Next Sunday, the Qatar Central Bank will hold a press conference to announce the launch of the fifth issuance of the Qatari currency (new version) in circulation, Marsal Qatar said in a tweet on Thursday.

The announcement will coincide with the National Day celebrations, it added.

Until 1966, Qatar used the Indian rupee as its currency, in the form of Gulf rupees. When India devalued the rupee in 1966, Qatar, along with the other states using the Gulf rupee, chose to introduce its own currency.

Quick Facts About Qatar's Currency

• The local money used in Qatar is Riyal. It was first introduced in 1966, being dubbed as the Qatari and Dubai riyal until 1973.

• The currency symbol of the Qatari money is ر.ق.

• The Qatari currency code is QAR.

• The Riyal Notes: Qatar began issuing the Qatari riyal on May 19, 1973, in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 100, and 500 riyals. A 50-riyal note was issued in 1976. A 50-riyal note was issued in 1976.

• The Riyal Coins: 1 Riyal is made up of 100 Dirhams. Qatari Dirham Coins go from 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 dirham.

Currency Modifications 

500-Riyal Note

The blue-grey coloured 500-riyal note from the fourth series shows a falcon’s head and Qatar Royal Palace in Doha.

(The fourth issue added a number of improved security features to the banknotes, such as the see-through foil window on which Qatar’s coat of arms is printed).