Doha Bank SWIFT/BIC code

DOHBAEAD – the SWIFT/BIC code of Doha Bank

The 8-character code DOHBAEAD and the full code DOHBAEADXXX identify one and the same institution: Doha Bank in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a payment which institution should receive the money. You will need it mostly when dealing with transfers between countries.

On this page we explain how the code is put together, when you need it and what else you need for a transfer to or from Doha Bank. Remember that the BIC only identifies the bank, not the account: the account number or IBAN does that part.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Doha Bank

There is no single delivery time for international payments: many arrive the same day or the next, others take several business days. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country add extra days, since banks do not process on those days. Occasionally a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi. Every payment carries a unique reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often provide a status online so you can see where the money is.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the sender needs to start with their own bank. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation.

Head office or branch code at Doha Bank?

Doha Bank has 2 separate SWIFT/BIC codes. Only one is the head office code; the rest belong to branches or departments, and sometimes specific services.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code DOHBAEADXXX works fine. Only use a branch code when the recipient explicitly asks for it, for example on a letter or invoice.

Not sure which code applies? Check with the recipient. Codes are sometimes changed or retired when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Paying into Doha Bank in AED

The local currency in United Arab Emirates is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED). Money sent in a different currency is converted into AED before it reaches the account. There is rarely a separate line for the conversion.

Who converts the payment makes a difference. In many cases it is cheaper if you send AED directly via a transfer service with a good rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert.

The rate for AED fluctuates constantly, so the amount you see is usually only valid for a short time. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Sending money abroad from Doha Bank

What you pay for an international transfer has more than one component. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may take a cut, and when the money changes currency, the bank usually uses a rate below the actual market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: the bank converts using an exchange rate with a margin built in. An easy check: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many routes, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares these services side by side, showing the amount the recipient gets for the same amount sent. You can always keep your account at Doha Bank to fund the transfer, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

8 or 11 characters: DOHBAEAD versus DOHBAEADXXX

Every SWIFT/BIC code starts with the same eight core characters: a four-letter bank code, two letters for the country and a two-character location code. For Doha Bank, the 8-character core is DOHBAEAD.

Many banks and apps accept either length. If yours requires eleven characters, enter DOHBAEADXXX; if it wants eight, use DOHBAEAD.

Do not add spaces or dashes when you enter DOHBAEAD or DOHBAEADXXX. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 and I versus 1.

Before you send: check the Doha Bank code

Have the recipient send you the account details directly from their online banking. Compare it with DOHBAEAD here.

Mistakes in the BIC are annoying more than disastrous. A mistake in the account number can be a bigger problem because it can reach the wrong person; check it just as carefully.

An automatic check by your bank merely confirms that the code exists. Some banks now compare the payee name with the account before you confirm; take any warning seriously. Sending a small amount first is worth it for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

Incoming international payments to Doha Bank

When you are waiting for a payment from another country, give the sender everything they need in one go. The basics are: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, DOHBAEADXXX and in many cases your postal address.

Certain banks want the address of Doha Bank in Dubai, so keep it at hand. Check every detail before you send them.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, an exchange rate margin comes on top. On invoices, it is common to agree who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

Watch out for payment fraud

Scammers regularly send fake invoices containing changed bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. That DOHBAEAD is a real code does not mean that the account is genuine.

Check changed bank details through a different channel, never via the email that asked for the change. Be suspicious of time pressure, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. Already paid? Call your bank straight away and ask them to try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: one known trick is an overpayment followed by a request to send back the difference. A payment confirmation from the sender proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.

How up to date is this code?

This directory draws on publicly available sources. It can happen that a code here is out of date, for example after a merger. Counts and locations are from our directory.

Treat this page as a reference, not as the final word. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers and not affiliated with Doha Bank. If you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a message.