The Doha Metro is the backbone of getting around Qatar’s capital: clean, fast, driverless and air-conditioned end to end. For residents, it turns a car-dependent city into one you can cross for a couple of riyals, skipping traffic. This 2026 guide walks through the three lines, fares and Travel Cards, operating hours, the free feeder buses, the key stations, and tips that make daily commuting painless.
The three metro lines and their routes
The network runs on three colour-coded lines that radiate from a single downtown interchange at Msheireb, so almost any journey is one ride plus one change at most.
Red Line (the Coast / Airport line)
The Red Line is the north-south spine, running roughly 40 km between Lusail in the north and Al Wakra in the south. It serves West Bay, the Corniche, DECC and Katara, and crucially calls at Hamad International Airport, which is why many people call it the Airport line. At the northern end it connects with the Lusail Tram at Legtaifiya and Lusail stations and passes Qatar University.
Green Line (the Education line)
The Green Line runs east-west for about 22 km, linking Al Mansoura with the Al Riffa / Mall of Qatar area. It threads through Education City, Qatar National Library and Al Shaqab, and stops close to Hamad Hospital and Al Rayyan, making it the go-to line for students, university staff and hospital visitors.
Gold Line (the Historic line)
The Gold Line is the east-west heritage route, stretching from Ras Bu Aboud to Al Aziziyah. It is the tourist-and-leisure line, with stops for the National Museum of Qatar, Souq Waqif, Al Sadd, Sport City (for Khalifa International Stadium) and Al Aziziyah (for Villaggio Mall). It also links neighbourhoods like Bin Mahmoud and Al Waab into the wider network.
Key stations to know
- Msheireb — the heart of the system, where all three lines meet. Every cross-line journey usually passes through here, so learn its layout early.
- Al Bidda — a second interchange between the Red and Green lines, useful for avoiding crowds at Msheireb.
- Hamad International Airport — a direct Red Line stop, making the metro the cheapest airport transfer in Doha.
- Legtaifiya and Lusail — the Red Line’s transfer points onto the Lusail Tram for Lusail City.
- Education City and Qatar National Library — the Green Line’s academic core.
Fares and Travel Card types
You cannot pay with cash at the gates — every rider needs a rechargeable Travel Card, tapping in at the start and out at the end of each trip. There are two main cards.
- Standard Travel Card — costs QAR 10 to buy, then you top up credit as needed. A single Standard Class journey is QAR 2, and an unlimited day pass is QAR 6, which is excellent value if you make three or more trips.
- Gold Club Card — costs QAR 100 to buy and unlocks the premium Gold Class carriage with wider seats and more space. A single Gold journey is QAR 10 and a Gold day pass is QAR 30.
Standard cards are sold at vending machines in every station and at licensed retailers including Al Meera, Carrefour, Family Food Centre, Jumbo Electronics and Lulu. Gold Club cards are issued at the Gold Club offices inside select stations. Always confirm the latest prices on the official Qatar Rail site or the Doha Metro app before you travel, as fares can be revised.
Carriage classes
Each train is split into three carriage types so you board the one that matches your card and needs:
- Standard Class — the main carriages, open to any Travel Card holder.
- Family Class — reserved for families and women travelling alone, offering a quieter, more private space.
- Gold Class — the premium carriage, accessible only with a Gold Club card.
Operating hours
The metro runs seven days a week, though hours shift with the day and can be extended during Ramadan, Eid, National Day and major events. As a general guide for 2026:
- Saturday to Wednesday: early morning until roughly 23:00.
- Thursday: early morning until around midnight.
- Friday: a later start in the early afternoon, running until around midnight.
First and last train times vary slightly by station, so check the app for your stop. Trains arrive every few minutes, so you rarely wait long.
Metrolink feeder buses and Metroexpress
The metro’s reach is extended by two connecting services designed to cover the “last mile” between a station and your door.
- Metrolink — a network of feeder buses serving areas roughly two to five kilometres from a station. The buses themselves are free, but you still tap your Doha Metro & Lusail Travel Card on board, so keep it handy.
- Metroexpress — an on-demand shared van service for areas not covered by Metrolink routes. It is booked through the Karwa taxi app, seats up to seven passengers, and is exclusive to registered metro or tram passengers, used only in connection with a metro or tram journey.
Together these let many residents commute door to door without the car. If you are still weighing whether to rely on the metro day to day, our Living in Doha 2026 expat guide covers how transport fits into overall costs and lifestyle by neighbourhood.
Tips for residents
- Buy a Standard card and load a day pass if you will make three or more trips in a day — it pays for itself quickly.
- Learn the Msheireb layout since almost every cross-city trip changes there; Al Bidda is a handy alternative interchange for the Red and Green lines.
- Use the metro for the airport run — the Red Line to Hamad International is far cheaper than a taxi and immune to traffic.
- Download the Doha Metro app for live station timings, route planning and Metrolink/Metroexpress bookings.
- Keep your card topped up to avoid queuing at vending machines during peak hours.
For newcomers settling into a work routine, our guide to working in Qatar in 2026 pairs well with this, covering salaries and daily life in Doha. And if you have used metros elsewhere in the Gulf, our Dubai Metro and Nol card guide offers a useful point of comparison for how the two systems and fare cards differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Doha Metro ride cost in 2026?
A single Standard Class journey costs QAR 2 and an unlimited Standard day pass is QAR 6. Gold Class costs QAR 10 per single trip or QAR 30 for a day pass. You also pay a one-time card fee: QAR 10 for a Standard Travel Card or QAR 100 for a Gold Club card. Confirm current fares on the Qatar Rail website or Doha Metro app.
Does the Doha Metro go to Hamad International Airport?
Yes. Hamad International Airport is a direct stop on the Red Line, so you can travel to and from the airport by metro. It is the cheapest airport transfer in Doha and avoids road traffic, though remember to allow time and check first and last train times for early or late flights.
What are Metrolink and Metroexpress?
They are connecting services that extend the metro’s reach. Metrolink is a network of free feeder buses covering areas two to five kilometres from a station, where you tap your Travel Card on board. Metroexpress is an on-demand shared van service booked through the Karwa taxi app for areas outside Metrolink routes, available only to metro or tram passengers in connection with a rail journey.
