Qatar Security and Customs Regulations

Q: How do I retrieve items confiscated at security (excluding prohibited items)?

Visit the Customs and Goods Collection Centre with verification documents.

Planning a trip to Qatar? Hamad International Airport (HIA) ensures a safe and smooth journey. Whether you’re a frequent traveller or a first-time visitor, knowing the airport’s security and customs procedures helps you pass through efficiently.

This page provides an overview of the security and customs processes you will encounter at the airport, whether you are arriving, departing, or transferring flights.

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Arriving at Hamad International Airport

All hand baggage is screened on arrival. Prohibited items like weapons, alcohol, pork, and narcotics will be confiscated and cannot be retrieved.

Customs Procedures

After collecting checked baggage, passengers must pass through Customs. Two channels are available:

Customs Channel	Who Should Use It	Purpose / Notes
Green Channel	Passengers with nothing to declare	No items subject to customs duties or restrictions. Proceed directly after baggage collection.
Red Channel	Passengers with items to declare	Declare items such as currency, jewellery, precious stones, or goods exceeding duty-free limits. Customs officers may inspect and calculate taxes/duties. Non-disclosure or false information is a criminal offence.

Taxes and Duties

Customs Duties: Standard 5% on most goods (CIF value). Exemptions for personal items and gifts up to QAR 3,000. Higher rates apply to tobacco, alcohol, pork, and other restricted goods.
Excise Tax: Applied on tobacco, carbonated drinks, energy drinks, and special-purpose items.

Additional Notes:

Priority Processing: Al Maha members, passengers needing assistance, and unaccompanied minors get faster processing in both channels.
Lost & Found: Items left at security can be retrieved at the Lost & Found office; ask at an information desk.

Departing from Hamad International Airport

All hand baggage is subject to screening, and passengers must pass through a metal detector. To expedite the process:

Tips for a faster process:

Remove metallic items (belts, watches, phones) and place them in trays.
Liquids in containers less than100ml must be in a transparent, re-sealable bag (max 1L).
LAGs over 100ml purchased outside HIA must be in Security Tamper-Evident Bags (STEB) with receipts.

Special Notes:

Walk-through metal detectors are safe for passengers with pacemakers.
Pregnant women may show a medical certificate to undergo a physical check by female staff.
First- and Business-Class passengers have dedicated lanes.

Expedited Processing

Al Maha customers, passengers requiring special assistance, and unaccompanied minors receive priority processing.

Prohibited Items

The following items are not permitted and will be confiscated:

1 Weapons, firearms, and ammunition

2 Alcoholic beverages

3 Pork products

4 Narcotic drugs

Customs and Goods Collection Centre

Items confiscated upon arrival (excluding prohibited items) may be recovered from the Customs office upon verification and submission of required documents.

Transferring Through Hamad International Airport

All hand baggage is screened before entering the passenger concourse.

Steps for smooth transit:

Ensure no restricted items are carried.

Place personal liquid containers (100ml or less per container) in a clear, re-sealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 litre. Complimentary bags are available at the nearest LAG station.

Put small items (phones, wallets, watches, keys, valuables) in hand baggage.

Place metallic items (belts) in the security tray before passing through the metal detector.

Note on Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (LAGs):

LAGs purchased at duty-free shops outside Hamad International Airport in containers larger than 100ml must be sealed in a Security Tamper-Evident Bag (STEB) with a receipt. Improperly packed LAGs will be confiscated.

Walk-through metal detectors are considered safe for passengers with pacemakers and expectant mothers.

Passengers with pacemakers or expectant mothers may be exempted from metal detectors upon presentation of a medical certificate and will undergo a physical check by female security staff.

Priority Processing

Al Maha customers, passengers requiring special assistance, and unaccompanied minors receive priority processing.

Restricted Items

The following items are restricted and will be confiscated:

1 Weapons, firearms, and ammunition

2 Toy replicas of weapons and firearms

3 Sharp items with blades longer than 6cm

4 Explosives and incendiary substances and devices

5 Narcotic drugs

Note:

LAGs over 100ml are not permitted as hand luggage on board.
TSA regulations prohibit all LAGs and hand sanitisers exceeding 100ml on US-bound flights and will confiscate them before boarding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. All electronic devices are screened. Keep laptops, tablets, and phones easily accessible for inspection.

Yes, liquids over 100ml can be packed in checked baggage. Hand luggage is limited to 100ml per container.

Declare them at the Red Channel. Non-declaration is a criminal offence.

Yes. Prescription medicines and medical devices are allowed but may require inspection. Keep prescriptions handy.

Visit the Customs and Goods Collection Centre with verification documents.

They will be confiscated if in hand baggage. US-bound flights strictly enforce TSA rules.

Disclaimer: Although this information was last updated in July 2026, we recommend verifying with the appropriate agencies, embassies, and airlines to ensure complete accuracy regarding your travel plans.