WhatsApp Business API for Qatar, written in both of its template locales
Meta lists a Qatar locale for Arabic and for English, and the regulator asks for explicit consent before marketing. Start with the words your customer will read.
- From New Delhi
- ≈2,610 km
- Doha clock
- 2 h 30 min behind India
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For Indian businesses with customers in Qatar, and Qatari firms looking at an Indian provider: how one update reads in Arabic (Qatar) and English (Qatar), what explicit consent means under Law No. 13 of 2016, where the NCSA's permissions come in, and what a +974 message costs.
Language
One delivery update, in both Qatar locales
Meta lists Arabic (Qatar) and English (Qatar) as template languages. Switch between them to read the same utility message the way a customer in Doha would.
Each language version of a template is submitted and approved separately, so this update is two approvals, not one. Write the Arabic natively rather than translating the English line by line, and check that the order number and times sit correctly inside the right-to-left text.
The message is a utility template: it answers something the customer started and carries no offer. Keep it that way and it is charged at the utility rate, ₹1.05 to a Qatari number on InfiQ, instead of the marketing rate of ₹3.00.
Template language
Arabic (Qatar) template (ar_QA). Example text written for this page; your own templates go through Meta’s review.
Compliance
Explicit consent, as Qatar's regulator describes it
Qatar's privacy law reaches electronic marketing directly. These are the points a WhatsApp programme has to plan for, each with its source.
Qatar's Law No. (13) of 2016 on Protecting Personal Data Privacy covers personal data processed electronically, and the NCSA says it restricts direct marketing by requiring explicit consent from individuals beforehand.[3],[4]
Regulator: National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), the Competent Authority
Point 1
Affirmative, explicit, unambiguous
DLA Piper describes the consent required for direct marketing as affirmative, explicit and unambiguous. The law covers electronic marketing, including wired and wireless communications, but does not name messaging apps, so applying it to WhatsApp is an interpretation; Meta's policy requires opt-in regardless.[4],[9]
Point 2
Say who you are and why you are writing
Marketing messages must identify the sender and state their direct-marketing purpose, and recipients must be able to stop them and withdraw consent at any time.[4]
Point 3
Sensitive data needs NCSA permission
Processing sensitive personal data requires NCSA authorisation, a data protection impact assessment and an additional condition such as explicit consent. Clinics and others handling sensitive categories should settle this before any template mentions it.[4]
Point 4
A 72-hour breach clock
Breaches likely to cause damage must be reported to the regulator and to the affected individuals within 72 hours.[4]
Point 5
No register, no mandatory DPO
The law has no database registration and no mandatory data protection officer. The NCSA runs the breach-notification, special-processing permission and individual-complaint services.[4],[3]
Point 6
QFC firms have their own rules
Entities in the Qatar Financial Centre work under separate data-protection regulations, distinct from the national law.[4]
- A summary of public guidance from the sources cited, not legal advice.
Qatar's economy, before and after the 2026 revision
The IMF's February assessment and its October forecast, side by side. Plan on the second.
In February 2026, IMF staff said growth had recovered to 2.4% in 2024 and about 3% through the third quarter of 2025, supported by an expanding LNG sector and non-hydrocarbon growth under the Third National Development Strategy.[5]
The IMF's October 2026 World Economic Outlook projects Qatar's economy to contract 15.6% in 2026 and to grow 18.8% in 2027.[6]
The IMF's Middle East director said Qatar's gas capacity was heavily damaged, with recovery expected in about a year and a half rather than three, and that Qatar has limited capacity to route around the Strait of Hormuz.[7]
Qatar's currency is pegged to the US dollar, and Qatar Central Bank policy-rate changes follow the US Federal Reserve.[5]
Qatar Central Bank's Fawran, launched in 2024, makes 24/7 account-to-account transfers by mobile number, alias or IBAN, with request-to-pay and confirmation of payee.[8]
Industries
Who messages customers in Qatar
Four parts of the economy and the WhatsApp traffic each generates. No usage statistics for Qatar were found that we would stand behind, so this list says what fits, not how much.
- 01
Natural gas, LNG and their suppliers
LNG is the core export. In October 2026 the IMF said gas capacity had been badly damaged, with recovery expected in about 18 months.[7]
On WhatsApp: Contractor dispatch · Shift and safety notices · Purchase-order updates
- 02
Services, construction and private business
IMF staff cited strong non-hydrocarbon growth under NDS3 reforms and recommended reorienting spending to support private-sector growth.[5]
On WhatsApp: Work-order updates · Tenant notices · Appointment booking
- 03
Banking and payments
Qatar Central Bank runs Fawran for instant transfers, the QMP e-wallet system launched in 2020, and the QPAY national e-commerce gateway for debit and prepaid cards.[8]
On WhatsApp: Transaction alerts · Payment confirmations · Card servicing
- 04
Qatar Financial Centre firms
Companies licensed in the QFC sit under separate data-protection rules from the rest of the country.[4]
On WhatsApp: Client onboarding reminders · Document requests · Meeting scheduling
Prices in ₹ and QAR
What a message to +974 costs
Plans start at ₹999 a month, plus each delivered message at InfiQ's Qatar rate. Service replies have been charged per message since 1 October 2026.
Snapshot rates · as of 20 Oct 2026, 00:02 UTC
Lite
₹999 / month≈ QAR 38.25 QAR
₹833 / month, billed yearly≈ QAR 31.90 QAR
Growth
₹2,999 / month≈ QAR 114.84 QAR
₹2,499 / month, billed yearly≈ QAR 95.69 QAR
Enterprise
Custom volume pricing, custom SLA and dedicated infrastructure.
Per message to Qatar · Qatar
| Category | ₹ INR | QAR |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | ₹2.9992 | QAR 0.115 |
| Utility | ₹1.0547 | QAR 0.0404 |
| Authentication | ₹1.0547 | QAR 0.0404 |
| Service | ₹1.0547 | QAR 0.0404 |
Per-message rates for all 47 markets, in ₹ and QAR
| Market | Marketing | Utility | Authentication | Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | QAR 0.208₹5.4352 | QAR 0.0876₹2.2874 | QAR 0.0876₹2.2874 | QAR 0.0876₹2.2874 |
| Bangladesh | QAR 0.247₹6.4397 | QAR 0.0125₹0.3254 | QAR 0.0125₹0.3254 | QAR 0.0125₹0.3254 |
| Brazil | QAR 0.210₹5.4970 | QAR 0.0229₹0.5981 | QAR 0.0229₹0.5981 | QAR 0.0229₹0.5981 |
| Chile | QAR 0.299₹7.8162 | QAR 0.0673₹1.7585 | QAR 0.0673₹1.7585 | QAR 0.0673₹1.7585 |
| Colombia | QAR 0.0421₹1.0993 | QAR 0.0027₹0.0706 | QAR 0.0027₹0.0706 | QAR 0.0027₹0.0706 |
| Egypt | QAR 0.217₹5.6629 | QAR 0.0121₹0.3167 | QAR 0.0121₹0.3167 | QAR 0.0121₹0.3167 |
| France | QAR 0.289₹7.5588 | QAR 0.101₹2.6393 | QAR 0.101₹2.6393 | QAR 0.101₹2.6393 |
| Germany | QAR 0.460₹12.0088 | QAR 0.185₹4.8386 | QAR 0.185₹4.8386 | QAR 0.185₹4.8386 |
| Hong Kong | QAR 0.247₹6.4397 | QAR 0.0876₹2.2867 | QAR 0.0876₹2.2867 | QAR 0.0876₹2.2867 |
| Hungary | QAR 0.289₹7.5596 | QAR 0.118₹3.0700 | QAR 0.118₹3.0700 | QAR 0.118₹3.0700 |
| India | QAR 0.0361₹0.9435 | QAR 0.0074₹0.1941 | QAR 0.0054₹0.1402 | QAR 0.0056₹0.1450 |
| Indonesia | QAR 0.138₹3.6133 | QAR 0.0842₹2.1979 | QAR 0.0842₹2.1979 | QAR 0.0842₹2.1979 |
| Iraq | QAR 0.115₹2.9992 | QAR 0.0266₹0.6943 | QAR 0.0266₹0.6943 | QAR 0.0266₹0.6943 |
| Israel | QAR 0.119₹3.1045 | QAR 0.0179₹0.4662 | QAR 0.0179₹0.4662 | QAR 0.0179₹0.4662 |
| Italy | QAR 0.267₹6.9847 | QAR 0.101₹2.6369 | QAR 0.101₹2.6369 | QAR 0.101₹2.6369 |
| Kazakhstan | QAR 0.203₹5.3098 | QAR 0.0606₹1.5824 | QAR 0.0606₹1.5824 | QAR 0.0606₹1.5824 |
| Kuwait | QAR 0.267₹6.9671 | QAR 0.148₹3.8671 | QAR 0.148₹3.8671 | QAR 0.148₹3.8671 |
| Malaysia | QAR 0.290₹7.5644 | QAR 0.0472₹1.2314 | QAR 0.0472₹1.2314 | QAR 0.0472₹1.2314 |
| Mexico | QAR 0.134₹3.4877 | QAR 0.0286₹0.7471 | QAR 0.0286₹0.7471 | QAR 0.0286₹0.7471 |
| Morocco | QAR 0.139₹3.6425 | QAR 0.0774₹2.0218 | QAR 0.0774₹2.0218 | QAR 0.0774₹2.0218 |
| Netherlands | QAR 0.538₹14.0494 | QAR 0.168₹4.3987 | QAR 0.168₹4.3987 | QAR 0.168₹4.3987 |
| Nepal | QAR 0.247₹6.4397 | QAR 0.0114₹0.2990 | QAR 0.0114₹0.2990 | QAR 0.0114₹0.2990 |
| Nigeria | QAR 0.174₹4.5421 | QAR 0.0226₹0.5898 | QAR 0.0226₹0.5898 | QAR 0.0226₹0.5898 |
| Oman | QAR 0.115₹2.9992 | QAR 0.0831₹2.1709 | QAR 0.0831₹2.1709 | QAR 0.0831₹2.1709 |
| Pakistan | QAR 0.159₹4.1620 | QAR 0.0505₹1.3200 | QAR 0.0505₹1.3200 | QAR 0.0505₹1.3200 |
| Peru | QAR 0.237₹6.1843 | QAR 0.101₹2.6392 | QAR 0.101₹2.6392 | QAR 0.101₹2.6392 |
| Poland | QAR 0.123₹3.2105 | QAR 0.0410₹1.0702 | QAR 0.0410₹1.0702 | QAR 0.0410₹1.0702 |
| Qatar | QAR 0.115₹2.9992 | QAR 0.0404₹1.0547 | QAR 0.0404₹1.0547 | QAR 0.0404₹1.0547 |
| Romania | QAR 0.289₹7.5596 | QAR 0.0974₹2.5436 | QAR 0.0974₹2.5436 | QAR 0.0974₹2.5436 |
| Russia | QAR 0.270₹7.0520 | QAR 0.135₹3.5173 | QAR 0.135₹3.5173 | QAR 0.135₹3.5173 |
| Saudi Arabia | QAR 0.194₹5.0537 | QAR 0.0360₹0.9401 | QAR 0.0360₹0.9401 | QAR 0.0360₹0.9401 |
| Singapore | QAR 0.247₹6.4397 | QAR 0.0539₹1.4072 | QAR 0.0539₹1.4072 | QAR 0.0539₹1.4072 |
| South Africa | QAR 0.128₹3.3385 | QAR 0.0320₹0.8369 | QAR 0.0320₹0.8369 | QAR 0.0320₹0.8369 |
| Spain | QAR 0.238₹6.2161 | QAR 0.0673₹1.7578 | QAR 0.0673₹1.7578 | QAR 0.0673₹1.7578 |
| Sri Lanka | QAR 0.247₹6.4397 | QAR 0.0067₹0.1759 | QAR 0.0067₹0.1759 | QAR 0.0067₹0.1759 |
| Turkey | QAR 0.0367₹0.9587 | QAR 0.0030₹0.0792 | QAR 0.0030₹0.0792 | QAR 0.0030₹0.0792 |
| Ukraine | QAR 0.289₹7.5596 | QAR 0.100₹2.6138 | QAR 0.100₹2.6138 | QAR 0.100₹2.6138 |
| United Arab Emirates | QAR 0.194₹5.0537 | QAR 0.0529₹1.3811 | QAR 0.0529₹1.3811 | QAR 0.0529₹1.3811 |
| United Kingdom | QAR 0.214₹5.5795 | QAR 0.0741₹1.9346 | QAR 0.0741₹1.9346 | QAR 0.0741₹1.9346 |
| North America | QAR 0.0842₹2.1976 | QAR 0.0114₹0.2989 | QAR 0.0114₹0.2989 | QAR 0.0114₹0.2989 |
| Rest of Africa | QAR 0.0758₹1.9796 | QAR 0.0135₹0.3516 | QAR 0.0135₹0.3516 | QAR 0.0135₹0.3516 |
| Rest of Asia Pacific | QAR 0.284₹7.4057 | QAR 0.0381₹0.9938 | QAR 0.0381₹0.9938 | QAR 0.0381₹0.9938 |
| Rest of Central & Eastern Europe | QAR 0.289₹7.5596 | QAR 0.0712₹1.8595 | QAR 0.0712₹1.8595 | QAR 0.0712₹1.8595 |
| Rest of Latin America | QAR 0.249₹6.5048 | QAR 0.0380₹0.9934 | QAR 0.0380₹0.9934 | QAR 0.0380₹0.9934 |
| Rest of Middle East | QAR 0.132₹3.4490 | QAR 0.0306₹0.7998 | QAR 0.0306₹0.7998 | QAR 0.0306₹0.7998 |
| Rest of Western Europe | QAR 0.199₹5.2054 | QAR 0.0575₹1.5019 | QAR 0.0575₹1.5019 | QAR 0.0575₹1.5019 |
| Other | QAR 0.203₹5.3098 | QAR 0.0259₹0.6769 | QAR 0.0259₹0.6769 | QAR 0.0259₹0.6769 |
Plan prices are monthly, in rupees, excluding GST; yearly billing is two months free. Messages are charged per delivered message on top of the plan, at the rate for the recipient’s country. Full details: InfiQ pricing. Because the riyal is pegged to the US dollar, its column moves almost exactly with the dollar's. The conversion is indicative; InfiQ invoices in rupees.
Rates for every Meta market, plus plans and add-ons, are on one page.
See all plans and ratesOn InfiQ
What you run on InfiQ for Qatari customers
Templates first, because Qatar's page starts with language; then the record that explicit consent asks for.
Template manager and library
Draft, submit and track WhatsApp message templates for Meta's approval, starting from a library of 1,000+ ready templates in 27 categories.
Write the Arabic (Qatar) and English (Qatar) versions side by side, submit both and track Meta's decision on each. The library's ready templates are a starting point, not a translation.
Learn moreConsent records and opt-out enforcement
Explicit consent is the bar the NCSA describes. InfiQ records the source and time of each opt-in and enforces STOP, even against contacts imported later.
Broadcast campaigns
Send the right language version to each opted-in segment, up to 2,00,000 contacts per broadcast, scheduled on Doha time.
Shared team inbox
Arabic and English conversations arrive in one inbox; labels and transfers send each to the agent who writes that language.
Guided onboarding
Go-live takes about two hours once Meta business verification is complete.
Two ways in
Two ways in
Indian businesses can start on a trial. Companies licensed in Qatar start with sales.
Your business is in India
- 1.
Start the trial
A 7-day Lite trial, no card needed; plans then start at ₹999 a month, invoiced in rupees with GST.
- 2.
Write the pair, then submit
Draft the Arabic (Qatar) and English (Qatar) versions of each template together, and submit both once Meta has verified your business.
- 3.
Collect explicit opt-ins
Ask in plain words, in both languages, whether the customer wants your messages on WhatsApp, and keep the record.
- 4.
Schedule on Doha time
Doha is two and a half hours behind India. A 12:00 IST send lands at 09:30 in Qatar.
Your business is in Qatar
- 1.
Talk to sales
InfiQ serves India-based businesses. For a company licensed in Qatar, mainland or QFC, availability outside India goes through sales.
- 2.
Know the arrangement
InfiQ invoices in rupees, processes customer data in India and supports customers in English and Hindi on India time.
City guides in Qatar
Questions businesses ask about WhatsApp in Qatar
- How do we record the explicit consent Qatar's privacy law expects before WhatsApp marketing?
- Ask a clear question, get a clear yes, and keep the evidence. The NCSA says the law requires explicit consent before direct marketing, and DLA Piper describes it as affirmative, explicit and unambiguous, so design an opt-in the customer actively chooses. Record where and when the person agreed and the wording they saw; InfiQ stores each opt-in's source and time and enforces STOP.
- Do clinics in Qatar need NCSA permission before messaging patients?
- If the messages involve sensitive personal data, yes. Processing sensitive data requires NCSA authorisation, a data protection impact assessment and an extra condition such as explicit consent. Whether a given reminder involves sensitive data depends on what it says, so settle that with counsel before the template is written.
- Does a QFC-licensed company follow the same data rules as other companies in Qatar?
- No. Entities in the Qatar Financial Centre are covered by the QFC's own data-protection regulations, which are separate from Law No. 13 of 2016. Check which regime applies to your entity before you design the opt-in.
- Can customers in Qatar pay from inside a WhatsApp conversation?
- Not inside the chat on InfiQ, but a payment link works. InfiQ does not offer in-chat payments; teams send a link from their payment gateway in a template or reply. Qatar Central Bank's systems include Fawran for instant transfers with request-to-pay, QMP for e-wallets and QPAY for card payments online, so what the link accepts depends on your gateway.
- Why does the riyal column in the converter track the US dollar so closely?
- Because Qatar's currency is pegged to the US dollar. The IMF notes the peg and that Qatar Central Bank rate changes follow the US Federal Reserve. The converter is indicative: InfiQ invoices in rupees, so the riyal figure is for reporting, not billing.
- What hours does InfiQ's support keep for a team working on Doha time?
- InfiQ's support works on India time, which is two and a half hours ahead of Qatar. It works in English and Hindi. A 09:00 start in Doha is 11:30 in India, so most of a Qatari working morning overlaps with ours; replies come on working days, India time.
- Our company is licensed in Doha: how do we start with InfiQ?
- Through sales, not the self-serve trial. InfiQ serves India-based businesses and has no office or entity in Qatar; it invoices in rupees and processes customer data in India. Tell sales what you send and to whom, and whether you are a QFC entity, and they will say whether availability outside India covers you.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on the dates shown. InfiQ's rates come from its published rate card. Page updated 2026-10-20.
- [1]Constitution of Qatar (2003) · Constitute Project · read 2026-10-20
- [2]Zone Asia/Qatar, 'asia' source file · IANA Time Zone Database (tzdb) · read 2026-10-20
- [3]Personal Data & Privacy Protection Law · National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) · read 2026-10-20
- [4]Data Protection Laws of the World: Qatar (last modified 17 Jan 2024) · DLA Piper · read 2026-10-20
- [5]IMF staff completes 2026 Article IV mission to Qatar (11 Feb 2026) · International Monetary Fund · read 2026-10-20
- [6]IMF cuts 2026 growth forecasts for Gulf economies due to prolonged Hormuz closure (13 Oct 2026) · The National, reporting the IMF World Economic Outlook · read 2026-10-20
- [7]Middle East and Central Asia Department press briefing, transcript (15 Oct 2026) · International Monetary Fund · read 2026-10-20
- [8]Retail payment systems · Qatar Central Bank · read 2026-10-20
- [9]WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy (updated 23 September 2026) · WhatsApp (Meta) · read 2026-10-20
Two locales, one approval flow, sent from India
Indian businesses can start a 7-day Lite trial, no card needed. Licensed in Qatar? Talk to sales before you plan your templates.
