Guides / Driving & transport / Fines & accidents
Child car seats and children in cars: Qatar's rules
Children under 10 must not sit in the front seat in Qatar, and a fitted car seat or booster in the back is the safe way to carry them. Here is what the law says, what the fine is, which seat your child needs, and where to get it checked for free.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- The law
- No child under 10 in the front seat while the car is moving (Traffic Law, Article 55)
- Penalty
- QAR 500 if settled; if it goes to court, QAR 3,000 to 10,000 and/or jail
- Car seat check
- Free at the Ghalai stations (Women's Wellness and Research Center and Sidra Medicine), Sunday to Thursday
- Who is fined
- The driver
Qatar's Traffic Law bans children under 10 from sitting in the front seat of a moving car, and the driver is the one who is penalised. The law does not spell out a car-seat rule by age, but the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Qatar's health bodies strongly urge parents to use a car seat or booster that fits the child's age and size, fitted in the back. Crashes are the main danger: MOI says children under 10 in the front are about eight times more likely to be seriously hurt, and airbags built for adults can kill a small child. This guide covers the rule and the fine, how to choose the right seat at each stage, getting it fitted for free by the national Ghalai programme, bringing a newborn home, and what to do in taxis, rental cars and on school runs.
Before you start
- Your child's current weight and height (the seat label works by these, not just age)
- Your car's handbook: it shows where the ISOFIX points are and how to switch off the front passenger airbag, if your car allows it
- A car seat that carries a recognised safety label (for example the European UN R129 'i-Size' or R44 label, or a US FMVSS 213 label)
- The seat's own instruction booklet (keep it in the car)
- The seat's expiry date, usually printed on a sticker or moulded into the plastic
- For a second-hand seat: proof from the seller that it has never been in a crash
- If you rent a car: a child seat booked with the rental in advance
- Your Metrash app, to see and pay any traffic fine
Step by step
Know the front-seat rule
Clause 3 of Article 55 of the Traffic Law (Law No. 19 of 2007) says children under 10 must not sit in the front seats of a vehicle while it is moving. This applies to every car on the road, including your own, a friend's, a taxi and a rental. It does not matter if the child is tall or sits on an adult's lap: under 10 means the back. The rule exists because front airbags open with great force and are designed for adult bodies.
Understand the fine and who pays it
The penalty falls on the driver, not the parent sitting next to the child. The MOI has said the violation can be settled with a QAR 500 traffic fine. Under Article 95 of the law, a case that goes to court can bring a fine of QAR 3,000 to 10,000, a jail term of one week to one year, or both. Fines show up in the Metrash app under your traffic violations; see our traffic fines guide to pay or object.
Read guide: Traffic fines in Qatar: check, pay, object, and avoid the travel ban →Pick the right seat for your child's size
International child-safety bodies agree on four stages. Babies and toddlers ride rear-facing for as long as the seat allows, because a backward-facing seat spreads crash forces across the back and head. When they outgrow that, move to a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness. After that comes a high-back booster, which lifts the child so the adult seat belt crosses the shoulder and hips, not the neck and tummy. Most children need a booster until about 145 cm tall, often around age 10 to 12. Always go by the weight and height limits on your seat's label, not just your child's age.
Buy a seat that is safe and fits your car
Car seats are sold in Qatar's baby shops, hypermarkets and online stores. Look for a recognised approval label (such as UN R129 i-Size or R44 for European seats, or FMVSS 213 for US seats) and check it fits your car before you pay: many shops will let you try it. ISOFIX seats clip into metal points in the car and are easier to fit correctly. Second-hand seats are cheap on classified sites, but only buy one if you know it has never been in a crash, all parts and the manual are there, and it has not passed its expiry date.
Fit it in the back seat
Put every child under 10 in the back, and keep them there until at least 13 if you can. Never put a rear-facing baby seat in front of an active airbag. Fit the seat tightly: it should not move more than a couple of centimetres side to side at the belt path. Harness straps should be snug, with the chest clip at armpit level. Heavy jackets are rarely an issue in Qatar, but thick clothes under the harness make it loose.
Get it checked for free at a Ghalai station
Ghalai is Qatar's national child passenger safety programme, run by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) with the Ministries of Public Health and Interior, Sidra Medicine and others. Certified technicians check the seat, show you how to fit it and watch you do it yourself, at no charge. Stations are in the underground car park of the Women's Wellness and Research Center (WWRC) and in the basement car park of Sidra Medicine's main hospital, Sunday to Thursday. No appointment is needed, but hours differ between stations, so call 4025 3399 first. Bring the car, the seat, the seat's manual, your car's handbook and your child, and allow 30 to 40 minutes per seat.
Bring your newborn home safely
Buy and fit an infant seat before the due date, and practise with it. The first trip home from the hospital is the one many parents make with the baby in their arms, which is the least safe way to travel. The Ghalai station at WWRC sits in the same car park as the hospital where many babies in Qatar are born, so you can have the seat checked before you go home. See our having a baby guide for the hospital and birth paperwork.
Read guide: Having a baby in Qatar: antenatal care, hospitals and costs →Plan for taxis and ride-hailing
The front-seat rule applies in taxis too, so seat children in the back. We could not find any taxi or ride-hailing service in Qatar that guarantees a child seat, so if your child is small, bring your own seat or a travel booster. Many forward-facing seats and boosters can be fitted with an adult lap-and-shoulder belt in a few minutes. Check the options and how to book in our taxis guide.
Read guide: Taxis and ride-hailing in Qatar: Karwa, Uber and other licensed apps →Book seats with rental cars
Most car rental companies in Qatar offer child seats and boosters as an extra, usually charged per day. Ask for one when you book, say your child's weight and age, and check the seat when you collect the car: look for the label, the expiry date and any cracks. If you rent often or for a long time, your own seat may be cheaper and you will know its history.
Read guide: Renting a car in Qatar: licence rules, deposits and insurance →Sort out the school run and carpools
Anyone who drives your child, including a driver, nanny or another parent in a carpool, must keep under-10s out of the front seat. Give them the right seat or booster and show them how to use it. If your child takes a school bus, ask the school how children are seated and supervised; our choosing a school guide covers what to ask.
Read guide: Choosing a school in Qatar: curricula, fees and admission →Never leave a child alone in the car
MOI's safety advice is to never leave a child alone in a vehicle. In Qatar's heat, a closed car can become dangerous within minutes, even with the engine running and the AC on. Take children with you every time, even for a quick stop, and lock the car so children cannot climb in to play. See our summer heat guide for more.
Read guide: Surviving Qatar's summer: heat safety and staying cool →Replace the seat after a crash
Ghalai advises replacing a car seat after a moderate or severe crash, even if it looks fine, because damage can be hidden inside the shell. Also replace it once it passes its expiry date. If you have an accident with children on board, check them over and follow our car accident guide; ask your insurer whether the policy covers a replacement seat.
Read guide: After a car accident in Qatar: police report, Metrash and insurance →
What it costs
| Child under 10 in the front seat (settled with MOI) | QAR 500 |
| Same violation if referred to court (Article 95) | QAR 3,000 to 10,000 and/or 1 week to 1 year in jail |
| Car seat check and fitting help at a Ghalai station | Free |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Letting a child under 10 sit in the front 'just for a short drive': the rule applies on every trip and the driver is fined.
- Holding a baby on your lap: in a crash the baby cannot be held and can be crushed against the seat in front.
- Fitting a rear-facing baby seat in front of an active airbag.
- Moving a child to a forward-facing seat or booster too early, before they reach the limits of their current seat.
- Loose fitting or loose harness straps: Ghalai says about three in four seats are used wrongly, which is why the free check is worth it.
- Buying a second-hand seat with an unknown history, missing parts or a past expiry date.
- Using only the adult seat belt for a small child, so it crosses the neck and stomach.
- Leaving a child in the car 'for a minute' while you pay or shop.
Questions people ask
Is it illegal for my child to sit in the front seat in Qatar?
Yes, if the child is under 10 and the car is moving. Clause 3 of Article 55 of the Traffic Law bans it, and the driver is penalised. From 10 the law allows the front seat, but the back is still safer, and many safety bodies advise the back until 13.
How much is the fine for a child in the front seat?
The MOI has said it can be settled with a QAR 500 traffic fine. If the case goes to court, Article 95 allows a fine of QAR 3,000 to 10,000, jail of one week to one year, or both. We could not confirm whether black points are added, so check the violation details in Metrash.
Is a car seat compulsory in Qatar?
The Traffic Law sets the under-10 front-seat ban, but we found no article that requires a car seat by age or weight. A law making child seats compulsory has been discussed since 2019, so this may change. MOI and HMC strongly advise a seat that suits the child's age and weight, fitted in the back, on every trip.
Can my child sit in the front if they are tall for their age?
No. The law goes by age, not height: under 10 means the back seat. Height matters for choosing the right booster or when a child can use the adult belt, not for where they sit.
Do taxis and Uber in Doha have child seats?
We could not find any service in Qatar that guarantees one, so do not count on it. Bring your own seat or a light travel booster, and always seat under-10s in the back, where the rule still applies.
Does the hospital let me take my newborn home without a car seat?
We could not find a written hospital rule on this, so do not rely on staff checking. Bring a fitted infant seat for the trip home; the Ghalai station in the WWRC car park can check it for free before you leave.
Where can I get my car seat checked?
At the free Ghalai stations at the Women's Wellness and Research Center and Sidra Medicine, Sunday to Thursday, no appointment needed. Hours differ by station, so call 4025 3399 before you go. Technicians show you how to fit the seat and secure your child.
Do children in the back have to wear seat belts?
The seat-belt article of the Traffic Law (Article 54) names the driver and the front-seat passenger, and cameras fine both. Even so, an unbelted child in the back can be thrown forward in a crash, so every child should be in a seat, a booster or a belt on every trip.
Official sources
- The Peninsula: MOI safety advisory on child seats (Dec 2025) ↗
- Marhaba: MOI reminder, children under 10 should never sit in front ↗
- Al Sharq: the front-seat rule and its penalty (Apr 2025, Arabic) ↗
- HMC: Ghalai child passenger safety programme ↗
- Sidra Medicine: Ghalai car seat station ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.