Travelex Expands Qatar Network With New Airport, Metro and Downtown Stores as Travel Demand Grows

Travelex is expanding its retail presence across Qatar with new and upgraded locations at Hamad International Airport, Doha’s metro network and Matar Qadeem. The expansion responds to rising demand for foreign exchange and remittance services, giving travellers, expatriates and local customers easier access to currencies and international money transfers.

Travelex has strengthened its retail footprint in Qatar with the opening and expansion of three strategically positioned locations, extending its reach across major transport, aviation and residential areas in Doha.

The foreign exchange provider has expanded its customer service presence at Doha Al Jadeda metro station, opened a new landside outlet at Hamad International Airport (HIA), and launched a branch in the historic Matar Qadeem district.

The moves reflect the changing requirements of Qatar’s travel and expatriate communities, where demand for convenient foreign exchange and international money transfer services remains significant.

Why is Travelex expanding its Qatar network?

Travelex is increasing its presence to make foreign exchange and money transfer services more accessible in locations with high passenger and customer traffic.

The company’s latest expansion takes its total number of stores across Doha to 19. Its wider Qatar network is positioned around major travel corridors, including the country’s principal international airport and the Doha metro system, while the new Matar Qadeem branch provides a stronger local presence for remittance customers.

The expansion also reflects Qatar’s continuing importance as an international travel market. The country’s infrastructure has developed rapidly around aviation, public transport and tourism, creating several high-footfall environments where foreign exchange services can play a practical role.

For travellers, access to currency services close to departure points can reduce the need to search for exchange facilities elsewhere in the city.

What has changed at Doha Al Jadeda metro station?

Travelex has more than doubled its customer service points at Doha Al Jadeda metro station, increasing the number from three to seven.

The station is part of Doha’s metro network and serves one of the city’s important transport corridors. Travelex originally opened its presence there in 2022, establishing a service point for customers using the public transport system.

The expansion gives passengers more opportunities to access travel money services during their journeys.

Metro stations can provide an important retail environment for foreign exchange companies because they bring together commuters, residents, visitors and travellers moving between different parts of the city.

By increasing its service points at Doha Al Jadeda, Travelex is positioning its operation closer to customers who may need currency before continuing their journey to an airport, hotel or other destination.

What is new at Hamad International Airport?

A new landside Travelex store has opened at Hamad International Airport, strengthening the company’s existing airport operation.

Travelex already operates 15 stores at HIA, including conventional outlets positioned along passenger routes and mobile, dual-sided foreign exchange kiosks designed to provide greater flexibility.

The new landside location is significant because it provides access to foreign exchange services before passengers enter the secure airport environment.

Hamad International Airport is one of the major aviation gateways in the Middle East and serves Qatar’s international tourism, business and transit markets. According to the figures provided by Travelex, HIA handled a record 54.3 million passengers in 2025, representing a 3% increase from the previous year.

The continued passenger growth provides a substantial customer base for travel-related services, including foreign currency exchange.

For passengers, a landside foreign exchange facility can be particularly useful for those arriving in Qatar, departing on international journeys or accompanying other travellers to the airport.

Why is Matar Qadeem important to Travelex?

Travelex has also opened a new store in Doha’s historic Matar Qadeem district, with the branch primarily focused on remittance services.

Unlike the airport locations, which are closely linked to international passenger movements, the Matar Qadeem outlet is designed to serve the needs of the local community.

Qatar has a large expatriate population, with expatriates accounting for approximately 88% of the country’s total population, according to the information provided by Travelex.

This demographic creates substantial demand for international money transfers, particularly among workers and residents sending funds to families or other recipients overseas.

The new branch will allow customers to send money to more than 350,000 locations globally, extending Travelex’s remittance proposition beyond its traditional travel money customer base.

The move also illustrates how foreign exchange providers are increasingly combining travel money, remittances and other financial services within a single retail network.

How many Travelex stores now operate in Doha?

Travelex now operates 19 stores across Doha.

The network covers several types of customer environments, ranging from major aviation infrastructure to public transport locations and established residential and commercial districts.

This diversified footprint gives the company multiple channels through which to reach customers. Airport stores primarily serve international travellers, metro locations provide convenient access for commuters and passengers, while community-focused branches such as Matar Qadeem can address recurring remittance requirements.

The approach allows Travelex to spread its customer proposition across different stages of the travel and money-transfer journey.

It also reduces reliance on a single type of location and creates greater accessibility for customers who may not regularly visit an airport.

Which currencies can customers access?

Customers across Travelex’s new store portfolio will have access to more than 45 currencies.

Currencies can either be purchased directly on the day of travel or collected after being pre-ordered through the Travelex website.

The combination of online ordering and physical collection provides customers with greater flexibility when planning international journeys.

Pre-ordering can also allow travellers to arrange their currency requirements before reaching the airport or another collection point. For customers who prefer to make decisions closer to departure, physical stores continue to provide an immediate service.

This blended model reflects the broader evolution of travel money retail, where digital ordering increasingly complements traditional face-to-face foreign exchange services.

What does the expansion mean for Qatar’s travel sector?

Travelex’s investment highlights the continuing commercial importance of Qatar’s international travel ecosystem.

The country has developed a major aviation hub, an expanding public transport network and a highly international population. Together, these factors create demand for both travel money and cross-border financial services.

The expansion also comes as travellers increasingly expect convenience throughout their journeys. Foreign exchange services located at airports, metro stations and accessible city locations can remove an additional step from the travel planning process.

For Qatar, the presence of a larger foreign exchange network can therefore support both international visitors and residents who regularly travel or transfer money overseas.

The development is also relevant to the country’s wider tourism and hospitality ecosystem, where international visitors require access to practical services alongside accommodation, attractions, transport and dining.

What has Travelex said about the Qatar expansion?

Batu Dölay, Travelex Managing Director – Middle East and Turkey & Southeast Asia, said Qatar continued to demonstrate strong long-term momentum in international travel despite recent challenges.

He said the new openings were intended to position Travelex to respond to customer demand across important locations.

Dölay also highlighted the combination of the new landside airport presence, expanded metro station operation and Matar Qadeem branch.

According to him, the three developments allow the company to serve travellers and local communities with greater convenience and accessibility.

The comments underline the company’s strategy of placing services where different customer groups naturally interact with the travel and financial ecosystem.

Why does this matter for international travellers?

The expansion gives travellers more options for accessing foreign currency before and during international journeys through Qatar.

Airport facilities can support passengers close to departure and arrival points, while metro outlets can provide access during city journeys. The broader Doha network also gives customers alternatives outside the airport environment.

The availability of more than 45 currencies further supports travellers heading to a wide range of international destinations.

For expatriate communities, meanwhile, the Matar Qadeem branch adds a dedicated physical location for international remittance services.

Overall, Travelex’s latest investment demonstrates how foreign exchange companies are adapting their retail networks around passenger flows, urban mobility and the needs of internationally connected communities.

Travelex’s latest Qatar expansion strengthens access to foreign exchange and remittance services across Doha’s airport, metro and community locations. With 19 stores, more than 45 currencies and expanded remittance capabilities, the company is positioning its network around Qatar’s growing international connectivity, passenger traffic and diverse expatriate population.