Arab Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

What ARABQAQA means for a payment to Arab Bank PLC

ARABQAQA and ARABQAQAXXX are two ways of writing the same bank identifier, and both point to Arab Bank PLC in Doha. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain exactly which bank is meant to get the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. It comes up mainly for payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

We wrote this page to help anyone who receives money at an account at Arab Bank PLC and wants to get the details right. The SWIFT code alone does not identify an individual account holder; that is what the IBAN or account number is for.

How long does an international transfer to Arab Bank PLC take?

There is no single answer for every transfer: many land the same day or the next while others need several business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Sometimes a bank asks about the purpose of a payment before releasing it.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi. Each payment carries a unique reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Save your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it for any trace request.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid should start with the bank that sent it. On the receiving end, it helps to look at your statements to see a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

International transfers from Arab Bank PLC: the real cost

A bank transfer abroad costs rather more than the listed fee. On top of the transfer fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can take a cut, and if the money changes currency, the bank usually applies a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest cost even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider is cheaper than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the rate. Before your next transfer, it is worth comparing what arrives via GoldexPay rather than accepting the bank’s rate by default. You can still keep your account at Arab Bank PLC to fund the transfer; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Getting paid from abroad into a Arab Bank PLC account

If you are waiting for money from abroad, send the payer all details at once. That means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the BIC ARABQAQAXXX (or ARABQAQA) and sometimes your address.

It helps to include the bank name and Doha as well, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A typo in the IBAN is harder to fix than it looks.

An incoming payment will not always land in full. Correspondent banks can take a fee, Arab Bank PLC may charge for incoming payments, and if the currency changes, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes on this page come from publicly available data which we refresh regularly. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. The figures we show are based on our own data.

Before any payment that matters, always confirm the code with the recipient’s bank or the recipient. GoldexPay has no connection to Arab Bank PLC. If you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a short note via the contact page.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Arab Bank PLC

The best place to find the right code is a document from the bank itself. Compare that code against ARABQAQA on this page and ask if anything does not match.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may get stuck, be returned or end up costing more – sometimes after weeks of searching. Remember the account number: a mistake there is harder to correct than a wrong BIC.

Many banking apps validate the format of IBANs – that confirms the format, not the owner. If your bank offers it, a name check on the recipient adds an extra layer of safety. When you pay someone new, many people start with a small test amount.

Head office or branch code at Arab Bank PLC?

We have 7 SWIFT/BIC codes for Arab Bank PLC in 1 cities. Besides the head office code ARABQAQAXXX, there are codes for individual branches and departments.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, use ARABQAQAXXX or its short form ARABQAQA. Just use a branch code when the recipient gives you that exact code, for example on a letter or invoice.

If you are not sure, ask the person you are paying for the exact BIC in their bank details. Codes are sometimes changed or retired over time, so do not rely on old paperwork.

What the XXX in ARABQAQAXXX means

Each SWIFT/BIC code starts with an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, two letters for the country and two characters for the location. In this case, that core is ARABQAQA.

The full version adds a three-character extension that identify a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, the code points to the head office, so ARABQAQAXXX and ARABQAQA are interchangeable.

Leave out spaces, dots when you type ARABQAQA; the code is always written in one block. Pasting the code is safer than typing it by hand, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

A common scam works like this: an email arrives with a message claiming that a supplier now has new bank details and that the next payment should go there. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Check changed bank details via a separate channel, never via the email that asked for the change. Urgency or secrecy are warning signs. When a payment has already gone to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately.

Fraud also work the other way. Someone sends too much and asks you to refund the difference. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.