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Paying zakat and giving to charity safely in Qatar

How to work out and pay your zakat through the Ministry of Awqaf, pay Zakat al-Fitr, choose a licensed charity, and avoid the fundraising that is illegal or a scam.

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026

Zakat rate: 2.5% of eligible wealth held for a full lunar year
Zakat al-Fitr: QAR 15 per person (Ramadan 2026)
Calculation help: Free, all year, from the Zakat Affairs Department
Report a suspicious appeal: RACA hotline 16010

Giving is a big part of life in Qatar, especially in Ramadan, and the state takes it seriously. Muslims can calculate and pay zakat through the Zakat Affairs Department of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf), which runs a free calculation service, a website and an app, and distributes the money to eligible people in Qatar. Anyone, Muslim or not, can also give to charities licensed by the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities (RACA). What you must not do is give to, or organise, collections that have no RACA permit: under Qatari law, collecting donations without a permit can lead to a fine or prison, and unlicensed appeals are also where most donation scams hide. This guide goes in order: work out what you owe, pay it, pay Zakat al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, then give safely to everything else.

Before you start

Your zakat date: the day in the Islamic (Hijri) year you use each year to add up your wealth
Balances of all your bank accounts and any cash you keep at home, in any currency
Weight and carat of any gold and silver you own, including jewellery if your school of thought counts it
Value of shares, funds and investments, and of any goods you hold to sell
Money people owe you that you expect to get back, and debts you owe that are due now
The number of people in your household, for Zakat al-Fitr
A bank card for online payment, or cash if you will pay at a collection office
The official website or app address of any charity you plan to give to (type it yourself, do not click links in messages)

Step by step

Check whether zakat is due on you
Zakat is due once a year from a Muslim whose eligible wealth is at or above the nisab (the minimum threshold) and has stayed there for a full lunar year, called the hawl. The nisab is usually based on the value of 85 grams of gold; some people use the silver standard (595 grams), which gives a lower threshold. The rate is 2.5% of the eligible total. In Qatar zakat is a religious duty, not a government tax, so nothing is deducted from your salary; the tax side is explained in our tax guide.
Read guide: Do expats pay tax in Qatar? Income tax, VAT, business tax and home-country rules →
Add up what you own on your zakat date
On the same Hijri date each year, list your cash and bank balances, savings in any country, gold and silver, shares and funds, goods held for trade, and money owed to you that you expect to be repaid. Your home, car, furniture and personal items you use are not counted. Subtract debts that are due now, such as a bill or an instalment that has fallen due. Writing the list down makes the next step quick and gives you a record for next year.
Use the Awqaf zakat calculator
The Zakat Affairs Department has a zakat calculator on its website (zakat.gov.qa) and in its official app for Android and iPhone. It covers cash, gold, silver, shares and trade goods, and uses an updated gold price to set the nisab. The calculator was upgraded in March 2026, and there is now a separate calculator for companies. Enter your figures and it shows the amount due, with the option to go straight to payment.
Ask the free calculation service if your case is complicated
If you have shares, a business, rental property, end-of-service money, gold jewellery or savings in several countries, you can ask the department's specialists to calculate your zakat. The service is free, confidential and runs all year, not just in Ramadan, for individuals and companies. You can visit the department's offices or contact its specialists through its digital channels. Bring or send your figures, and ask religious questions there too, since scholars differ on points like zakat on jewellery you wear.
Pay your zakat through an official channel
You can pay the Zakat Affairs Department online through its website or app at any time, by bank transfer to its approved accounts, or in person at its collection offices around the country. In Ramadan the department extends its hours and places certified collectors at selected outlets; the website shows the office locations. When you pay online you get a confirmation, so keep it. The department distributes the money as aid to eligible people in Qatar.
Or give your zakat to a licensed charity
Some people prefer to give through a RACA-licensed charity, for example Qatar Charity, which runs dedicated zakat projects in Qatar and abroad. Pay only through the charity's own website, app, offices or official bank accounts, and choose a project marked as zakat-eligible so the money is spent on people who can receive zakat. Ask for a receipt that names the project. If you want your zakat to reach people inside Qatar, the Awqaf channel does that directly.
Pay Zakat al-Fitr before the Eid prayer
Zakat al-Fitr is a small payment due from every Muslim for themselves and each person they support, paid at the end of Ramadan before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. Each year the department sets the cash value; for Ramadan 2026 it was QAR 15 per person, so a family of four paid QAR 60. You can pay through the Zakat Fund app, the website, collection offices with morning and evening shifts, or collection points at more than 28 mosques. The department buys food with the money and hands it out before the Eid prayer, so do not leave it to the last hour.
Read guide: Ramadan in Qatar: what changes for residents →
Check that a charity or appeal is licensed
RACA licenses and supervises charities and private charitable foundations in Qatar, and every public fundraising appeal needs its permit, issued for a set purpose and a limited period. Before you give, confirm the name of the organisation, that its permit is valid and covers that specific project, and that the person collecting really works for it. RACA publishes registration details of non-profits on its website (raca.gov.qa) and answers questions on 16010. Always get a clear receipt; you are entitled to ask the charity later how the project is going.
Do not collect money yourself without a permit
Under Law No. 15 of 2014 on charitable activities, as amended in 2020, individuals and private groups may collect, receive or pay out donations only with a RACA permit, inside or outside Qatar. RACA has warned that this includes appeals through chat apps and social media, such as a WhatsApp group raising money for a family abroad. When the law was issued, violations were reported to carry up to three years in prison and a fine of up to QAR 100,000, doubled for a repeat within five years. If you want to help someone in need, help them directly or point them to the Zakat Affairs Department or a licensed charity that can assess their case.
Learn the signs of a donation scam
Scams rise sharply in Ramadan and after disasters. Qatar Central Bank and the National Cyber Security Agency warn against donation requests that arrive by call, email or social media, especially ones that push you to pay fast or play hard on emotion. Qatar Charity has warned of fake websites copying its logo, so type the address yourself (qcharity.org) instead of using a link in a message. Never give card details, OTP codes or personal data to a 'charity' that contacted you first.
Read guide: Common scams in Qatar: fake fine messages, delivery texts, job and rental fraud →
Report suspicious fundraising
If you see someone collecting donations without a permit, or receive a suspicious appeal, report it to RACA on 16010. Online fraud can also be reported to the Ministry of Interior through the Metrash app, and the 2025 joint warning by Qatar Central Bank and the cyber security agency gave 33618627 for reporting suspicious fundraising. If you already paid by card, call your bank at once to block the card and dispute the payment. Keep screenshots of the messages and the account details you were given.
Read guide: Metrash: registering and using Qatar's Ministry of Interior app →

What it costs

Zakat on wealth	2.5% of eligible wealth above the nisab
Zakat al-Fitr per person (Ramadan 2026)	QAR 15
Zakat calculation service (individuals and companies)	Free
Maximum penalty for unlicensed charity activity (as reported in 2014)	QAR 100,000 fine and/or up to 3 years in prison

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

Common mistakes

Sending money to a WhatsApp or social media appeal, or starting one yourself, without a RACA permit
Clicking a donation link in a message instead of typing the charity's official address
Using last year's nisab: it moves with the gold price, which rose sharply in 2026
Forgetting savings and investments held in your home country when adding up zakat
Paying Zakat al-Fitr after the Eid prayer, or leaving it so late the department cannot distribute it in time
Giving zakat to a general fund that is not marked as zakat-eligible
Not keeping receipts, so you cannot check later what you paid or where it went

Questions people ask

Is zakat compulsory or deducted from salary for expats in Qatar?

No. Zakat is a religious duty for Muslims, not a government tax on individuals, so no employer deducts it. Whether and how you pay is your choice. The Awqaf Zakat Affairs Department simply offers a calculator, free advice and payment channels.

Can I pay my zakat to poor relatives back home instead?

Scholars generally allow zakat to go to needy relatives you are not already obliged to support, such as a brother or sister in need, but not to your parents, children or spouse. Paying people directly yourself is not the same as fundraising and needs no permit. For your own situation, ask the Zakat Affairs Department or a trusted scholar.

Can I pay Zakat al-Fitr in my home country?

Many scholars prefer that it is paid where you are at the end of Ramadan, while others allow sending it to needy people at home, especially through your family there. The amount set in Qatar (QAR 15 in 2026) applies to payments made in Qatar. If unsure, pay through the Zakat Fund or ask its specialists.

Do I pay zakat on gold jewellery my wife wears?

Schools of thought differ: some require zakat on all gold above the nisab, others exempt jewellery worn normally. Gold kept as savings or investment is counted by everyone. The Awqaf calculator includes gold, and the department's specialists can advise on jewellery.

How do I know if a charity in Qatar is licensed?

Check the organisation's registration on the RACA website or call RACA on 16010. Well-known licensed charities include Qatar Charity and Qatar Red Crescent, but even then, give only through their own website, app, offices or bank accounts. A real collector can show a permit linked to the organisation and the project.

Is it illegal to collect money for a sick colleague or a family in need?

Collecting or paying out donations for individuals or causes without a RACA permit is against the law, and RACA has said this includes chat-app and social media appeals. You can always help someone yourself. For a larger appeal, ask a licensed charity to take the case; they assess it and collect legally.

Is zakat due on my end-of-service gratuity or pension savings?

Many scholars say money you cannot yet access is counted only once you receive it, and then follows the normal yearly rule. Savings you can withdraw are usually counted. Because opinions differ, this is a good question for the free calculation service.

Can non-Muslims donate to charities in Qatar?

Yes. Anyone can give to RACA-licensed charities, for general aid, Ramadan iftar projects, disaster relief and more. Just pick a general donation project rather than a zakat one, and follow the same safety checks.

Official sources

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

Paying zakat and giving to charity safely in Qatar

Before you start

Step by step

Check whether zakat is due on you

Add up what you own on your zakat date

Use the Awqaf zakat calculator

Ask the free calculation service if your case is complicated

Pay your zakat through an official channel

Or give your zakat to a licensed charity

Pay Zakat al-Fitr before the Eid prayer

Check that a charity or appeal is licensed

Do not collect money yourself without a permit

Learn the signs of a donation scam

Report suspicious fundraising

What it costs

Common mistakes

Questions people ask

Official sources

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