Driving and Transportation:

Please note that Qatar driving rules are strict and all expatriates arriving in Qatar
should be aware of the traffic rules before they hire a rental vehicle or buy their
own vehicle.
After arrival in Qatar, if you intend to drive, you are required to apply for a
temporary drivers license immediately until you receive your residence permit.
Our Liaison Officer will assist you in obtaining a rental vehicle for the first few
weeks until you receive your residence permit. After RP has been issued that, the
temporary Qatari drivers license can be automatically converted to permanent
drivers license. The Qatari driving license is typically issued for five years for
residents.
There are some countries whose licenses can be converted to Qatari drivers
license without a driving test. All you need is your passport or ID card, three
photos, original driving license and a letter from your company. If you wear
glasses, you must be wearing them in the photo, or you will not be allowed to
wear them in the eye test. (They dont allow you to draw the glasses on, either.)
EYE TEST
You will, however, need an eye test. Our Liaison Officer will make the
arrangements and accompany you to the eye test at the Traffic Department.
If your driving license is not from one of the recognized countries, you will have
to register with a local driving school to apply for a temporary driving license,
and pass a driving test before obtaining a temporary/ permanent driving license.
Please note all charges (enrollment fee/driving school fee, driving test fee, etc.)
will be on your personal account. Please contact VCU-Qatar HR Office for more
information on who needs to take the driving test.
Once your residence permit has been issued, the Liaison Officer will request the
return of your temporary driving license and replace it with a permanent driving
license.
REGISTERING WITH A DRIVING SCHOOL
For those nationalities who are required to register with a driving school, a full
course of 50 lessons typically costs 1,850 riyals ($500) and a half course typically
costs 1,350 riyals ($370). There's also a 40 lesson course for 1,600 riyals ($440).
If you've driven before you might get a 12 lesson course for 600 riyals ($160). A
driving test currently costs 50 riyals ($15). The Liaison Officer will assist you in
registering with the driving school and help you obtain your driving license.
The driving test typically consists of the following steps:
Road sign test: You will receive the road sign booklet from the school you
register. This test is quite easy the officer points at a sign and you have to say
what it means. You will have to pass this to go to the next level

Pocket Parking This means maneuvering your car backwards into a small place.
You have to do it in one go, although you can take as long as you want. You can
also fail if you stall the car.
Slope test: You will be asked to do the L-turn up and down a ramp without
stalling the car.
Road Test: The final test is the road test where you will be instructed to drive the
car on the road and will be evaluated based on your driving skills and adherence
to road safety rules.
TEMPORARY/ PERMANENT DRIVERS LICENSE
Driving Test Application letter
Approval/No Objection letter from the Company /sponsor you are working for (In Arabic).
Copy of Trade License (If sponsored by company)
4 Passport size photographs - (If you are using spectacles photo should also be taken wearing the same)
Original license from country of Origin (if you have one)
Original Passport or Qatar Residence permit plus a copy of both
Eye test to be taken at within the premises after the application is filled.

Point to Remember:
1. Only credit card payment is accepted.
2. Ladies are not permitted to take Road Test in the Holy month of Ramadan.
3. If caught driving without a license Jail term and penalty fee according to prevailing laws applicable
4. Traffic Dept open working hours 7.00AM to 11.00AM and 4.00PM 7.00PM. Ladies section is open only in
the morning hours.
Buying your own Vehicle
You can purchase your own vehicle as soon as you receive your residence permit.
There are lots of car dealers and second hand car dealers. Salwa Road has a lot of
second hand dealers, and there are car auctions. Also look in the local
newspapers, on supermarket walls (Mega Mart always has a good selection) and
on Qatar Living website. You can also check on the PAL ( advertisement across
Education city) for used cars.
If you intend to purchase a used vehicle, you must test the vehicles performance
by taking it to one of the garages that has a computer testing capability. Please
check on Qatar Living or Marhaba guide book for the best garages in Doha.
You are also required to have your vehicle insured (new vehicle / used vehicle).
The car dealers will be able to assist you with the insurance packages.
Incidentally, your insurance is not valid when you drive in the desert.

All vehicles need a road permit. Vehicles older than three years must first pass an
annual inspection of road worthiness. You will also need this before you can get
your car insured. The inspection can be done at Qatar Technical Inspection Unit
in the Industrial area (24th street) for 75 riyals (Tel: 4460 4029/4460 4086). The
centre is open from six in the morning to half past five in the afternoon. You will
need to carry your road permit (called Estimara in Arabic). Many garages will put
your car through the test for you, repair anything it fails on and then resubmit it.
Having done the test, take it to the vehicle inspection and registration counter
next door along with your insurance to obtain your new road permit (Estimara).
(See Marhaba Information Guide Issue 34 p.270).
In the event of an accident
Dont move, even if you are holding up half of Doha. (You can move if it is a minor
accident and both parties agree on the details, but most people prefer not to). Call
the police on 999. They will come, and make notes and give you a time to be at a
police station. You will have to go to this appointment to obtain a police report.
Without this report, you cant get your car fixed.
Traffic offences
Qatar is committed to reducing traffic offences. Due to its conservative Islamic
norms, Qatar maintains a zero-tolerance policy against drinking and driving. To
check if youve committed a traffic offence, you can go towww.moi.gov.qa, enter your
vehicle registration number and vehicle type. You can also pay your fine through
the website. (Interest is charged on unpaid fines).
Tips to ensure road safety in Qatar
Do remember to keep your driver's license, vehicle registration, road permit, and insurance documents on
hand. There is an on the spot QR 500 fine when pulled over by the police for not having your documentation.
Do wear seat belts at all times. Seat belts save lives.
Do check your tires often. Heat and road conditions can lead to blowouts.
Do check for no-parking signs. Parking fines range from QR 300 to QR 1000.
Do watch out for emergency vehicles and make way for them.
Don't use your cell phone while driving.
Don't drive off road into the desert. The sand can "swallow" tires and leave you stranded. Seemingly hard
packed ground can give way unexpectedly. Leave the desert driving to the experienced locals.
Don't forget to take your vehicle in for regular maintenance checks.
Don't speed. Qatar police use surveillance cameras on highways. Fines start at QR 300. Driving through a
stoplight is a minimum of QR 6000. ($1644)