If you are a residence visa owner of Qatar,you need a Qatari driving licence to drive in the country.You can skip a driving test to get ba Qatari license if you still holding a valid driving license from one of the GCC countries or a license from some select countries.Otherwise you need to pass a Qatrari driving test.

How to apply for a permanent license if you already have a valid license:
The documents required to submit at the Madinat Khalifa Traffic Department to apply for a full term driving license in Qatar are follwing :
1. Original license from one of the countries listed below
2. A letter of no objection/permission from your sponsor, written in Arabic
3. A copy of your sponsoring company’s trade license
4. A copy of your sponsor’s ID
5. Passport (original and copies)
6. Three passport photos
7. Qatar ID card 
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA and Vatican City are the countries which driving license valid in Qatar

You also need to fill an application form signed by your sponsor,must be typed in arabic.Translation services are available with a minimum fee at the dept.There will be an eye test to pass at the traffic dept to get the license.The total fee must be paid by credit card includes charge for eye test.If you already have a license from above countries you will get Qatari license normaly in one working day.The Qatar driving license is valid for five years which allow you to drive type of vehicle that mentiond in original license.

Working hours of the Madinat Khalifa Traffic Department is located on Khalifa Street are 7:00am to 11:00am and 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Contact +974 4489 0666.  Fax : 44872494 for enquiries and information.
 
To apply for a new license:
If you have to apply for a new license an application to be made to the Traffic Department of the Ministry of Interior. Contact details Tel: +974 4489 0666,  Fax: +974 4487 2494,     Email: traffic@moi.gov.qa

Requirements needed for applying a fresh driving license
a. Minimum 18 years of age must be eligible for a light driving license or motorcycle license
b. Completed driving license application form which must be typed in Arabic
c. A no-objection letter from the applicant's sponsor which must be written in Arabic
d. A valid passport along with a copy
e. A copy of your sponsor's ID card
f. Three recent, coloured, passport-sized photographs
f. Residence permit

Temporary license.
You will get a temporary Qatar driving license valid for 3 months, which will only permitted to drive rental vehicles,if you have an international license.It can be extended when it expires.You have to submit original driving license from one of the valid countries,Passport and 2 copies and 3 passport size photos to get temporary license and to pay a fee at the dept.
For a new driving license you have to attend at least 15 hours of theory classes and 35 hours of driving lessons from an authorised driving school.
Driving test usually consists of an oral theory test (questions about road signs and traffic regulations) in Arabic or English,Straight parking test,Reverse parking test and Road test.An eye test will be done before theory classes.
Driving tests are normaly carried out in manual transmission cars,a car for 4 people, in one day.A female traffic officer will conduct tests for women applicants.If candidate passes all teste license will issue in same day.If he/she filed for any one of test they will lost their chance.They can apply for next chance after a month time.
Authorised driving schools and their contact numbers:
United Driving Company, Tel: +974 4468 1003,  Gulf Driving School ,Tel: +974 4465 2822,  Al Rayah Driving School, Tel: +974  4487 7774,   Doha Driving Center, Tel: +974 4479 2263.

Departmet of traffic in Qatar has a rule for not to allow labourers to get driving license.They are not barred from joining driving schools to get license for motorcycles.Ban is to avoid traffic on roads and road accidents.Workers on personal sponsorship are allowed to get driving license.Recently foreign workers who are in Qatar on temporary project visas are not issued driving licences.News sys that Qatar are thinking to lift ban on license for expirates.Due do heavy traffic on roads and driving violations an avarage of 100 licenses withdrawn by officials each day.
The traffic dept in Qatar will introduce electronic system in driving schools in very near future to ease up driving test.