Qatar digital payments cross $4.4b as Fawran, adoption accelerates

By Vriti Gothi

Qatar’s payments landscape continues its rapid digital transformation, with the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) reporting $4.4 billion in digital transactions during July 2025, processed across 51.7 million transactions.

According to figures published by the regulator, card-based payments remain the backbone of the ecosystem, generating $3.45 billion in value. Within this, point-of-sale (POS) transactions led retail spending at $2.25 billion from over 40 million transactions, while e-commerce volumes touched $1.20 billion through 9.18 million transactions. Combined, POS and online commerce accounted for over 75% of all activity, underscoring the resilience of in-store payments alongside the continued rise of digital commerce.

Meanwhile, instant payments are gaining ground. QCB’s real-time payments platform, Fawran, processed $896.5 million across 1.87 million transfers, supported by 3.2 million registered accounts. The system is increasingly being used for peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers, bill payments, and government services, positioning it as a complementary rail to traditional cards.

The Qatar Mobile Payment (QMP) ecosystem also posted steady adoption, recording $75.8 million across 320,000 transactions. Though its share remains modest at 2%, QMP wallets now number 1.2 million, pointing to growth potential as merchant acceptance expands.

A closer look at transaction volumes shows POS accounted for 51%, e-commerce 27%, Fawran 20%, and QMP 2%. Analysts highlight that while cards remain deeply entrenched in consumer spending, the rise of instant payments reflects a growing preference for speed and convenience.

The QCB said the data underscores progress towards Qatar’s national digital payments strategy, with trends aligning to its goals of financial inclusion and a cash-light economy. By publishing monthly snapshots, the regulator aims to provide policymakers, banks, and FinTech players with real-time visibility into evolving consumer behaviours.

Industry observers note that the dual strength of card payments and instant transfers illustrates a diversified digital ecosystem, one that balances consumer familiarity with innovation in real-time rails.