Qatari cheques are written in Qatari riyals and dirhams (two decimals) on bilingual Arabic/English stationery, usually filled in English and dated DD/MM/YYYY. They clear electronically through the Qatar Central Bank, normally the same day. A bounced cheque is still a criminal matter in Qatar, but since 2024 there is also partial payment and direct civil enforcement.

Here is what you need to know to write, track and print cheques for Qatari banks in ChequeMaster.

How cheques are used in Qatar

Cheques remain central to business and housing in Qatar. Landlords collect rent with dated cheques, suppliers ask for security cheques, and loans and service contracts are often backed by a set of cheques. Because a bounced cheque can lead to criminal proceedings, payees see a cheque as strong security, and drawers need to keep careful track of every one they have issued.

How to write a cheque in Qatar

Language and date

Qatari cheque books are bilingual. Fill in the details in English (or entirely in Arabic). Do not mix the two. Use DD/MM/YYYY.

Riyals and dirhams

The Qatari riyal has 100 dirhams, so amounts use two decimals: QAR 7,800.25. In words, use the international system and close with "Only": "Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Qatari Riyals and Twenty-Five Dirhams Only". The figures and the words must match. Start each right at the edge of its space so nothing can be added. See amount-in-words rules and the amount in words tool.

Payee, crossing and signature

Use the payee's full legal name and cross business cheques "A/C Payee" so they go only into the payee's account. Sign as your specimen and mandate require. Never correct a written cheque. Cancel it and write a new leaf. See account payee cheques.

Clearing in Qatar

The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) runs the Electronic Cheque Clearing (ECC) system, which clears cheques using images instead of moving the paper. Cheques deposited before your bank's cut-off normally clear the same day. In July 2022 the QCB directed all banks to run cheque clearing throughout the week, including weekends and official holidays. So a cheque dated on a Friday or a holiday can be presented that day, which matters if you assumed a weekend would buy you time. Bank cut-off times differ, so ask your branch.

Post-dated cheques

Post-dated cheques are an everyday part of Qatari rent and finance. The payee presents them on the date written. From the drawer's side, each one is a promise that money will be in the account on that day, and with criminal liability behind it, a forgotten cheque is a serious problem. Keep a register of every cheque you have issued with its date, and check it at least monthly. See managing post-dated cheques and keeping a cheque issue register.

Bounced cheque law in Qatar

General information, not legal advice. Laws and bank rules change; check with your bank or a qualified lawyer for your situation.

Criminal liability: Penal Code Article 357

Article 357 of the Penal Code (Law No. 11 of 2004) makes it a crime to issue a cheque in bad faith without sufficient funds. The same applies to withdrawing funds after issuing it, ordering the bank not to pay, or deliberately signing so the cheque cannot be paid. The Peninsula reported the penalty as imprisonment of not less than three months and not more than three years, and a fine of not less than QR 3,000. It also reported measures agreed between the courts and the QCB: withdrawing cheque facilities from convicted individuals and companies, and blacklisting repeat offenders. Paying the cheque before a final judgment can end the criminal case.

2024 changes: partial payment and direct enforcement

  • Partial payment. Law No. 1 of 2024, published in the Official Gazette on 7 March 2024 and in force from 6 April 2024, amended Article 585 of the Commercial Law (Law No. 27 of 2006). If the account holds less than the cheque amount, the bank must pay what is available, unless the holder refuses. It notes the payment on the back and gives the holder the cheque and a certificate so they can pursue the rest. Law firm commentary notes that this does not remove the drawer's criminal liability.
  • Enforcement. The Judicial Enforcement Law No. 4 of 2024, in force from 6 October 2024, made cheques enforceable documents. A holder can now take a bounced cheque to the Enforcement Court directly, without first winning a civil case.

As of October 2026 we found no verified source showing Qatar has decriminalised bounced cheques. For the wider picture, see bounced cheque laws across the GCC and why cheques bounce.

Pre-added Qatari bank layouts

ChequeMaster is not limited to these banks. It works with any bank's cheque, in any country. The layouts below are simply the Qatari bank layouts that come pre-added, so you can start printing without any setup. For any other bank, build a layout from a scan of a blank leaf in a few minutes, and add as many banks and layouts as you need.

  • Qatar National Bank (QNB)
  • HSBC Qatar
  • Doha Bank
  • The Commercial Bank of Qatar

Qatar shows clearly why one layout cannot serve a whole country. Sizes vary across these four pre-added banks, and even where two banks share a size (QNB and HSBC Qatar), the fields sit in different places. Some practical notes:

  • HSBC Qatar uses a Qatari cheque, not HSBC's format from another country. Choose the layout by country as well as by bank.
  • QNB and HSBC Qatar are smaller than most Gulf cheques. Reduce the amount-in-words font a step and keep both word lines on.
  • Doha Bank has a size of its own, so margins from another bank are only a starting guess. Allow one test print.
  • Commercial Bank of Qatar uses the common Gulf size. If you already print another bank at that size, your margins will probably carry over.
  • Crossings. None of the four Qatari layouts prints a crossing block. If your stationery does not have one printed, have it stamped or add the field to a copy of the layout.

Setting up ChequeMaster for Qatar

  1. Currency. Set QAR.
  2. Decimals and words. Use two decimals and million/billion words.
  3. Date format. Choose DD/MM/YYYY.
  4. Cheque book. Create one cheque book per account with the matching bank layout and the leaf numbers from the book. See creating a cheque book.
  5. Test print. Print on plain A4 and hold it against a real leaf. Adjust margins for a uniform offset. Re-check the tray guides whenever you switch between cheque sizes. See fixing alignment.

ChequeMaster prints in English (not Arabic) and logs each cheque with its date and status, so you can filter forward-dated cheques still marked Issued before they come due. Licence details are on the pricing page.