Taxis in Doha: Karwa, Uber, (no) Careem – prices and how to book - Montenegro Travel Guide

Intro

Taxis are one of the easiest ways to get around Doha if you do not want to deal with buses and metro or you travel with luggage. The main options are government-run Karwa taxis, Uber and various limousine services.

Careem used to operate in Qatar but stopped its ride-hailing service in 2023 – you can no longer use it for rides in Doha.

This guide explains when it makes sense to use Karwa, when Uber is better, how much typical rides cost (including from Doha) and how to order a taxi without overpaying.

Key Takeaways

The official city taxis in Doha are Karwa (turquoise Mowasalat cabs); they are the only cars allowed to pick up passengers directly at Doha.
Uber operates in Doha with dynamic pricing: you see an upfront estimate in the app and usually pay by card or other digital methods.
Careem ended its ride-hailing operations in Qatar in February 2023 – today, practical options are Karwa, Uber, limousines and private transfers, not Careem.
Karwa has regulated metered fares with separate city and airport tariffs, and slightly higher per-km prices at night.
In central Doha a short ride usually costs about 12–25 QAR; from the airport to downtown expect roughly 40–60 QAR, and 50–90 QAR to The Pearl or Lusail.
You can get a taxi from official stands, hail one on the street, book via the Karwa app or use Uber.
For easy booking and payments it is best to set up an eSIM via eSIM Qatar as soon as you land.

Types of taxis in Doha

Karwa (official metered taxis)

Turquoise cars branded Karwa, all metered and licensed, operated by the state-owned company Mowasalat.
They handle most city rides and have the exclusive right to pick up at Doha.
You can get them at taxi ranks near malls, hotels and attractions, at the airport taxi pavilion, by phone or via the Karwa app.
Cars are generally air-conditioned with seat belts and GPS tracking.

Uber

Standard Uber service with categories like UberX / UberGo / Comfort (exact options are shown in the app).
Cashless by default (card or digital wallet); the app shows an estimated price before you confirm.
You may be matched with regular private cars or licensed taxis connected to the platform.
Very handy at night and when there are few free Karwa cabs around.

Limousines and hotel cars

More expensive but more comfortable options – Doha Limousine (Karwa) and hotel limousine fleets.
May run on metered fares or fixed prices for specific routes (especially from airport and hotels).
Minimum fares are noticeably higher than regular taxis but useful for groups, VIP transfers and “all-inclusive” airport pickups.

Careem: what changed

Careem was widely used in Qatar until just after the World Cup, but fully stopped ride-hailing operations in the country in late February 2023.
You cannot use Careem for rides in Doha anymore; instead rely on Karwa, Uber, limousines and private transfer services.

How to book Karwa

1. Taxi ranks

At Doha, major malls, hotels and Souq Waqif you will find official Karwa taxi ranks.
Join the queue, tell the coordinator or driver your destination and your fare will be charged by the meter.
Convenient when you are already at a busy hub and do not want to wait for an app booking.

2. Karwa Taxi app

Available in the main app stores and works similarly to Uber:
- enable location;
- see nearby cars and estimated pickup time;
- set pickup and drop-off points;
- pay in cash or by card depending on the car and your settings.
Through the app you can also request accessible minivans for passengers with reduced mobility.

3. By phone

You can call the Karwa call centre, give your location and have a taxi dispatched to you.
Useful if your mobile data is limited or you do not want to create an app account.
During peak hours waiting time may stretch to 20–40 minutes.

4. Street hailing

In central Doha (Corniche, West Bay, major malls) you can simply hail a Karwa on the street.
Look for turquoise cars with a “TAXI” sign and Karwa branding.
If the sign shows “On Call” or “Busy”, the taxi is already taken.

Using Uber in Doha

Install the Uber app and set up your account.
Add a card and check if cash payments are available in Doha (depends on local rules).
Enter pickup and drop-off points.
Manually adjust the pin when needed; GPS can be imprecise near high-rises and large complexes.
Choose the ride option.
You will see available categories such as UberGo/UberX and larger or more comfortable cars – select what fits your group and budget.
Check the estimated price and ETA.
The estimate reflects distance, time and current demand; surge pricing may appear during busy periods.
Confirm and wait for your driver.
Before getting in, always double-check the car’s plate and model against the app.
At the end of the trip payment is processed automatically; you can tip and rate the driver in the app.

Uber is ideal if you prefer predictable budgeting, card payments and seeing the route and driver details on your phone.

Taxis from Doha

Karwa from the airport

After arrival, follow the Taxi signs to the Taxi Pavilion on the left side of the Arrivals Hall.
Only official Karwa taxis operate here; their fares are regulated and displayed on signs.
Airport rides use a dedicated tariff:
- a higher starting fare (covering the first 1.8 km);
- then the normal day or night per-km rate is applied.

Typical one-way fares (excluding heavy traffic):

Doha → central Doha (around Souq Waqif) – about 40–60 QAR.
Doha → West Bay – roughly 45–70 QAR.
Doha → The Pearl Island – around 50–80 QAR.
Doha → Lusail – typically 55–90 QAR.

Uber from the airport

The airport has designated pick-up areas for ride-hailing apps.
Check in the Uber app where exactly you should meet your driver (often a specific curb or parking level).
Depending on demand, Uber may be slightly cheaper, similar to or more expensive than Karwa.

How fares are calculated: Karwa vs Uber

Karwa

Karwa uses a regulated taximeter system.
There is a day rate (roughly 05:00–21:00) and a night rate (21:00–05:00) with a slightly higher per-km charge.
Based on the latest published tariffs:
- city starting fare – around 7 QAR, with a minimum fare of about 7 QAR;
- airport starting fare – about 25–30 QAR including the first 1.8 km;
- per km in the city (day) – roughly 1.6–2 QAR, at night 1.9–2.5 QAR;
- waiting/traffic – about 15–25 QAR per hour (billed per minute).

In practice, a short in-town ride of 3–5 km with light traffic usually costs 12–25 QAR.

Uber

Uber’s pricing in Doha is built from:
- a base fare (a few riyals when you start the trip);
- per-km cost (generally lower than Karwa’s metered rate);
- per-minute cost while driving and waiting;
- possible surge multiplier when demand is high.
From open rate charts and fare calculators for economy classes:
- base fare for UberGo/UberX – around 3–5 QAR;
- per-km cost – about 0.8–1.2 QAR/km plus a per-minute fee;
- minimum fare – roughly 8–15 QAR.

Because of the lower per-km rate, Uber can be cheaper on longer rides when there is no surge, but during busy times it can easily overtake Karwa in price.

Karwa vs Uber: which should you choose?

Karwa is usually best when:

you are arriving at Doha and want the official airport taxi;
you do not have mobile data or do not want to use apps;
you prefer a regulated meter without dynamic surge pricing;
you are already standing at a busy taxi rank with plenty of Karwa cars.

Uber is usually best when:

you want an upfront price estimate and cashless payment;
you travel at night or on weekends when empty Karwa taxis may be scarce;
you already use Uber in other countries and like having all trip details in one app;
you need a larger or more comfortable car and want to see the options before booking.

A practical combo: use Karwa for airport runs and spontaneous rides from ranks, and Uber for app-based bookings and pre-planned trips across the city.

Safety, payments and tipping

Official Karwa, Uber and hotel limousines in Doha are generally safe; drivers are licensed and vehicles are tracked.
Avoid unmarked cars and drivers who insist on a cash-only “fixed” price without a meter or app.
Card payments are increasingly accepted in Karwa and limousines; at the airport, non-cash options (including Apple Pay / Google Pay) are widely supported.
Cash is still very common – keep some QAR on hand in case card systems fail.
Tipping is not mandatory; rounding up to the nearest 5–10 QAR or adding 5–10% is appreciated for good service.
To keep your data safe when ordering taxis on public Wi-Fi, use a VPN (see Why You Should Never Use Public Wi-Fi Without a VPN for details).

Prices (Updated: November 2025)

The ranges below combine official Karwa tariffs, real-world ride examples and cost-of-living data for Qatar.

Karwa taxis:

City starting fare: about 7–10 QAR.
Airport starting fare: roughly 25–30 QAR (including the first 1.8 km).
Per km (day): around 1.6–2 QAR; at night: 1.9–2.5 QAR.
Waiting/traffic: about 15–25 QAR per hour.
Short city ride (3–5 km): generally 12–25 QAR.
Doha → central Doha: roughly 40–60 QAR.
Doha → West Bay / The Pearl Island / Lusail: typically 50–90 QAR.

Uber (economy options):

Base fare: around 3–5 QAR.
Per km: roughly 0.8–1.2 QAR/km plus a per-minute fee.
Minimum fare: usually 8–15 QAR.
Short rides downtown: commonly 12–25 QAR, similar to Karwa.
Doha → downtown / West Bay / The Pearl: often 35–80 QAR depending on demand and traffic.

Budget guideline:

If you rely heavily on taxis (several rides per day), plan on 40–120 QAR per day per person for transport within and around Doha.

Tips

Set up eSIM via eSIM Qatar to book Karwa and Uber over mobile data without relying on hotel Wi-Fi.
At Doha always use the official Taxi Pavilion – it is the safest and most transparent way to get a meter-based fare.
With Karwa, politely insist that the driver turns on the meter before departure; if they refuse, take a different cab.
With Uber, double-check the plate number and car model before getting in, especially at crowded hotel and mall entrances.
Allow extra time during rush hours (weekday mornings and late afternoons), when both travel times and Uber prices can spike.
For day trips outside the city, compare several taxi rides against renting a car via Localrent or Economybookings; for some itineraries, a rental car is cheaper and more flexible.

FAQ

Is Careem still available in Doha?
No. Careem ended its ride-hailing operations in Qatar in February 2023. For rides in Doha you should use Karwa, Uber, limousines or private transfer services instead.

Which is cheaper – Karwa or Uber?
On paper Karwa has a higher per-km metered rate but no surge, while Uber has lower per-km pricing but can rise sharply when demand is high. For short inner-city trips prices are usually similar; for longer trips without surge Uber often wins.

Can I pay by card in taxis?
Increasingly yes: many Karwa cabs and limousines accept bank cards and mobile wallets, and at the airport card payments are standard. Uber is cashless by default with app-based payment. Still, it is wise to carry some cash in QAR.

Is it safe to take taxis at night in Doha?
Official Karwa, Uber and hotel limousines are generally safe. Always buckle up, avoid unlicensed cars and consider noting down the plate number if travelling alone late at night.

Do I have to tip taxi drivers?
Tipping is optional. Rounding up to the nearest 5–10 QAR or adding 5–10% is a common way to say thank you for a smooth, helpful ride.

Can I book a taxi with a child seat?
Karwa and Uber do not guarantee child seats as standard. For young children, it is better to pre-book a limousine or private transfer where you can request a child seat in advance.

Recommended Services

eSIM & mobile data to book rides on the go: Airalo, Ubigi, Yesim, Esim4travel, Holafly, GoMoWorld, iRoamly, Saily, Voye
VPN for safe public Wi-Fi when ordering taxis: NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark
Tours and activities in Doha with included transfers: Get Your Guide, Viator
Taxis & private airport–hotel transfers: Kiwitaxi, Welcome Pickups
Car rental if you prefer to drive instead of using taxis: Localrent, Economybookings

Summary

In today’s Doha, practical taxi choices boil down to Karwa and Uber. Karwa offers regulated metered fares and exclusive airport pickups, while Uber provides app-based convenience and transparent estimates with dynamic pricing.

Careem is no longer part of the picture, so your best setup is: install Karwa and Uber, secure mobile data with an eSIM, carry some cash in QAR and know the typical fare ranges.

With that in place, you can comfortably move around Doha, West Bay, The Pearl and Lusail without stress and with full control over your transport costs.