There are currently 15 banks operating in Qatar, including national banks, Islamic banks and the local branches of 7 foreign banks. The latter include HSBC, Standard Chartered and United Bank. Commercial and personal banking services are widely available.

To open a current or savings account in Qatar you need to provide your Residence Permit and a letter from your employer in Qatar confirming your monthly salary. You may also be asked to provide passport-sized photos for identity card purposes.

Most banks have ATM facilities and some provide telephone and internet banking services. Deposit accounts can be opened either in Qatar Riyals, US dollars or another main currency.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Qatar. Locally issued cards are normally Visa or MasterCard.

As there are no exchange controls, it is easy to transfer money into and out of the country.