Al Jazeera Exchange
Al Jazeera Exchange is a Central Bank of Qatar-licensed money exchange and remittance company operating 19+ branches across Qatar, serving primarily expatriate workers sending remittances to South/Southeast Asia and the Middle East via partner correspondent banks and a mobile app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersDoha, Qatar
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Al Jazeera Exchange does
Al Jazeera Exchange is a Qatari Private Shareholding Company licensed by the Central Bank of Qatar to operate foreign currency exchange and remittance services. Founded on 15 November 2003 and commencing commercial operations on 17 January 2004, the company is owned by nine Qatari partners from established family conglomerates and is headquartered in Doha. It operates 19+ branches across Qatar — including locations in Asian Town, Industrial Area/Sanaya, Al Wakrah, and Ras Laffan — chosen to maximize proximity to expatriate worker populations and industrial labor camps.
The company's core products are foreign currency exchange across 16+ currencies (NPR, PKR, INR, LKR, PHP, BDT, AUD, CHF, EUR, SAR, OMR, GBP, USD, SGD, EGP, CAD) and international money remittance to South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern corridors. The technical platform consists of a web-based currency converter and a mobile application for iOS and Android with biometric login, real-time rate display, and beneficiary management. The company does not expose a public API. Remittance fulfillment is delivered through correspondent banking partnerships with 20+ regional banks and integrations with Western Union, Transfast, EzRemit, IME Nepal, Instant Cash, TerraPay, Prabhu Money Transfer, Xpress Money, MMRemit, and Ria.
The revenue model is transaction-fee based, with two streams: (1) FX spread on currency buy/sell, and (2) per-transaction remittance fees disclosed at the counter. The primary customer segment is individual expatriate workers in Qatar sending remittances to Nepal, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan; secondary segments are business/corporate customers requiring bulk FX and individual consumers/travelers. Go-to-market is branch-first with social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and the website as supporting channels. Three upcoming product lines — Travel Card, Gold Bar, and Coins — signal intent to diversify into adjacent retail financial and precious-metals verticals.
Al Jazeera Exchange firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Al Jazeera Exchange
- Legal name
- Al Jazeera Exchange
- Website
- https://aljazeeraexchangeqatar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Al Jazeera Exchange is a Central Bank of Qatar-licensed money exchange and remittance company operating 19+ branches across Qatar, serving primarily expatriate workers sending remittances to South/Southeast Asia and the Middle East via partner correspondent banks and a mobile app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Al Jazeera Exchange industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Money Exchange and Remittance Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer Remittances (P2P) (FSAMAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Remittances & Retail FX (Consumer Cross-Border) (FSABAAAK), Multi-Currency Accounts, Wallets & IBAN Services (FSAMAIAG)
Keywords
Where Al Jazeera Exchange is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Doha
- HQ country
- Qatar
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices21 records
Markets served
Al Jazeera Exchange business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Foreign Currency Exchange: Revenue generated from buying and selling foreign currencies at spread rates. The company offers exchange rates for multiple currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, and various Asian and Middle Eastern currencies. Rates include both buy (Fx Buy) and sell (Fx Sell) prices with a spread.
- International Money Remittance: Fees charged for transferring money to various countries including Nepal, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bangladesh, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Transaction fees vary by destination and transfer method.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Dynamic Exchange Rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Al Jazeera Exchange product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Al Jazeera Exchange operates a money exchange and international remittance business in Qatar, buying and selling foreign currencies across 16+ global denominations and transferring funds to South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern corridors through branches and a mobile app. The company is licensed by the Central Bank of Qatar and earns revenue from currency exchange spreads and remittance transaction fees.
Product overview
Al Jazeera Exchange offers a unified money exchange and remittance platform providing currency exchange services and international money transfers. The core offering consists of the Al Jazeera Exchange Mobile App (available on iOS and Android) for sending money globally, currency exchange across multiple currencies, and remittance services through partnerships with Western Union, Transfast, and other providers. The company operates 19 branches across Qatar. Upcoming services include Travel Cards, Gold Bars, and Coins. The ecosystem is anchored by the mobile app serving as the primary digital interface for customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Al Jazeera Exchange Mobile App Mobile application available on iOS App Store and Google Play that lets individual customers in Qatar send international money transfers, view live exchange rates, manage beneficiaries, and authenticate via biometric login.
- Currency Exchange Services Buying and selling of 16+ foreign currencies (including USD, EUR, GBP, NPR, PKR, INR, LKR, PHP, BDT, AUD, CHF, SAR, OMR, SGD, EGP, CAD) at competitive spreads across Al Jazeera Exchange branches in Qatar.
- International Money Transfer / Remittance International remittance service enabling customers to send money to Nepal, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bangladesh, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia through branches, the mobile app, and partnerships with Western Union, Transfast, EzRemit, IME Nepal, TerraPay, Prabhu Money Transfer, Xpress Money, MMRemit, Ria Money Transfer, and others.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99% support reliability
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Al Jazeera Exchange
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Al Jazeera Exchange technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature3 records
Al Jazeera Exchange partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
36 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Western UnioncoreGlobal money transfer partnership allowing customers to send and receive international remittances through Western Union's worldwide network.
- TransfastcoreRemittance service provider partnership for international money transfers to various countries.
- EzRemitcoreOnline remittance service provider partnership for international money transfers.
- IME NepalcoreRemittance service provider specializing in transfers to Nepal.
- Instant CashcoreInstant cash transfer service provider partnership for immediate cash payouts.
- TerraPaycoreDigital payment infrastructure provider for cross-border transactions.
- Shift Financial ServicescoreFinancial services technology provider for money transfer solutions.
- Prabhu Money TransfercoreMoney transfer service provider partnership, particularly for Nepal and South Asian corridors.
- Xpress MoneycoreGlobal money transfer service partnership for international remittances.
- MMRemitcoreMobile money remittance service provider partnership.
- Ria Money TransfercoreInternational money transfer services partnership.
- Al Ansari ExchangeminorRegional exchange partner for regional money transfer services.
- Bank Al BiladminorCorrespondent banking partner in Saudi Arabia for remittance transfers.
- CBQ (Commercial Bank Qatar)minorCorrespondent banking partner in Qatar.
- Habib BankminorCorrespondent banking partner for Pakistan corridor remittances.
- ICICI BankminorCorrespondent banking partner for India corridor remittances.
- Federal BankminorCorrespondent banking partner for India transfers.
- UBL PakistanminorCorrespondent banking partner for Pakistan transfers.
- United Commercial BankminorCorrespondent banking partner.
- United Bank EgyptminorCorrespondent banking partner for Egypt transfers.
- Banque MisrminorCorrespondent banking partner for Egypt transfers.
- Banque du CaireminorCorrespondent banking partner for Egypt transfers.
- Sampath BankminorCorrespondent banking partner for Sri Lanka transfers.
- DFCC BankminorCorrespondent banking partner for Sri Lanka transfers.
- Islami Bank Bangladesh LtdminorCorrespondent banking partner for Bangladesh transfers.
- Meghna BankminorCorrespondent banking partner for Bangladesh transfers.
- Himalayan Bank LtdminorCorrespondent banking partner for Nepal transfers.
- Philippine National BankminorCorrespondent banking partner for Philippines transfers.
- BPIminorCorrespondent banking partner for Philippines transfers.
- iRemit Global RemittanceminorRemittance service provider partnership.
- Remit Exchange Co.minorRemittance exchange service partnership.
- Zamzam ExchangeminorExchange service partner for regional transfers.
- Al Awneh ExchangeminorRegional exchange partner.
- Al Morisi for Exchange Co.minorRegional exchange partner.
- Banco de OrominorCorrespondent banking partner for Philippines transfers.
- Bank of CeylonminorCorrespondent banking partner for Sri Lanka transfers. Announced welcome partnership on website.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Al Jazeera Exchange competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Western Union: Global cross-border money transfer giant and core remittance partner of Al Jazeera. Both competes (via direct digital channels) and enables (as an upstream partner) the company's remittance offering.
- MoneyGram: Global remittance network operator offering consumer-to-consumer transfers across the same South Asian and Filipino corridors served by Al Jazeera. Provides both partnership-level and direct digital competition.
- Doha Bank: Qatar-licensed commercial bank offering FX, remittance, and correspondent banking services as part of a full banking suite. Already a correspondent banking partner of Al Jazeera, but also a broader incumbent offering competing remittance products to retail customers.
- Qatar National Bank (QNB): Largest bank in the Middle East and Africa, offering comprehensive FX and remittance services as part of its retail banking franchise. Represents scale competition from a heavily regulated, systemically important incumbent.
Emerging players
- Remitly: Mobile-first international remittance service focused on migrant worker corridors (including Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) that overlaps directly with Al Jazeera's primary customer segment. Represents the digital-native competitive threat.
- Wise (TransferWise): Digital-first remittance and multi-currency account provider offering lower-fee, transparent cross-border transfers. Represents the structural digital disruption threat to branch-based exchange operators like Al Jazeera.
Direct peers
- Al Ansari Exchange: UAE-headquartered money exchange and remittance company with extensive branch network and global remittance partnerships. Most directly comparable peer — same business model (FX + remittance), similar GCC expatriate corridor focus, and already listed as a partnership counterparty for Al Jazeera.
- Arabian Exchange Co. Regional GCC money exchange and remittance operator with similar branch-based FX and remittance services. Comparable in scale and product mix, focused on Gulf expatriate corridors.
- Wall Street Exchange Center: Qatar-based money exchange and remittance company licensed by the Central Bank of Qatar. Direct domestic competitor with overlapping branch network in Doha and similar expatriate-worker customer base.
- UAE Exchange (Finablr): One of the largest money exchange and remittance operators in the GCC before being part of the Finablr group. Direct competitor in expatriate remittance corridors with similar multi-corridor, multi-partner remittance model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Al Jazeera Exchange social profiles
Digital presenceAl Jazeera Exchange financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Al Jazeera Exchange leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Al Jazeera Exchange funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Al Jazeera Exchange M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Al Jazeera Exchange
What does Al Jazeera Exchange do?
Al Jazeera Exchange operates a money exchange and international remittance business in Qatar, buying and selling foreign currencies across 16+ global denominations and transferring funds to South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern corridors through branches and a mobile app. The company is licensed by the Central Bank of Qatar and earns revenue from currency exchange spreads and remittance transaction fees.
Is Al Jazeera Exchange a public or private company?
Al Jazeera Exchange is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Al Jazeera Exchange founded?
Al Jazeera Exchange was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Al Jazeera Exchange based?
Al Jazeera Exchange is headquartered in Doha, Qatar, in the Middle East region.
How does Al Jazeera Exchange make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Foreign Currency Exchange is the primary driver. The others are international Money Remittance.
Who are Al Jazeera Exchange's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Western Union, MoneyGram, Doha Bank and Qatar National Bank (QNB). Emerging players are Remitly and Wise (TransferWise). Direct peers are Al Ansari Exchange, Arabian Exchange Co., Wall Street Exchange Center and UAE Exchange (Finablr).
Does Al Jazeera Exchange have an API?
No public API is recorded for Al Jazeera Exchange.
What industry is Al Jazeera Exchange in?
Al Jazeera Exchange's product category is Money Exchange and Remittance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMAIAA, Consumer Remittances (P2P), with a secondary code of FSABAAAK, Remittances & Retail FX (Consumer Cross-Border).