAXI, or 800 8294 — the taxi-booking number published by Hamad International Airport
The 4458 8888 number can also be used to request a taxi suitable for passengers with reduced mobility. Advance notice is recommended for accessible vehicles.
Phone booking is useful when you do not have mobile data, need an accessible vehicle or want to confirm a pickup with a customer-service representative.
Street hailing and taxi ranks
Available Karwa taxis can be hailed from the roadside in many busy parts of Doha.
Taxis are also commonly found at ranks near:
- Shopping malls
- Hotels
- Hospitals
- Business districts
- Tourist attractions
- Major entertainment venues
Availability can be less predictable during busy evenings, major events or shift-change periods, so app booking is usually more reliable when timing matters.
Only stop in a safe location where the driver can pull over without obstructing traffic.
The airport Taxi Pavilion
Arriving passengers at Hamad International Airport should follow the airport’s signs to the official Taxi Pavilion, located at the left end of the Arrivals Hall.
The airport provides standard sedans, vans and special taxis for larger families, passengers carrying significant luggage and travellers with reduced mobility. Taxi coordinators at the pavilion can help passengers select a suitable vehicle and load their luggage.
Hamad International Airport advises passengers to use only the authorised taxis operating from the Taxi Pavilion.
Do not accept unsolicited offers from unofficial drivers inside or outside the terminal.
How much does a Karwa taxi cost in 2026?
Karwa fares are metered, and the final amount depends on distance, tariff period and waiting time.
Mowasalat’s current public website does not provide a complete fare table. The rates below are therefore based on the most consistently published recent fare references and should be treated as indicative.
Check the Karwa app estimate before booking and make sure the taxi meter is operating during the journey.
Standard taxi fares within Doha
Recent published fare guides generally list:
- Meter flag fall: QAR 4
- Minimum journey fare: QAR 10
- Daytime distance rate: approximately QAR 1.60 per kilometre
- Night and outside-Doha rate: approximately QAR 1.90 per kilometre
The minimum fare means that a very short journey may still cost QAR 10 even if the calculated distance charge is lower.
The original QAR 7 starting fare and claim that it includes the first 1.8 kilometres should not be presented as the standard meter tariff.
Some app-based services or promotions may display starting estimates around QAR 6 or QAR 7, but those should not be confused with the full metered-fare structure.
Daytime tariff
Recent fare information places the daytime rate between approximately:
- 4:00 am and 11:00 pm: QAR 1.60 per kilometre
Night tariff
The higher rate generally applies between approximately:
- 11:00 pm and 4:00 am: QAR 1.90 per kilometre
The QAR 1.90 rate is also commonly applied to travel outside the main Doha tariff area.
The current public Mowasalat website does not confirm an exact waiting charge. Waiting in congestion or during requested stops still affects the meter, so avoid publishing QAR 8 per 15 minutes as a confirmed 2026 figure unless it is verified directly through Mowasalat.
Typical short-trip costs
Short journeys in central Doha will vary according to the exact route and traffic.
As a rough planning guide:
- Very short trip: at least the QAR 10 minimum
- Three-to-five-kilometre trip: often around QAR 10–20
- Longer central Doha journey: commonly around QAR 20–35 or more
The original QAR 12–25 range is reasonable as a broad estimate for selected local trips, but it should not be presented as applying to every journey.
Use the fare estimate in the Karwa app for a more useful calculation based on your pickup point and destination. The estimate is not a guaranteed fixed price because waiting time and route changes can affect the meter.
Taxi fares from Hamad International Airport
Airport taxis use a higher starting fare.
Recent published fare references list:
- Airport starting fare: QAR 25
- Daytime rate: approximately QAR 1.60 per kilometre
- Nighttime rate: approximately QAR 1.90 per kilometre
Indicative journey budgets include:
- Hamad International Airport to Souq Waqif or central Doha: approximately QAR 40–55
- Airport to West Bay: approximately QAR 45–70
- Airport to The Pearl or Lusail: approximately QAR 60–100 or more
These are planning estimates rather than official fixed fares. The final price depends on the destination, route, traffic and waiting time.
Larger airport taxis
Hamad International Airport confirms that passengers can choose between sedans and vans depending on the number of passengers and amount of luggage.
Special taxis are also available for larger families and passengers carrying substantial baggage.
The original claim that six-seater airport taxis have a QAR 18 starting charge is not supported by the airport’s current guidance and should be removed.
Ask the Taxi Pavilion coordinator to confirm the vehicle type and applicable fare before boarding.
Robotaxis and what comes next
Qatar is testing electric autonomous taxis through a programme supervised by the Ministry of Transport and operated with Mowasalat.
The first phase included a limited commercial pilot available through the Karwa app, with a trained safety officer inside the vehicle. By July 2026, the project had recorded approximately 2,500 trial trips.
The planned next phase involves driverless operation on selected approved routes, including:
- Old Doha Port to The Gate Mall
- Souq Waqif to Sheraton Doha Hotel
- Museum of Islamic Art to West Bay
Public availability will be introduced gradually after safety requirements are met.
Robotaxis should therefore be described as a limited pilot service, not as an option available throughout Doha.
Where the service is active, eligible journeys may appear inside the Karwa app based on the pickup and destination zones.
Karwa Limousine
Mowasalat’s premium chauffeur service is currently branded Doha Limousine.
It offers three main service categories:
- Select
- Business
- First Class
The fleet includes luxury vehicles, electric limousines, seven-seater SUVs and vans suitable for families and corporate groups.
Doha Limousine can be booked through:
- The Karwa app
- Mowasalat’s online booking service
- The customer-service centre on 4458 8888
Limousine prices are higher than standard metered taxi fares. Check the quoted price and vehicle category before confirming.
Other ride-hailing apps in Qatar
Karwa is not the only app-based transport option operating in Qatar.
Hamad International Airport currently identifies the following authorised ride-hailing operators:
- Uber
- Badrgo
- Ryde
Airport pickups for these services are permitted only from the designated ride-hailing area inside the multi-level parking facility. Passengers should exit the Arrivals Hall through Gate 3 and follow the marked route to the authorised pickup point.
Ride-hailing fares are shown in each provider’s app and may change according to vehicle type, journey demand, traffic and pickup location.
Karwa remains the metered official-taxi option, while Uber, Badrgo and Ryde operate through app-based private transport services.
Tips to save money and travel smart
Combine taxis with the Doha Metro
For longer journeys, the Doha Metro can cover the main part of the route, followed by a short Karwa trip to the final destination.
In selected areas, passengers can also book the free metroexpress shared service through the Karwa app for travel to or from participating Metro and Lusail Tram stations.
Check the app estimate
Enter the pickup and destination before booking.
This allows you to compare the estimated Karwa fare with an available ride-hailing option, although the final metered fare can still change.
Avoid heavy traffic where possible
Distance is not the only factor affecting the fare. Time spent waiting in traffic can increase the amount on the meter.
Rush-hour congestion is especially common around:
- West Bay
- Corniche Road
- C-Ring Road
- D-Ring Road
- School zones
- Major event venues
Check the payment method
The Karwa Android app currently supports credit-card and Google Pay payments. Hamad International Airport states that its taxis accept cashless options including Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay, Google Pay and NAPS.
Payment availability may vary outside the airport or according to the vehicle and app version, so carry a backup payment method.
Pre-book important journeys
Use the app or phone line for:
- Early-morning airport trips
- Accessible taxis
- Large vehicles
- Major events
- Group travel
- Time-sensitive appointments
The app permits both immediate and future bookings without an additional advance-booking charge.
For more practical transport and everyday-life guides, browse Qatar Living’s guides to the Doha Metro, public buses, airport transfers and getting around Qatar.
FAQs
How do I book a Karwa taxi in Qatar?
You can book through the Karwa Official app, use Mowasalat’s online booking service, call 4458 8888 or 800-TAXI on 800 8294, use an authorised taxi rank or hail an available Karwa taxi from a safe roadside location.
How much is a Karwa taxi in Doha?
Recent fare guides generally list a QAR 4 flag fall, a QAR 10 minimum trip fare and approximately QAR 1.60 per kilometre during daytime hours.
The night and outside-Doha rate is commonly listed as approximately QAR 1.90 per kilometre.
Mowasalat’s current public website does not display a complete tariff table, so check the estimate in the Karwa app and the meter inside the vehicle.
How much does a taxi from Hamad International Airport cost?
Recent published rates list an airport starting fare of QAR 25, followed by the applicable distance rate.
A journey to central Doha may cost around QAR 40–55, while West Bay, The Pearl and Lusail generally cost more because they are farther from the airport.
These are indicative figures, not fixed airport prices.
Is there Uber or another ride-hailing app in Qatar?
Yes.
Hamad International Airport currently lists Uber, Badrgo and Ryde as authorised ride-hailing operators. Karwa can be booked through its own official app and operates as Qatar’s metered taxi service.
Are Karwa taxis available 24 hours?
Mowasalat operates a 24-hour customer-service centre and provides round-the-clock taxi support.
Vehicle availability and pickup time may vary by location, time and demand, so advance booking is recommended for early flights and time-sensitive trips.
Can I pay by card in a Karwa taxi?
Card and mobile-wallet payment options are available.
The Karwa app supports credit-card and Google Pay payments on compatible devices. Airport taxis accept Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay, Google Pay and NAPS.
Payment options in an individual street taxi may vary, so check before starting the journey or keep another payment method available.
Where do I get a taxi at Hamad International Airport?
Follow the taxi signs to the official Taxi Pavilion at the left end of the Arrivals Hall.
For Uber, Badrgo or Ryde, use the separate authorised ride-hailing pickup area in the multi-level parking facility after exiting through Gate 3.
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