Doha and Riyadh, September 16, 2026: The Qatar Central Bank and the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) have launched a cross-border initiative to allow the use of Qatar’s national payment card, Himyan, in Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia’s national payment network, mada, in Qatar. The rollout is not immediate across every bank, ATM, or retail outlet, but will progress gradually based on approved technical integration phases.
- Cross-border use of Himyan and mada cards
- Enabled through Gulf Payment Network (GCC-NET)
- Phased rollout across both nations
The initiative is facilitated through the Gulf Payment Network (GCC-NET), which enables GCC citizens and residents to use network-enabled debit cards for ATM withdrawals and point-of-sale (POS) transactions across member countries.
This arrangement offers an alternative for individuals who prefer not to rely solely on international Visa or Mastercard networks, particularly for professionals, traders, and families traveling between the two nations. According to 2026 Indian government data, there are approximately 8.29 lakh Indians residing in Qatar and 27.48 lakh in Saudi Arabia. Indian expatriates holding eligible Himyan or mada-linked debit cards may benefit from this connectivity as the rollout expands. However, officials warn that existence of the service depends on the specific terminal, issuing bank, and the current stage of the integration rollout.
Cardholders are advised to contact their issuing banks via app, call center, or branch before traveling to confirm if their specific card is enabled for cross-border GCC-NET usage. Users should also verify settings related to overseas or regional usage, ATM withdrawals, and POS transactions. There is no universal transaction fee or currency conversion table released at this time, meaning fees and exchange rates will depend on the policies of the respective issuing banks, account types, and ATM operators. Authorities emphasize that this remains a phased implementation.
Travelers are encouraged to maintain backup payment options, as cash may still be required at certain merchants, petrol stations, or remote locations until full integration is achieved across all terminals.
