Authorities in Qatar are investigating after a tiger was spotted wandering through a traffic jam on one of Doha’s busiest roads.

Pictures and video showing the tiger roaming among cars on the Doha Expressway flooded social media in the tiny Gulf country.

Footage showed the big cat running through lanes of heavy traffic, apparently trying to find a way off the congested road.

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Video also emerged showing the tiger initially falling onto the road from a moving truck.

The interior ministry took to Twitter to say it was investigating the incident.

“We assure all that the concerned authorities [are] following up with what has been trending over spotting a tiger in some areas of the country,” it wrote.

Keeping wild animals, including tigers, as pets is not uncommon in Qatar. Photo: ABC

Twitter users said the incident happened on Tuesday morning (AEDT), although this could not be immediately verified.

One picture released on social media claimed to show that the big cat had been captured safe and sound.

It was not clear who owned the tiger, but keeping wild animals, including tigers, as pets is not uncommon in Qatar.

Last year, the government had to make an appeal for the owners of an escaped cheetah cub to come forward after it was found north of Doha.

Watch the video here.

Tiger spotted running through traffic in #Doha #Qatar pic.twitter.com/KUKA77MqyJ

— Shoshana Kedem (@B_shosh) March 8, 2016