News 27 Aug 2026 1 min read

MoI reminder: taxi, limousine and bus drivers must hold a public driving licence

Driving a public-service vehicle on an ordinary licence carries a fine of QR 10,000 to QR 50,000 and possible imprisonment under Article 94 of the Traffic Law.

The Ministry of Interior has reminded motorists that anyone driving a taxi, limousine or public transport bus in Qatar must hold a public vehicle driving licence, not just a private one. Under Article 31 of Traffic Law No. 19 of 2007, an applicant for the public licence must be at least 21, medically fit, have held an ordinary licence for at least two years, produce a certificate of good conduct, work full-time as a driver with "Driver" recorded on the residence permit, and show knowledge of Qatar's main facilities and areas. Article 32 adds that the applicant must have a clean record on dishonesty offences and driving under the influence. The penalties for driving a public-service vehicle without the licence are set out in Article 94. A first offence carries imprisonment of one month to three years or a fine of QR 10,000 to QR 50,000. A repeat offence carries imprisonment of one week to three years and a fine of QR 20,000 to QR 50,000, and the court may suspend the driver's licence for one to six months. The reminder, issued through the ministry's social media channels, follows an earlier warning in July that using a private vehicle as a taxi is itself a violation of Article 57 of the law. Fleet operators, limousine companies and anyone hiring drivers should check licence categories before putting a vehicle on the road. Source: The Peninsula, 27 August 2026; Ministry of Interior.