The Qatar Central Bank on Sunday launched the fifth edition of the Qatari riyal, unveiling new notes with improved design and security features. While denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 got a makeover, a new 200 denomination currency note has also been introduced. The new notes will come into circulation on December 18, when the country marks its National Day. On December 18, new notes worth QR8 billion will be in circulation. By the end of this year, new notes worth QR16 billion will be in circulation. And by the end of January 2021 up to QR25 billion new notes will be in circulation. People will have three months of time to change their old notes from any bank in Qatar. After that the old notes can be changed from QCB.
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. 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.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.The blue-grey coloured QR500 bill from the fourth series shows a falcon’s head and Qatar Royal Palace in Doha. The 4th 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.