Karwa buses in Qatar: routes, cards, fares and the Karwa Bus app

Karwa buses are Qatar's public bus network, run by the state transport company Mowasalat. They are air-conditioned, mostly electric and much cheaper than taxis, and they reach places the Doha Metro does not, such as the Industrial Area, Mesaieed, Al Khor, Dukhan and the far north. This guide is for new residents and workers who don't have a car yet, or who want a cheap daily commute. Buses are cashless, so the usual order is: install the Karwa Bus app (also called Karwa Journey Planner) and plan your trip, buy a Karwa Smartcard or app ticket, top it up, then tap in when you board and tap out when you leave. Free Metrolink feeder buses link metro stations to nearby neighbourhoods; for the trains themselves see the Doha Metro guide, and for door-to-door rides see the taxis guide.

Before you start

• A smartphone with mobile data, and the Karwa Bus (Karwa Journey Planner) app installed from the App Store or Google Play
• A Qatar mobile number to register in the app
• A Karwa Smartcard, or a QR ticket bought in the app; drivers do not take cash
• Enough balance for the whole trip, especially for long intercity rides
• A bank card or Ooredoo Money account for topping up online, or some cash for station vending machines and shops
• Your Doha Metro travel card, if you will use the free Metrolink feeder buses
• Your destination's name and nearest bus stop or station exit; drivers mostly don't announce stops
• Water and a hat in summer, because some stops have little shade

Step by step

1. Understand how the network works

   Karwa buses are run by Mowasalat and cover Doha, Lusail, Al Wakra, Al Rayyan, the Industrial Area and towns across Qatar. The route number tells you the type of service: M routes are free Metrolink feeders to metro stations, R routes are regional (intercity) routes, E801 is an express route, and other letters and numbers are city routes. The old central bus station at Al Ghanim closed in 2022, so routes now start from newer bus stations such as Lusail, Al Wakra, Industrial Area, Al Sudan and Al Rayyan, and from metro stations. Many trips combine a metro ride with a bus, so it helps to read the Doha Metro guide too.

   Read guide: Doha Metro, Metrolink and Karwa buses: cards, fares and how to ride →

2. Install the Karwa Bus app and plan your trip

   Mowasalat's official bus app is listed as 'Karwa Bus' in the app stores and is often called the Karwa Journey Planner. Register with your mobile number, then type your start and destination to see which bus to take, where to walk to the stop, the transfers and the fare for that trip. The app also shows the bus network, service updates and route changes, and lets you manage your Smartcard and buy QR tickets. Routes and stops change several times a year, so check the app before each new trip rather than relying on an old screenshot or a friend's directions.

3. Choose a card or ticket

   Most residents use the Classic Karwa Smartcard: a reusable, rechargeable card that costs about QAR 30, part of which is loaded as travel credit (sources differ on exactly how much). Visitors and occasional riders can buy a 24-hour unlimited QR ticket in the Karwa Bus app instead of a plastic card. Older 24-hour 'Limited' and 'Unlimited' plastic cards (about QAR 10 and QAR 20) may still be seen, but since 2021 they are no longer sold by drivers or shops. The Doha Metro card is not accepted on regular Karwa buses, only on the free Metrolink buses.

4. Buy your Smartcard

   Smartcards are sold from ticket vending machines and sales points at Hamad International Airport, the main bus stations, some malls such as Mall of Qatar and The Pearl, Ooredoo self-service machines and authorised shops. Not every metro station sells Karwa cards, so don't count on buying one there. Drivers cannot sell you a card or take cash, so buy your card before you go to the stop. If you arrive at the airport and plan to take the bus, buy the card at the airport machine before leaving the terminal.

5. Top up your balance

   You can add credit at Karwa vending machines, at authorised shops, at Ooredoo self-service machines, or through Ooredoo Money (in the app or by dialling *140#), where you enter the first 10 digits of the card number and an amount between QAR 5 and QAR 500. The Karwa Bus app also lets you buy and recharge app tickets with a debit or credit card. Keep more than the fare you expect: the reader charges by distance, and long regional trips cost several times more than a short city ride. Check the balance shown on the reader when you tap, or in the app.

6. Board, tap in and tap out

   Wait at the stop shown in the app and wave clearly as the bus approaches, because buses may not stop if no one signals. Board at the front and tap your card or scan your QR ticket on the reader. When you get off, tap the reader again, so the system can work out your fare from the distance travelled. If you forget to tap out, you may be charged a higher or maximum fare. Press the stop button before your stop, and follow the live map in the app if you don't know the area.

7. Use the free Metrolink feeder buses

   Metrolink buses (route numbers starting with M) are free and connect metro stations with neighbourhoods a few kilometres away. They leave from a marked station exit, and you must still validate when you board: tap your Doha Metro travel card or Karwa Smartcard, or scan the free Metrolink QR ticket from the Karwa Bus app. Metrolink usually runs about 6am–11pm Sunday to Thursday and from about 2pm to midnight on Friday, shorter than the metro itself. New routes are added often; in 2026 they included M305 (Al Waab station–Ain Khalid–Industrial Area) and M307/M308 between Al Sudan and Sports City stations.

   Read guide: Doha Metro, Metrolink and Karwa buses: cards, fares and how to ride →

8. Get to the airport and the Industrial Area

   Several routes serve Hamad International Airport, and some run 24 hours, which helps shift workers and late flights. Reported examples are L533 (airport–Al Thumama), T612 (airport–Industrial Area bus station), T613 (airport–Amwaj Mesaieed) and 757 (airport–Al Mansoura). The Industrial Area has its own bus station with routes to the airport and other hubs, plus the free M305 Metrolink to Al Waab metro station since April 2026. Confirm the route number and stop in the app, because these routes are sometimes renumbered.

9. Travel between towns

   Regional R routes link Doha and Lusail with Al Khor, Al Shamal and Al Ruwais, Dukhan, Abu Samra, Mesaieed and other towns, often in coaches with luggage space. Since August 2025 the E801 express links Lusail bus station, Al Khor and Al Ruwais with limited stops, about every two hours. Regional buses run much less often than city buses, so check the timetable for both directions and the time of the last bus back before you set off. For a weekend away, a car may still be more practical; see the road trips guide.

   Read guide: Road trips from Qatar: driving to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Oman →

10. Follow bus etiquette and seating rules

    Since 2015 Mowasalat has reserved the first two rows of seats on Karwa buses for women, marked with stickers; men should leave them free even if the bus is busy. Wheelchair spaces and priority seats near the front are for people with disabilities, older passengers and parents with young children. Keep your voice and phone volume low, dress modestly, keep bags off seats and let passengers get off before you board. Don't leave rubbish on the bus, and follow any signs about food and drink.

    Read guide: Laws and etiquette every Qatar resident should know →

11. Get help with problems or lost items

    For lost items, card problems, missed buses or complaints, contact Mowasalat customer service on 4458 8888 by phone or WhatsApp. Give the route number, the time and direction of travel, and your card number or app account details, so they can trace the bus or your payment. If something valuable or an official document is lost and not found, you may need a police report. When a bus doesn't suit your trip, for example late at night or with heavy luggage, use a licensed taxi or ride-hailing app.

    Read guide: Taxis and ride-hailing in Qatar: Karwa, Uber and other licensed apps →

What it costs

Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.

Common mistakes

• Going to the stop without a card or ticket and expecting to pay the driver in cash
• Forgetting to tap out, which can lead to a higher or maximum fare
• Assuming every metro station sells Karwa Smartcards; buy one at the airport, a bus station or a vending machine
• Using an old route map or forum post; routes are renumbered and moved, so check the app each time
• Heading to the old Al Ghanim bus station, which closed in 2022
• Not checking the last bus back on regional routes, which can run only every couple of hours
• Men sitting in the first two rows reserved for women
• Boarding a Metrolink bus without validating, even though the ride is free

Questions people ask

Official sources

• Mowasalat (Karwa): public bus services ↗
• Qatar Living (August 2026): public buses in Qatar, routes, fares and the Karwa Bus app ↗
• Property Finder (March 2025): all about Karwa bus cards ↗
• Qatar Tribune (August 2025): new E801 express route Lusail–Al Khor–Al Ruwais ↗
• Marhaba (2026): new M305 Metrolink to the Industrial Area ↗
• Gulf Times: seats reserved for women on Karwa buses ↗

Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.

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