Ministry of Transport urges use of licensed ride-hailing services
<p>Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Transport has reminded residents, citizens and visitors to use only licensed companies when booking passenger transport services through digital applications, as part of efforts to protect riders and ensure safe, regulated transport services.</p> <p>“You can access the list of companies licensed by the Ministry of Transport to carry out land transport service…
The Ministry of Transport in Qatar has encouraged residents, citizens, and visitors to utilize only licensed ride-hailing services when arranging passenger transport through digital applications. This action is part of their broader initiative to safeguard riders and deliver secure, regulated transport services. The Ministry recently published a list of licensed companies on their website, on August 13, which includes well-known apps such as Uber, badrgo, Aabir, Karwa, Ryde, EzGo, Wer2go, iDriver, WaselGo, and QGlide.
The list was issued to offer a straightforward method for passengers to confirm whether an app-based transport provider is authorized to operate in Qatar. Before using an unfamiliar ride-hailing application, riders are advised to consult the Ministry of Transport's official announcements. The licensing system functions as more than just a catalog of approved companies; it also establishes a regulatory framework.
This framework is designed to protect passengers by mandating that operators adhere to legal and safety standards.
The Ministry is actively working to ensure that companies providing passenger transport via electronic applications comply with safety standards and the provisions of Law No. 8 of 2019, which regulates road transport, along with its implementing regulations under Ministerial Decision No. 13 of 2024. In the first quarter of 2026, the Ministry conducted inspections in collaboration with relevant departments of the Ministry of Interior.
During these inspections, 32 violations were recorded, involving both licensed limousine companies and companies offering passenger transport through electronic applications. These inspections targeted busy commercial, service, and other high-traffic locations.
For riders, this enforcement means that selecting a licensed provider provides an essential layer of regulatory protection. The Ministry emphasizes that its oversight aims to ensure safe, high-quality transport services and maintain a fair competitive environment, while simultaneously addressing unlicensed operators and imposing penalties as stipulated by the law.
In 2025, an inspection campaign uncovered a company providing passenger transport through an electronic application without prior Ministry of Transport authorization, along with violations of drivers transporting passengers without the required licensing.
Therefore, passengers are advised to take a simple precaution before booking: verify that the app or company is listed on the Ministry of Transport's current licensed-provider list. Using licensed services only is recommended to ensure compliance with Qatar's safety, service, and legal requirements. The Ministry's licensing and inspection system is designed to ensure that app-based passenger transport operates in alignment with Qatar's safety and service standards.
Written by urgent.news from The Peninsula Qatar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
