Qatar\u00a0has\u00a0made\u00a0significant\u00a0strides\u00a0toward\u00a0becoming\u00a0a\u00a0largely\u00a0cashless\u00a0economy,\u00a0with\u00a0digital\u00a0transactions\u00a0increasingly\u00a0dominating\u00a0retail,\u00a0e-commerce,\u00a0government\u00a0services\u00a0and\u00a0person-to-person\u00a0payments.<\/p>\n
Such\u00a0transformation\u00a0aligns\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Qatar\u00a0Central\u00a0Bank\u00a0(QCB)\u2019s\u00a0Financial\u00a0Sector\u00a0Strategy,\u00a0which\u00a0prioritises\u00a0digitalisation,\u00a0financial\u00a0inclusion\u00a0and\u00a0innovation\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0banking\u00a0ecosystem.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0comes\u00a0as\u00a0digital\u00a0payment\u00a0methods\u00a0continue\u00a0to\u00a0gain\u00a0popularity\u00a0and\u00a0wider\u00a0acceptance\u00a0across\u00a0all\u00a0user\u00a0segments,\u00a0supported\u00a0by\u00a0strong\u00a0government\u00a0initiatives,\u00a0advanced\u00a0financial\u00a0infrastructure,\u00a0widespread\u00a0smartphone\u00a0adoption\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0rapid\u00a0expansion\u00a0of\u00a0fintech\u00a0services.<\/p>\n
According\u00a0to\u00a0QCB\u00a0data,\u00a0in\u00a0April\u00a0this\u00a0year,\u00a0the\u00a0country’s\u00a0payment\u00a0systems\u00a0processed\u00a0around\u00a073.5mn\u00a0transactions\u00a0worth\u00a0QR111.85bn,\u00a0representing\u00a0a\u00a029%\u00a0increase\u00a0in\u00a0transaction\u00a0volume\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a077%\u00a0increase\u00a0in\u00a0transaction\u00a0value\u00a0compared\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0period\u00a0last\u00a0year.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0May\u00a02026,\u00a0payment\u00a0transactions\u00a0rose\u00a0further\u00a0to\u00a081.1mn\u00a0transactions\u00a0valued\u00a0at\u00a0QR95.8bn,\u00a0marking\u00a0a\u00a032%\u00a0annual\u00a0increase\u00a0in\u00a0volume.<\/p>\n
Card-based\u00a0payments\u00a0remain\u00a0the\u00a0dominant\u00a0payment\u00a0method\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0country.<\/p>\n
According\u00a0to\u00a0QCB\u00a0data,\u00a0card\u00a0transactions\u00a0accounted\u00a0for\u00a0nearly\u00a089%\u00a0of\u00a0all\u00a0payment\u00a0system\u00a0transactions\u00a0this\u00a0year.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0May\u00a02026,\u00a0card\u00a0transaction\u00a0volumes\u00a0exceeded\u00a072.3mn\u00a0transactions,\u00a0while\u00a0their\u00a0total\u00a0value\u00a0reached\u00a0around\u00a0QR24.4\u00a0bn.<\/p>\n
Point-of-sale\u00a0(POS)\u00a0transactions\u00a0continue\u00a0to\u00a0drive\u00a0growth,\u00a0increasing\u00a0from\u00a0around\u00a042.7mn\u00a0transactions\u00a0in\u00a0May\u00a02025\u00a0to\u00a053.8mn\u00a0transactions\u00a0in\u00a0May\u00a02026,\u00a0reflecting\u00a0the\u00a0widespread\u00a0adoption\u00a0of\u00a0contactless\u00a0cards\u00a0and\u00a0mobile\u00a0wallet\u00a0solutions\u00a0throughout\u00a0the\u00a0country.<\/p>\n
Accordingly,\u00a0consumer\u00a0behaviour\u00a0has\u00a0shifted\u00a0dramatically\u00a0in\u00a0favour\u00a0of\u00a0digital\u00a0payments.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0Visa\u00a0survey\u00a0released\u00a0in\u00a0January\u00a02026\u00a0found\u00a0that\u00a062%\u00a0of\u00a0consumers\u00a0in\u00a0Qatar\u00a0conduct\u00a0most\u00a0of\u00a0their\u00a0daily\u00a0purchases\u00a0using\u00a0digital\u00a0payment\u00a0methods,\u00a0including\u00a0payment\u00a0cards\u00a0and\u00a0mobile\u00a0devices,\u00a0meaning\u00a0non-cash\u00a0users\u00a0currently\u00a0outnumber\u00a0consumers\u00a0who\u00a0primarily\u00a0rely\u00a0on\u00a0physical\u00a0cash\u00a0by\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0two\u00a0to\u00a0one.<\/p>\n
At\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0time,\u00a0the\u00a0proportion\u00a0of\u00a0consumers\u00a0using\u00a0cash\u00a0for\u00a0everyday\u00a0purchases\u00a0has\u00a0continued\u00a0to\u00a0decline,\u00a0indicating\u00a0that\u00a0digital\u00a0payment\u00a0methods\u00a0are\u00a0becoming\u00a0the\u00a0default\u00a0choice\u00a0across\u00a0retail\u00a0categories.<\/p>\n
Further,\u00a0research\u00a0conducted\u00a0in\u00a02025\u00a0found\u00a0that\u00a057%\u00a0of\u00a0consumers\u00a0in\u00a0Qatar\u00a0regularly\u00a0use\u00a0mobile\u00a0payment\u00a0solutions,\u00a0while\u00a060%\u00a0use\u00a0card\u00a0payments\u00a0and\u00a061%\u00a0use\u00a0bank\u00a0transfers.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0addition,\u00a074%\u00a0of\u00a0respondents\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0increase\u00a0their\u00a0use\u00a0of\u00a0digital\u00a0payment\u00a0methods,\u00a0indicating\u00a0strong\u00a0confidence\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0convenience\u00a0and\u00a0security\u00a0of\u00a0electronic\u00a0transactions.<\/p>\n
Security\u00a0perceptions\u00a0have\u00a0also\u00a0improved\u00a0considerably,\u00a0with\u00a071%\u00a0of\u00a0consumers\u00a0expressing\u00a0trust\u00a0in\u00a0digital\u00a0payments\u00a0and\u00a098%\u00a0reporting\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0actively\u00a0take\u00a0measures\u00a0to\u00a0protect\u00a0their\u00a0online\u00a0transactions.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0launch\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0country’s\u00a0centralised\u00a0retail\u00a0payment\u00a0systems\u00a0and\u00a0instant\u00a0payment\u00a0infrastructure\u00a0has\u00a0enabled\u00a0real-time\u00a0transfers\u00a0between\u00a0bank\u00a0accounts\u00a0and\u00a0e-wallets.<\/p>\n
These\u00a0systems\u00a0operate\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0clock\u00a0and\u00a0support\u00a0transfers\u00a0using\u00a0mobile\u00a0phone\u00a0numbers,\u00a0aliases,\u00a0QR\u00a0codes,\u00a0and\u00a0digital\u00a0wallets.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0infrastructure\u00a0significantly\u00a0reduces\u00a0transaction\u00a0friction\u00a0for\u00a0consumers\u00a0and\u00a0merchants\u00a0while\u00a0enhancing\u00a0interoperability\u00a0among\u00a0financial\u00a0institutions\u00a0operating\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0country.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile,\u00a0digital\u00a0acceptance\u00a0among\u00a0businesses\u00a0continues\u00a0to\u00a0expand.<\/p>\n
Industry\u00a0estimates\u00a0indicate\u00a0that\u00a0around\u00a086%\u00a0of\u00a0merchants\u00a0consider\u00a0digital\u00a0payment\u00a0acceptance\u00a0essential.<\/p>\n
Generally,\u00a0electronic\u00a0payment\u00a0acceptance\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0achieved\u00a0across\u00a0fuel\u00a0stations,\u00a0pharmacies,\u00a0supermarkets,\u00a0and\u00a0major\u00a0retailers.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0addition,\u00a0small\u00a0and\u00a0medium-sized\u00a0enterprises\u00a0are\u00a0increasingly\u00a0adopting\u00a0standardised\u00a0QR\u00a0payment\u00a0solutions\u00a0supported\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0QCB.<\/p>\n
Digital\u00a0wallets\u00a0have\u00a0become\u00a0increasingly\u00a0popular\u00a0among\u00a0residents\u00a0and\u00a0visitors\u00a0alike.<\/p>\n
Similarly,\u00a0the\u00a0QCB’s\u00a0Tahweel\u00a0system\u00a0continues\u00a0to\u00a0facilitate\u00a0electronic\u00a0account-to-account\u00a0transfers.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0April\u00a02026,\u00a04mn\u00a0transfer\u00a0transactions\u00a0were\u00a0made,\u00a0with\u00a0QR83.28bn\u00a0transferred;\u00a0compared\u00a0with\u00a0April\u00a02025,\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0193%\u00a0volume\u00a0increase\u00a0in\u00a0transactions,\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0total\u00a0value\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0doubled.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Qatar\u00a0has\u00a0made\u00a0significant\u00a0strides\u00a0toward\u00a0becoming\u00a0a\u00a0largely\u00a0cashless\u00a0economy,\u00a0with\u00a0digital\u00a0transactions\u00a0increasingly\u00a0dominating\u00a0retail,\u00a0e-commerce,\u00a0government\u00a0services\u00a0and\u00a0person-to-person\u00a0payments. Such\u00a0transformation\u00a0aligns\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Qatar\u00a0Central\u00a0Bank\u00a0(QCB)\u2019s\u00a0Financial\u00a0Sector\u00a0Strategy,\u00a0which\u00a0prioritises\u00a0digitalisation,\u00a0financial\u00a0inclusion\u00a0and\u00a0innovation\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0banking\u00a0ecosystem. This\u00a0comes\u00a0as\u00a0digital\u00a0payment\u00a0methods\u00a0continue\u00a0to\u00a0gain\u00a0popularity\u00a0and\u00a0wider\u00a0acceptance\u00a0across\u00a0all\u00a0user\u00a0segments,\u00a0supported\u00a0by\u00a0strong\u00a0government\u00a0initiatives,\u00a0advanced\u00a0financial\u00a0infrastructure,\u00a0widespread\u00a0smartphone\u00a0adoption\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0rapid\u00a0expansion\u00a0of\u00a0fintech\u00a0services. According\u00a0to\u00a0QCB\u00a0data,\u00a0in\u00a0April\u00a0this\u00a0year,\u00a0the\u00a0country’s\u00a0payment\u00a0systems\u00a0processed\u00a0around\u00a073.5mn\u00a0transactions\u00a0worth\u00a0QR111.85bn,\u00a0representing\u00a0a\u00a029%\u00a0increase\u00a0in\u00a0transaction\u00a0volume\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a077%\u00a0increase\u00a0in\u00a0transaction\u00a0value\u00a0compared\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0period\u00a0last\u00a0year. In\u00a0May\u00a02026,\u00a0payment\u00a0transactions\u00a0rose\u00a0further\u00a0to\u00a081.1mn\u00a0transactions\u00a0valued\u00a0at\u00a0QR95.8bn,\u00a0marking\u00a0a\u00a032%\u00a0annual\u00a0increase\u00a0in\u00a0volume. Card-based\u00a0payments\u00a0remain\u00a0the\u00a0dominant\u00a0payment\u00a0method\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0country. According\u00a0to\u00a0QCB\u00a0data,\u00a0card\u00a0transactions\u00a0accounted\u00a0for\u00a0nearly\u00a089%\u00a0of\u00a0all\u00a0payment\u00a0system\u00a0transactions\u00a0this\u00a0year. In\u00a0May\u00a02026,\u00a0card\u00a0transaction\u00a0volumes\u00a0exceeded\u00a072.3mn\u00a0transactions,\u00a0while\u00a0their\u00a0total\u00a0value\u00a0reached\u00a0around\u00a0QR24.4\u00a0bn. Point-of-sale\u00a0(POS)\u00a0transactions\u00a0continue\u00a0to\u00a0drive\u00a0growth,\u00a0increasing\u00a0from\u00a0around\u00a042.7mn\u00a0transactions\u00a0in\u00a0May\u00a02025\u00a0to\u00a053.8mn\u00a0transactions\u00a0in\u00a0May\u00a02026,\u00a0reflecting\u00a0the\u00a0widespread\u00a0adoption\u00a0of\u00a0contactless\u00a0cards\u00a0and\u00a0mobile\u00a0wallet\u00a0solutions\u00a0throughout\u00a0the\u00a0country. Accordingly,\u00a0consumer\u00a0behaviour\u00a0has\u00a0shifted\u00a0dramatically\u00a0in\u00a0favour\u00a0of\u00a0digital\u00a0payments. A\u00a0Visa\u00a0survey\u00a0released\u00a0in\u00a0January\u00a02026\u00a0found\u00a0that\u00a062%\u00a0of\u00a0consumers\u00a0in\u00a0Qatar\u00a0conduct\u00a0most\u00a0of\u00a0their\u00a0daily\u00a0purchases\u00a0using\u00a0digital\u00a0payment\u00a0methods,\u00a0including\u00a0payment\u00a0cards\u00a0and\u00a0mobile\u00a0devices,\u00a0meaning\u00a0non-cash\u00a0users\u00a0currently\u00a0outnumber\u00a0consumers\u00a0who\u00a0primarily\u00a0rely\u00a0on\u00a0physical\u00a0cash\u00a0by\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0two\u00a0to\u00a0one. At\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0time,\u00a0the\u00a0proportion\u00a0of\u00a0consumers\u00a0using\u00a0cash\u00a0for\u00a0everyday\u00a0purchases\u00a0has\u00a0continued\u00a0to\u00a0decline,\u00a0indicating\u00a0that\u00a0digital\u00a0payment\u00a0methods\u00a0are\u00a0becoming\u00a0the\u00a0default\u00a0choice\u00a0across\u00a0retail\u00a0categories. Further,\u00a0research\u00a0conducted\u00a0in\u00a02025\u00a0found\u00a0that\u00a057%\u00a0of\u00a0consumers\u00a0in\u00a0Qatar\u00a0regularly\u00a0use\u00a0mobile\u00a0payment\u00a0solutions,\u00a0while\u00a060%\u00a0use\u00a0card\u00a0payments\u00a0and\u00a061%\u00a0use\u00a0bank\u00a0transfers. In\u00a0addition,\u00a074%\u00a0of\u00a0respondents\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0increase\u00a0their\u00a0use\u00a0of\u00a0digital\u00a0payment\u00a0methods,\u00a0indicating\u00a0strong\u00a0confidence\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0convenience\u00a0and\u00a0security\u00a0of\u00a0electronic\u00a0transactions. Security\u00a0perceptions\u00a0have\u00a0also\u00a0improved\u00a0considerably,\u00a0with\u00a071%\u00a0of\u00a0consumers\u00a0expressing\u00a0trust\u00a0in\u00a0digital\u00a0payments\u00a0and\u00a098%\u00a0reporting\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0actively\u00a0take\u00a0measures\u00a0to\u00a0protect\u00a0their\u00a0online\u00a0transactions. The\u00a0launch\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0country’s\u00a0centralised\u00a0retail\u00a0payment\u00a0systems\u00a0and\u00a0instant\u00a0payment\u00a0infrastructure\u00a0has\u00a0enabled\u00a0real-time\u00a0transfers\u00a0between\u00a0bank\u00a0accounts\u00a0and\u00a0e-wallets. These\u00a0systems\u00a0operate\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0clock\u00a0and\u00a0support\u00a0transfers\u00a0using\u00a0mobile\u00a0phone\u00a0numbers,\u00a0aliases,\u00a0QR\u00a0codes,\u00a0and\u00a0digital\u00a0wallets. The\u00a0infrastructure\u00a0significantly\u00a0reduces\u00a0transaction\u00a0friction\u00a0for\u00a0consumers\u00a0and\u00a0merchants\u00a0while\u00a0enhancing\u00a0interoperability\u00a0among\u00a0financial\u00a0institutions\u00a0operating\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0country.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":709715,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[4023,146976,2002,49032,1109,1294,2306,468,10040,47047,86,235121,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-709714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-a","tag-advances","tag-as","tag-cashless","tag-digital","tag-economy","tag-mobile","tag-payments","tag-qatar","tag-surge","tag-technology","tag-towards","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/709714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=709714"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/709714\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/709715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=709714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=709714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=709714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}