Qatar Customs Prohibited Items During Travelling
When it comes to travelling, the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is what goods we can take along, some of which are prohibited, We should know those things before travelling anywhere. As with other flights, Qatar customs prohibited items taking along on the flights. You should be informed about the penalties and illegal items before leaving for your flights.
When you travel, you make sure to know about the rules and regulations of the airline. Qatari customs have some rules about allowance, legal issues, and fines before leaving for Qatar. This comprehensive guide will help you know what items you can take along with you and what you shouldn’t.
Types of Goods While Travelling
Qatar Customs categorizes imported and exported goods into two distinct types.
- Prohibited Goods
- Restricted Goods
In the following sections, we will see each category, examining their characteristics, regulations, and implications for trade and commerce. This exploration will provide a clearer understanding of how these classifications affect the movement of goods in and out of Qatar. Let’s begin by looking at the first type in detail.
Prohibited Goods
These are the items that are prohibited by the Qatari government, and you cannot import and export them in Qatar because of legal issues.
The following items are explained as prohibited goods under the Qatar provisions of the common customs law applicable to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The prohibited goods are banned for many reasons, which include health and safety concerns, environmental protection, and national security. Below, we will outline the specific categories of prohibited goods, highlighting the causes behind their ban and any relevant regulations that govern their trade.
Qatar Customs Prohibited Items
Qatar customs prohibited items are as follows:
Narcotics and Drugs
You cannot take any narcotics and drugs while traveling to Qatar, as their government is strict about it. Drugs and narcotics are banned by their government all over the country. Drugs that are banned from import in Qatar are cocaine, heroin, cannabis, marijuana, and opiates.
Weapons and Explosives
Any kind of weapon is strictly not allowed in Qatar, and they are also banned from being imported all over Qatar. If you need to import weapons, you should get permission from the Qatari Ministry of Defense to import your weapons.
Meat & Pork Products
As an Islamic state, Qatar follows Islamic rules that don’t allow eating pork. Because of this reason, you cannot take pork and meat to Qatar on the flights. You are not allowed to bring meat and pork with you, but you can obtain meat from a licensed vendor at your destination.
Alcoholic Beverages
As Qatar is known as an Islamic state, it does follow the rules and regulations of Islam, and things that are not allowed in Islam, Qatar bans as well. Alcohol is one of those things that are prohibited in the Islamic religion, so it is included in Qatar customs prohibited items list and banned to import all of alcoholic products. However, you can get these from authorized personnel while living in Qatar if you are non Musilm. Click here to see how you can get the QDC Qatar License to buy alcoholic products.

Prohibited Items on Flights
Certain items are prohibited from being taken on flights. For detailed information, please check your airline’s website before you go on the flight. If you have an unusual item or suspect it might be restricted, it’s better to reach out to your airline in advance or consult with an airport representative.
Qatar Customs Restricted Items
The list of Qatar customs-restricted items is given below:
Personal Items and Gifts
Certain values are allowed by the Qatari government, and above that value is restricted. You can only take a maximum of QR 3000, more than this value would be restricted. If you are taking gifts and luggage along, that should be non-commercial.
Electronic Items
In the list of restricted items, some of the electronic items which you can take along includes, used video cameras, laptops, mobile phones and photo cameras for your personal use only.
Cigarettes
The quantity of cigarettes that are allowed to be taken by an adult passenger is 400 cigarettes, which are further distributed in 20 cigars. You are permitted to bring either 300 grams of chopped tobacco for pipes, 500 grams of raw tobacco, or up to 2 kilograms of hookah tobacco. However, the total value of these products must not exceed QAR 3,000.
Alcoholic Beverages
On the restricted items, there are no options for alcoholic beverages, which are permitted to be imported under any condition.
Essential Medicines
Essential medicines are allowed to be imported while you are travelling. Only those medicines that are prescribed by your doctor, and you have to take those items with you in limited quality. Furthermore, you make sure that you are not taking anything that is banned.
Currency and precious metals
If you are taking more than QR 50,000 or precious metals, including silver, gold, etc., or any kind of stone that is equivalent to this value or any foreign currency, it should be taken with a declaration form and submitted to customs before going on the flight.
Importing pets
If you are having pets and you want to take them with you, you should have a permission license. Make sure the breed you are carrying is not restricted by the Qatari government. Certain breeds of animals, like endangered species, are not allowed to be imported.
Restriction and Customs Duty on Parcels
There is also a restriction and customs duty on parcels. If you are the one who imports stuff personally, you must verify the product that you are importing and make sure that it is not prohibited.
An individual importing an item personally or purchasing a product online should check whether the commodity is restricted or prohibited. According to the Unified Customs Procedures guide, parcels and personal mailings valued at or below QR 1,000 are exempt from customs duties.
Materials Authorized to Enter, Exempt from Customs Duties
With many restricted and Qatar customs prohibited items, you must know about the authorized and exempted material to which you are allowed by the customs duties. Some luggage, gifts, and personals belong and are exempted under the conditions, the conditions applied for exemptions are as follows:
Click Here to see the standard guide for clearing requirements of imported goods.
Customs Declaration of Money Transferred Across Borders
Travelers must complete the customs declaration form when entering or leaving the country if they exceed the allowed value for currencies or metals, such as jewellery or cash. The limit is QR 50,000. The form should be filled out at the customs declaration office.
This system is being implemented to enforce the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law No. 20 of 2019, as well as Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2019, which establishes its regulations.
Declaration system
A declaration form should be submitted by the person who enters and leaves the country and has negotiable currencies or financial instruments, including silver, gold, etc. or any kind of stone that is equivalent to the value of QR 50,000 or any foreign currency, It should be taken with a declaration form and submitted to the customs before going to flight.
Items which are declared to be taken along are:
False Declaration
If you provide a false declaration about the value of the currency, metals, luggage, and material that you are taking a long time to submit the form, your declaration form will result in a failed submission.
Penalties
If you submit a false declaration and provide misleading information to the authorities, you will face a fine of at least QR 100,000, imprisonment for up to three years, and a penalty of twice the value of the transferred funds.