Real fares from Hamad Airport to West Bay, The Pearl and Lusail, and when a fixed-price car is worth it.
Doha's taxis are cheap, safe and metered — so when is a private transfer worth the extra? Here are the real numbers from the airport and around the city, updated by our dispatch team.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Airport → West Bay | QAR 60–80 taxi / $35 private |
| Meter | QAR 4 + 1.8/km |
| Airport fee | QAR 25 |
| Apps | Uber, Careem, Karwa |
| Chauffeur | $17/h |
Karwa taxi fares (metered)
| Route | Karwa taxi | Uber / Careem | Private sedan (fixed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamad Airport → West Bay | QAR 60–80 | QAR 55–90 | $35 · QAR 127 |
| Hamad Airport → The Pearl | QAR 80–100 | QAR 75–110 | $40 · QAR 146 |
| Hamad Airport → Lusail | QAR 90–110 | QAR 85–130 | $45 · QAR 164 |
| Hamad Airport → Al Wakrah | QAR 45–60 | QAR 40–70 | $30 · QAR 109 |
| West Bay → Souq Waqif | QAR 20–30 | QAR 18–35 | — |
Karwa's meter starts at QAR 4 (QAR 10 at night) plus QAR 1.8–2 per km, with a QAR 25 airport surcharge. Waiting time is charged. Fares above include the surcharge.
When a fixed-price transfer makes sense
- Arriving after midnight or with children, when you want a name board at arrivals rather than a queue.
- Groups of 4+ or heavy luggage — a van at $60 beats two taxis.
- Business travellers who need a receipt and an invoice in USD or QAR.
- Peak periods (events, Eid, December) when app prices surge and taxi queues exceed 30 minutes.
- Delayed flights: our drivers track the flight and wait 60 minutes free.
Chauffeur by the hour
For meetings, shopping or a self-paced sightseeing day, a chauffeur-driven sedan is $17 per hour (4-hour minimum) or $125 for an 8-hour day, fuel and parking included. SUVs and vans are priced per hour too.
How the Karwa meter works
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Flag fall (street / rank) | QAR 4 day · QAR 10 night (9 pm–5 am) |
| Airport pickup | QAR 25 surcharge |
| Per kilometre | QAR 1.8 (day) · QAR 2.0 (night) |
| Waiting | QAR 0.5 per minute |
| Minimum fare | QAR 10 |
Estimated fares for common trips
- West Bay ↔ Souq Waqif: QAR 20–30 (10 min).
- West Bay ↔ Katara: QAR 25–35.
- West Bay ↔ Lusail: QAR 35–50.
- Souq Waqif ↔ Villaggio Mall: QAR 35–45.
- Anywhere ↔ Sealine: QAR 130–170 one way; drivers may decline the return.
Karwa app and Hala
The Karwa app books a metered taxi to your location, shows the driver and lets you pay by card — usually cheaper than Uber at peak because there is no surge. Careem's 'Hala' option books the same Karwa taxis through Careem. Both are the best value for short city hops; for the airport, a pre-booked private car is the certainty option.
Transfers to and from the desert and the north
Metered taxis will take you to Sealine (QAR 130–170) or Al Zubarah (QAR 250+) but the return is the problem: there is no rank in the desert and apps rarely accept the pickup. For anything outside the city, a tour with pickup included or an hourly chauffeur is the practical option — the driver waits, and the price is agreed in advance.
Taxi vs metro for the airport
Daytime, solo, with a carry-on: the Red Line is 25 minutes to Msheireb for QAR 2 and never queues. Night arrivals, families, two or more suitcases, or anyone who wants to be met: a pre-booked transfer. A Karwa from the rank sits in the middle — metered and honest, but with a queue that can reach 30 minutes when the long-haul waves land.
BookableFixed-price Doha airport transferMeet & greet at Hamad International, flight tracking, 60 min free waiting, no surge — sedan from $35 (QAR 127).Book a transferFAQs
A metered Karwa taxi from Hamad International to West Bay is typically QAR 60–80 ($16–22) including the QAR 25 airport pickup fee. A fixed-price private sedan with meet & greet is $35 (QAR 127).
