Phone, Seat Belt and Children in the Front Seat in Qatar: What the Law Says
Article 55 bans handheld phones while driving and children under ten in the front seat, and Article 54 requires seat belts. What each rule says, the court penalty range, and what the law says about riding in the back of a truck.
These three rules are among the most searched traffic questions in Qatar. This guide is based on the English text of the Traffic Law (Decree-Law No. 19 of 2007, amended by Law No. 5 of 2010) on Al Meezan, which we read in October 2026. Details such as the exact fine and the points for each offence sit in tables and regulations that we did not read. It is general information, not legal advice.
Using a phone while driving (Article 55)
Article 55 says the driver must not:
1. use mobile phones or other devices in any way that requires the use of hands for carrying or operating them while driving;
2. watch any visual material on the vehicle's television while driving;
3. allow children under the age of ten to sit in the front seats of the vehicle while it is moving.
The wording is about hands. The law does not mention hands-free calls, navigation mounts or earphones, so we cannot say how those are treated. A phone held in the hand, or typed on at a red light, is the clearest breach.
Seat belts (Article 54)
Article 54 says both the driver and the front-seat passenger must wear a safety belt while driving on the road, in accordance with the rules and terms in the Executive Regulation. We did not read the Executive Regulation, so we cannot confirm what it says about rear seats or about exemptions. Do not assume that rear passengers are exempt. Buckle everyone.
Children under ten
Article 55 (third item) bars children under ten from the front seats while the vehicle is moving. The text sets the age but does not mention child seats or booster seats. For families, the safest reading is that children under ten go in the back, in a restraint suited to their size.
The penalty range
Article 95 lists Articles 54 and 55 among the offences punishable, in court, by imprisonment of one week to one year or a fine of QR 3,000 to QR 10,000. Article 98 says the penalty is at least doubled if a similar offence is committed within a year of completing the sentence. Most roadside tickets use a table of set amounts under Article 105, which we could not see, so the usual ticket amount will be lower than the court range. Points are recorded under a separate table. See our guide to the traffic violation points system.
Article 100 lets a court suspend a licence for one to six months after conviction for offences in "Chapters III and V" of the law. The text does not say which Part those chapters belong to, and the law has several Chapter IIIs. One of them covers seat belts, phones and traffic signs. Ask a lawyer whether that applies to your case.
Passengers in the back of a truck (Article 83)
Article 83 says passengers may not be transported in any vehicle without seats or not designed to carry passengers. It also bans carrying a passenger on the steps, the rear or the roof of a moving vehicle without written authorization from the Licensing Authority. This is the article that applies to people riding in the open back of a pickup. Article 83 is also listed in Article 95.
Taxi and bus drivers (Article 84)
Article 84 says drivers of buses, taxis, hire cars and limousines may not carry more than the number of passengers on the registration certificate, may not chat with a passenger while the vehicle is moving, and may not let anyone sit or stand next to the driver.
Practical advice
1. Put the phone in a mount before you start and set navigation first.
2. Pull over safely to call or message.
3. Seat every child under ten in the back, in a suitable restraint.
4. Make everyone buckle up, including rear passengers.
5. Do not carry people in the back of a pickup.
6. If you get a fine you think is wrong, see how to dispute a traffic fine.
What we could not verify
- The Executive Regulation on seat belts, including rear seats, exemptions and child restraints.
- The roadside fine and points for phone, belt and child offences.
- Whether hands-free use, voice assistants or phone mounts are treated differently in practice.
- Which chapters Article 100 means by "Chapters III and V".
Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to use a phone while driving in Qatar?
Article 55 bans using mobile phones or other devices in any way that requires the hands for carrying or operating them while driving.
At what age can a child sit in the front seat in Qatar?
Article 55 says children under the age of ten may not sit in the front seats of the vehicle while it is on the move.
Do rear passengers need to wear seat belts in Qatar?
Article 54 names the driver and the front-seat passenger and refers to the Executive Regulation for the rules. We did not read the regulation, so buckle everyone as a precaution.
What is the fine for using a phone while driving?
In court, Article 95 sets one week to one year in prison or QR 3,000 to QR 10,000. Roadside tickets use a separate table under Article 105, which we could not read.
Can people ride in the back of a pickup in Qatar?
Article 83 bans carrying passengers in a vehicle not designed for them and on the steps, rear or roof of a moving vehicle without written authorization from the Licensing Authority.
Sources & references
Agha Ali Abbas
Founder & Editor
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