Ride-Hailing Apps in Qatar 2026: 12 Licensed Apps & Fares

Only 12 ride-hailing apps in Qatar are licensed to operate right now. The Ministry of Transport published the current list on 19 October 2026, and every other app or private car offering rides through an app is operating outside the rules. This guide gives you the full licensed list, how to book each app, what trips cost, and which names to avoid.

If you only need the list of ride-hailing apps in Qatar, the table below has all 12 apps. If you need a recommendation, the big three are Uber, Karwa and badrgo, and the rest of the guide explains when each one wins.

QUICK REFERENCE: Ride-Hailing Apps in Qatar at a Glance

Licensed and active (Ministry of Transport, 19 October 2026): Uber, badrgo, Aabir, Karwa, Ryde, EzGo, Wer2GO, iDriver, WaselGo, Q Glide, Bdrive, Sawa rides (12 apps).
Licensed but NOT yet operating: Lumi, Maroon Rider, WIGO, Yango, Go Rafeeq, Royal ride, Rider app, Mondial, zoom ride, Meshwar, RideGo, wslt, Snoonu go, fast (14 apps).
Ministry of Transport helpline for transport complaints: 16016.
Karwa metered fares: QAR 7 to start, QAR 1.6 per kilometre by day, QAR 1.9 per kilometre at night, QAR 25 starting fare from Hamad International Airport.
Uber minimum fare: QAR 8, with surge pricing at busy times. badrgo starting fare: QAR 7, with no surge pricing.
Careem is gone: it ended all ride-hailing in Qatar in February 2023 and cannot be used to book a ride here.

The 12 Licensed Apps at a Glance

The table below is the complete active list of ride-hailing apps in Qatar licensed by the Ministry of Transport. Book only through these apps. A second list of licensed but inactive apps follows further down the guide, so you do not waste time waiting for a car that cannot come.

App	How to book	Best for
Uber	Uber app (iOS and Android)	Widest choice of ride types and city-wide coverage
Karwa	Karwa app, phone 4458 8888, street hail or taxi rank	Metered taxis and airport trips
badrgo	badrgo app (iOS and Android)	Fixed, no-surge pricing and scheduled rides
Aabir	Aabir app (iOS and Android)	A licensed alternative when the big three are busy
Ryde	Ryde app (iOS and Android)	Competitive prices across ride types
EzGo	EzGo app (iOS and Android)	A licensed alternative for everyday trips
Wer2GO	Wer2GO app (iOS and Android)	A licensed alternative for everyday trips
iDriver	iDriver app (iOS and Android)	A licensed alternative for everyday trips
WaselGo	WaselGo app (iOS and Android)	A licensed alternative for everyday trips
Q Glide	Q Glide app (iOS and Android)	A licensed alternative for everyday trips
Bdrive	Bdrive app (iOS and Android)	A licensed alternative for everyday trips
Sawa rides	Sawa rides app (iOS and Android)	Newest addition to the licensed list (October 2026)

The Big Three

Most riders in Qatar will only ever need three of the licensed ride-hailing apps in Qatar. They have the largest fleets, the clearest fares and the most reliable coverage.

Person booking a ride-hailing trip on a phone app in Doha

Uber

Uber is the global app and the widest choice in Qatar. It offers UberX, UberXL and Uber Comfort, with real-time tracking, cashless payment and safety features in the app. The minimum fare is QAR 8, and prices rise during surge periods, so always check the estimate shown before you confirm.

Uber works across Doha and is the easiest option for visitors who already have the app installed. Book through the Uber app on iOS or Android, or at uber.com/qa.

Karwa

Karwa is the state operator, run by Mowasalat, and its turquoise taxis are the official metered fleet of Qatar. You can book through the Karwa app, by phone on 4458 8888 or 800 8294, by hailing on the street, or from a taxi rank.

Karwa is the strongest choice for airport trips because it holds the arrivals rank at Hamad International Airport and runs on the meter. If you prefer buses for longer cross-city trips, our Karwa bus timings guide covers the routes and fares separately. The Karwa app also books the new robotaxi pilot service in selected areas of Doha.

Badrgo

badrgo is the budget challenger and the only one of the big three with no surge pricing. It launched in November 2023 and offers immediate, scheduled, hourly and monthly bookings, with Economy, Comfort, Premium and Van or Family classes. You can add multiple stops in the app, and it accepts cash, cards and digital wallets including Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Its starting fare is QAR 7, and prices stay consistent at busy times, which makes it the best pick when Uber is surging.

The Other Nine Licensed Apps

The other nine ride-hailing apps in Qatar on the Ministry list are licensed and active, but they are smaller than the big three. Public detail on their fares and coverage is limited, so treat the notes below as a starting point and check the app itself for current prices before you book.

Aabir

Aabir is licensed and active according to the Ministry of Transport. It is a useful backup when Uber, Karwa and badrgo are all busy, especially at peak hours. Check the Aabir app for its current fares and coverage before booking.

Ryde

Ryde offers a range of ride types at competitive prices and is available on iOS and Android. Its website is rydeqatar.com. It is a solid second choice for everyday trips across Doha, and the app shows a fare estimate before you confirm.

EzGo

EzGo is licensed and active according to the Ministry of Transport. It covers everyday trips in Doha through its app. Check the EzGo app for current fares and vehicle options before booking.

Wer2GO

Wer2GO is licensed and active according to the Ministry of Transport. It is one of the smaller licensed apps, so availability can vary by area and time of day. Check the app for a live fare estimate before you rely on it for a time-critical trip.

iDriver

iDriver is licensed and active according to the Ministry of Transport. It offers app-based booking for trips in Doha. Check the iDriver app for current fares and coverage before booking.

WaselGo

WaselGo is licensed and active according to the Ministry of Transport. It is a smaller licensed option for everyday trips. Check the WaselGo app for current fares and vehicle types before booking.

Q Glide

Q Glide is licensed and active according to the Ministry of Transport. The Ministry spells the name as “Q Glide” in its October 2026 list. Check the Q Glide app for current fares and coverage before booking.

Bdrive

Bdrive is licensed and active according to the Ministry of Transport. It is a smaller licensed option for app-based trips in Doha. Check the Bdrive app for current fares and vehicle types before booking.

Sawa rides

Sawa rides is the newest name on the active list. It was not in the September 2026 lists of licensed apps and appears for the first time in the Ministry’s 19 October 2026 update. That makes it the clearest sign that the list changes, so check the Ministry page again if you are reading this guide months later.

How to Choose the Right App

The right app depends on the trip. Use the licensed ride-hailing apps in Qatar below as a shortcut, then check the fare estimate in the app before you confirm.

Airport trips

Karwa wins for airport trips because it holds the arrivals rank at Hamad International Airport and runs on the meter, with a QAR 25 starting fare from the airport. Uber and badrgo can drop you at the airport and pick up from the designated areas the app shows. For a fixed price to the airport, badrgo’s scheduled booking removes surge risk.

Budget trips

badrgo wins on price because it charges no surge pricing and starts at QAR 7. Karwa’s meter is also predictable, starting at QAR 7 with QAR 1.6 per kilometre by day. Uber is the most expensive of the three at busy times because of surge pricing, so compare the estimate in the app first.

Family and group trips

UberXL and badrgo’s Van or Family class seat larger groups, and Karwa runs larger vehicles for up to eight passengers. If you travel with luggage or children, pick the larger class in the app rather than a standard sedan. Standard sedans in Qatar seat up to four passengers.

Late-night trips

All three big apps run at night, but Karwa’s night meter rises to QAR 1.9 per kilometre, and Uber’s surge is most likely late at night. badrgo’s no-surge pricing makes it the most predictable late-night choice. If you are travelling after midnight, book in advance through the app rather than relying on a street hail.

Fares: What a Trip Costs

Karwa’s metered tariff is the most transparent pricing in Qatar. It starts at QAR 7 for the first 1.8 kilometres, then QAR 1.6 per kilometre by day and QAR 1.9 per kilometre at night, with QAR 25 as the starting fare from Hamad International Airport. Waiting time is charged at QAR 8 per 15 minutes.

Taxi meter showing the fare inside a car in Qatar

As an example, a roughly 16 kilometre trip from the airport to the city centre costs about QAR 47 in a standard sedan.

Uber’s minimum fare is QAR 8, and its prices rise with demand, so the same trip can cost more at rush hour or on a rainy evening. badrgo starts at QAR 7 and does not surge, so its price is the same at busy times. Fares for ride-hailing apps in Qatar change over time, so treat every figure in this section as a guide and check the estimate inside the app before you confirm a booking.

Apps and Cars to Avoid

Not every car offering rides through ride-hailing apps in Qatar is legal. The Ministry of Transport warns that legal action will be taken against companies and vehicles operating without a licence. If a driver offers you a ride through an app that is not on the licensed list, do not take it, because you have no regulator to complain to if something goes wrong.

Careem is the name most visitors still ask about. Careem ended all ride-hailing operations in Qatar in February 2023, shortly after the World Cup, and its app cannot book a ride in Doha or anywhere else in Qatar. If an old guide still lists Careem for Qatar, that guide is out of date.

The second trap for ride-hailing apps in Qatar is the licensed-but-inactive list. Lumi, Maroon Rider, WIGO, Yango, Go Rafeeq, Royal ride, Rider app, Mondial, zoom ride, Meshwar, RideGo, wslt, Snoonu go and fast hold licences but are not operating in Qatar yet. Do not expect a car from them, and do not pay anyone claiming to book through them.

If Something Goes Wrong

For ride-hailing apps in Qatar, keep the trip receipt in the app, including the driver name, car details and fare. For problems with a licensed app, complain through the app’s own support first, because it can refund or re-price a trip.

If the problem is a company operating without a licence, or a driver who refuses the meter, call the Ministry of Transport helpline on 16016. For safety emergencies, call 999 as usual.

How This List Was Checked

This guide uses the Ministry of Transport’s own announcement, last updated on 19 October 2026, as its source. An earlier tip from September 2026 listed 11 active apps, but the October update adds Sawa rides, bringing the active list to 12.

That change is why this guide dates its list: if you are reading it well after October 2026, check the Ministry page again before booking, because apps join and leave the list. The inactive list is included for the same reason, so you can tell a licensed-but-dormant name from an unlicensed one.

Conclusion

Book only through the 12 licensed ride-hailing apps in Qatar, and check the fare estimate before every trip. Karwa is the safest airport choice, badrgo is the most predictable on price, and Uber is the widest choice for visitors. Avoid unlicensed cars and the dormant names on the inactive list, and keep 16016 saved for transport complaints.

For the official list, see the Ministry of Transport announcement (link in the sources below). For getting around without a car, our Doha metro map guide and Karwa bus timings guide cover the public options.

Official source: Ministry of Transport: Licensed Companies Authorized for Transporting Passengers Using Software and Electronic Apps

FAQs

Only the 12 ride-hailing apps in Qatar on the Ministry of Transport’s active list are legal: Uber, badrgo, Aabir, Karwa, Ryde, EzGo, Wer2GO, iDriver, WaselGo, Q Glide, Bdrive and Sawa rides, as updated on 19 October 2026. Any other app offering rides in Qatar is operating outside the rules, and the Ministry warns that legal action will be taken against unlicensed companies and vehicles.

Yes. Uber is on the Ministry of Transport’s licensed and active list, and it operates across Doha with UberX, UberXL and Uber Comfort. Its minimum fare is QAR 8 and prices rise during surge periods, so check the estimate in the app before confirming.

No. Careem ended all ride-hailing operations in Qatar in February 2023 and its app cannot book a ride in Doha or anywhere else in the country. If a guide still lists Careem for Qatar, it is out of date, and you should use Karwa, Uber or badrgo instead.

For ride-hailing apps in Qatar, badrgo is usually the cheapest because it starts at QAR 7 and never surges, while Karwa’s meter starts at QAR 7 with QAR 1.6 per kilometre by day. Uber can cost more at busy times because of surge pricing. For any single trip, compare the live estimates in the apps before you book.

Karwa is the best choice for airport trips because it holds the arrivals rank at Hamad International Airport and runs on the meter, with a QAR 25 starting fare from the airport. Uber and badrgo also serve the airport, and badrgo’s scheduled booking gives you a fixed price in advance.

It depends on the app. Karwa taxis accept cash and card, and badrgo accepts cash, cards and digital wallets. Uber in Qatar is cashless, so you pay through the app. Check the payment options in the app before you book if you need to pay cash.

The big three apps cover Doha and its suburbs best, and coverage thins out in smaller towns and remote areas. Karwa’s phone booking on 4458 8888 can help outside central Doha, and the Karwa bus network covers longer cross-city routes. For trips to places like Al Khor or Dukhan, book in advance and confirm the driver accepts the trip.

Keep the trip receipt in the app and complain through the app’s support first, because it can refund or re-price the trip. For metered Karwa taxis, the rule is no meter, no pay. If the company is unlicensed or the driver refuses the meter, call the Ministry of Transport helpline on 16016.

No. Apps such as Yango, Lumi, Maroon Rider and WIGO hold licences but are not operating in Qatar yet, according to the Ministry’s October 2026 list. Do not expect a car from them, and do not pay anyone claiming to book through them until the Ministry moves them to the active list.

Check the Ministry of Transport’s own announcement page, which lists the active and inactive licensed companies and is updated when the list changes. The current list was last updated on 19 October 2026. If an app is not on the active list, do not book through it.