On September 1, 2026, the Qatar Central Bank implemented a significant shift in its digital payment and merchant settlement infrastructure by granting licensed Payment Service Providers direct access to the Qatar Real-Time Gross Settlement System. SADAD Payment Solutions and Dibsy have become the first two providers to join this direct-access framework.
- SADAD and Dibsy join direct-access framework
- Aim to reduce intermediaries and lower costs
- Affects Indian residents and local business owners
The Qatar Central Bank stated that the initiative aims to reduce the number of intermediaries in the payment settlement chain, lower operational costs for merchants and payment companies, and increase the speed and efficiency of transactions.
This infrastructure update holds significance for Qatar’s approximately 830,000 Indian residents, many of whom are professionals or owners of businesses such as restaurants, retail outlets, and service firms that rely on digital payment platforms. Historically, the system served as the high-value, real-time system for banks and financial institutions to settle funds in central-bank money. The system, which has operated on the ISO 20022 financial messaging standard since 2024, previously required merchants to rely on intermediary bank layers.
Under the new arrangement, approved payment service providers can now open accounts directly with the Qatar Central Bank to settle transactions, which is expected to improve cash-flow cycles for small businesses. While the central bank noted that operational costs may decrease, no specific reduction in consumer transaction fees, merchant service fees, or settlement charges has been announced; these adjustments remain subject to the commercial policies of individual providers.
There is no requirement for users to change bank accounts or complete new registration forms, and the central bank has warned against sharing personal credentials like QID details or OTPs with unauthorized parties. The announcement is distinct from the existing UPI acceptance in Qatar, facilitated by the partnership between Qatar National Bank and NPCI International. The central bank clarified that the direct RTGS access for SADAD and Dibsy does not inherently modify current UPI limits, exchange rates, remittance fees, or the scope of UPI coverage. The new model, designed to strengthen the domestic payment backbone alongside the existing Qatar Mobile Payment system, is expected to be expanded to other payment service providers that meet the central bank’s requirements.
