One of the best things that happened in Qatar's transportation sector was definitely the opening of the Doha Metro. Previously, residents who don't own vehicles relied on buses, taxis, limousines, and ride-sharing vehicles to get around the country.
Nowadays, riding the Doha Metro is very much a part of daily life. Whether you’re a seasoned Metro user or a novice, we hope this guide will be useful for you to get around Doha and beyond using the Metro and its other services.
The mostly underground state-of-the-art automated rail network has three lines - Red, Gold, and Green.
The Red Line runs from north to south (Lusail to Al Wakra) and connects with the Lusail Tram via Legtaifiya station. It connects with the Gold Line through Msheireb Interchange while Al Bidda Station connects it with Green Line. Red Line has a total of 18 stops (as of 2023).
Gold Line extends from east to west (Ras Bu Abboud to Al Aziziyah) with 11 stops running. Click here to know all about the Doha Metro Gold Line.
The Green Line also runs from east to west (Al Mansoura to Al Riffa) with 11 stops.
If you view the Doha Metro stations from a distance, you’ll realize that they bear similarities to traditional Bedouin tents. One of the ways that Qatar’s past is reflected in the architecture of the stations.
The Lusail Tram network will have a total of 4 lines and 25 stations. As of January 2023, 7 stations are open in the Orange Line.
The open stations on the Orange Line are:
RELATED: A complete guide to the Lusail Tram
A free service is provided so that commuters can get to and from the Metro stations with ease. The complimentary shuttle bus is operated in association with Mowasalat. Not all stations have the Metrolink bus available at the moment.
Metrolink maps are available on the entrance doors of Metro stations as well as the bus stop poles.
You can also find here the first and last bus timings of Metrolink routes.
This complimentary ride-sharing service connects metro stations to specific service zones around. Compared to the metrolink bus, the metroexpress uses a fleet of branded vans. Metro users can request metroexpress on-demand using service Karwa Taxi App. The metroexpress service is exclusive for registered metro or tram passengers and can only be used in conjunction with a metro or tram journey.
The metroexpress now serves eight metro stations (6 on Red Line and 2 on Gold Line) and seven Lusail tram stations.
Click here to know more about the metroexpress and how it works.
Walking distance from the station is the Lusail Stadium and Lusail Boulevard. But thanks to the Metrolink, commuters can reach Doha Festival City, ACE Hardware, and IKEA via the M145.
The Metrolink also stops by schools such as Qatar Finland International School, Sherborne School for Girls, International School of London, and the International British School.
Nearby, you can also find Crescent Park.
The M146 to Al Kheesa stops by Family Food Centre.
The M147 bus services Qatar University to Lusail Marina and Fox Hills South.
The bus has stops near Katara Hospitality, Staybridge Suites, Court of Cassation and Court of Appeal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar National Tourism Council, Qatari Diar, Doha Gold Club and Qatar Charity.
This station currently has three metrolink buses - M109, 110, and 152 - that go to The Pearl Island-Qatar.
M109 goes to Viva Bahriya while M110 goes to Porto Arabia and Perlita Gardens in The Pearl Island-Qatar. M152 covers Abraj Quartier.
The Katara station takes you straight right near Galeries Lafayette and within walking distance of Katara Cultural Village.
Al Qassar Station
Aside from Katara station, you can also access Katara Cultural Village from this station as well as embassies nearby.
Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) Station
Just walking distance beside the station is DECC itself along with City Centre Mall, Marriott Marquis Hotel, JW Marriott Hotel, and City Centre Rotana Hotel. You can also access The Gate Mall once you exit.
Metrolink M105 route has bus stops near Dusit Hotel, W Hotel, and The Curve Hotel.
The following places of interest are nearby the DECC station but you have to walk or take a taxi to get to them:
West Bay Qatar Energy Station
Walking distance from this station are Qatar Sports Club and Ezdan Hotel.
Corniche Station
This station is popular because of its umbrella walkway that can be reached through the exit. Walking distance from the station is Al Bidda Park (exit 3), Doha Fire Station Gallery, and Qatar Post (exit 1). Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex is nearby exit 4.
Al Bidda Station
Doha's first pet-friendly park, Al Bidda Park, is also easily accessible from this metro station. It takes around 12 minutes on foot to get to Qatar Bowling Center.
Al Bidda station is also the interchange for the Red and Green Lines.
Msheireb Station
This station connects all three lines of the Doha Metro. Points of interest include the following:
Al Doha Al Jadeda Station
Beside Al Doha Al Jadeda station, you can walk to the following hotels: Concorde Hotel, Crowne Plaza Doha - The Business Park, and Holiday Inn Doha - The Business Park.
To reach Umm Ghuwailina Health Center, just take the M114 Metrolink.
Umm Ghuwailina Station
This station currently has four Metrolink routes. The most popular attractions on each route are the following:
Al Matar Al Qadeem Station
Walking distance from this station is Old Airport Park and further ahead is Oryx Rotana Hotel. The old Doha International Airport is also nearby.
Three new Metrolink routes were added on December 24, 2019, servicing Al Matar Al Qadeem station.
M120 has stops near Al Emadi Hospital and Aster Medical Center. M121 can take you to Lulu and The Mall. M122 has stops near Aster Hospital and Airport Health Center.
Oqba Ibn Nafie Station
These are the most popular stops for the three Metrolink routes servicing Oqba Ibn Nafie:
Instead of boarding the train for Al Wakrah (if coming from Lusail's direction), make sure to board the train heading to HIA. The metro station is connected to the Departure area by a pedestrian bridge.
Trolleys and flight information are also readily available at the HIA Metro station.
Free Zone (Economic Zone) Station
Commuters take the M140 Metrolink to get to Lulu Barwa City and the Religious Complex.
Ras Bu Fontas Station
If you're headed to Barwa Village, you can ride the M126 Metrolink from the station. The M126 Metrolink can drop you at the sides of Centrepoint Mall.
Al Wakra Station
After getting off the last stop, you can easily access Souq Al Wakra via the M127 Metrolink bus while Al Wakra Sports Club is one of the stops along the M128 route. If you're planning to go to Al Wakra Hospital, Al Wakra South and Ezdan Shopping Mall in Wakra, better take the M134 or M133.
M132 takes you to Al Janoub Stadium while M130 takes you to Grand Hypermarket Ezdan Mall.
National Museum Station
Metro users can now have easy access to the new National Museum of Qatar thanks to the opening of the Gold Line. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
Souq Waqif Station
Aside from the National Museum, Souq Waqif is also a frequent stop for tourists and residents alike. Once you exit this station, you can easily walk to the Souq and the surrounding areas like Gold Souq, Falcon Souq, Souq Waqif Art Center, and Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli.
Bin Mahmoud Station
The M302 route from Bin Mahmoud station takes commuters to hotels like Westin Spa & Hotel and Centro Capital by Rotana.
Al Sadd Station
Nearby places to visit are Royal Plaza Mall, Millennium Plaza Doha, and Hamad Pediatric Emergency Center.
Joaan Station
Al Asmakh Mall and Millennium Hotel are both within walking distance from Joaan station. If you want to reach Mirqab Mall, alight at Joaan station then walk approximately 10 to 15 minutes to get to the mall.
Al Sudan Station
If you're heading to Al Sadd Stadium, then this is the stop to take. You can also walk to Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena (ABHA Arena). It will take around 13 minutes.
Sports City Station
Walking distance from Sport City station is the Khalifa International Stadium, one of the main venues of FIFA World Cup 2022. Walk further and you'll get to Aspire Zone sports complex.
Al Aziziyah Station
The last station on the Gold Line is the stop for people who want to get to Villaggio Mall and The Torch. If you want to get to Hyatt Plaza and Aspire Park, take Exit 2 and board the M313 Metrolink.
The last station of the Green Line on the west side stops in front of the Mall of Qatar. There is a covered walkway connecting the Metro exit with the mall entrance.
Within walking distance is the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
QNCC is close by but currently, there is no walkway or tunnel from Education City Station to QNCC. It is an 18-minute walk via Al Luqta Service street. Nearby the station is also Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.
RELATED: A guide to the Education City Tram
Aside from the Qatar National Library, this station is also the nearest station to Sidra Hospital. You can take Khalifa Avenue North exit and the hospital is within walking distance.
M208 is operating from Al Messila station to Madinat Khalifa South Area via Al Rayyan village and Al Rayyan interchange. Some of the stops include Lulu Hypermarket, Al Meera and Traffic Department.
M209 links the station to Al Hitmi and Fereej bin Omran areas. Al Hitmi Park, Town Center, and Yarmouk Prep School.
Places of interest within walking distance include Hamad General Hospital, Women's Hospital, and Hamad Outpatient Department. Warwick Doha and Wyndham Grand Regency Doha are the nearby hotels. Philippine School Doha and Lulu Hypermarket are also nearby.
There is a Metrolink from Hamad Hospital to Al Sadd (Zone 38) Area. There are stops near Pioneer Education Centre and Millennium Hotel.
Across this station are the following: Communicable Disease Center, Heart Hospital are Rumailah Hospital.
To keep updated about the Qatar Rail services, it is best to download the Qatar Rail App.
In the app, aside from all the necessary info about Qatar Rail, you can register and manage your card. You can also easily top up your card without having to go to the station. Your transaction history will also be reflected in the app.
The Plan My Journey feature inside the Network & Services Info is very helpful for navigation, especially if you're new to using Doha Metro.
You can find here the schedule of the first and last timings of Doha Metro trains
Display screens at the platform show how many minutes until the next train arrives. There are also audio announcements, both in Arabic and English.
There are three carriages:
Here are the rates:
The following reusable travel cards can be topped up online or at any TVM (Travel Card Vending Machine):
Where to buy tickets or travel cards?
Self-service Travel Card vending machines are available at all stations for Standard Travel Cards and Limited Use Travel Cards. You can also purchase Standard travel cards from licensed retailers like Lulu, Al Meera, Carrefour, and Jumbo.
Meanwhile, Goldclub Travel Cards can be purchased from the Goldclub offices present in all stations.
Modes of payment
Free parking spaces (Metro Park and Ride) at Al Wakra station and Al Qassar station were opened in January 2020.
(References: Qatar Rail website, Qatar Rail App)
Don't forget to check these articles too to learn more about how to use the Doha Metro!
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