The transformation of Qatar’s education system demonstrates what ambitious national planning, coupled with high levels of public investment, can achieve. The number of Qataris pursuing higher education is steadily increasing. Meanwhile, gender parity is high, as shown in both literacy and school attendance, as well as in strong female participation in maths, science, and engineering (STEM) subjects. Strong public investment in school infrastructure, teacher training and digital tools, together with a greater openness to private sector participation, is helping to close the skills gap for graduates in the workplace.
Structure & Oversight
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) is tasked with overseeing and regulating the education sector, including K-12 public and private schools and higher education. The ministry manages several areas of the education sector, including the licensing of private schools; the creation of scholarships for Qatari students; the recruitment, training and licensing of public school teachers; and the setting of the curriculum for maths, science, English, Arabic, and Islamic studies for all public K-12 schools. The MEHE began investing in the transformation of the country’s education sector in the early 2000s with the introduction of the Education for a New Era reform, a developmental framework that encouraged greater competition among schools.
The education sector is shaped around the MEHE Strategy 2024-30, developed using the aims outlined in the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030 national development strategy. QNV 2030 focuses on equipping a new generation of graduates with 21st-century transferable skills that fit the demands of the job market. This supports broader aims of economic diversification beyond oil and gas by developing several key sectors.
The Third Qatar National Development Strategy 2024-30 aims to increase the percentage of skilled workers to 46%, and to employ over 20% of the Qatari workforce in the private and public-private sectors. This reflects the government’s ambition to shift away from reliance on an expatriate workforce, which grew from 316,000 in 1995 to approximately 2m by 2023, and to reduce the skills gap between Qataris and foreign workers through a policy of Qatarisation.
The government allocated QR47.2bn ($13bn) for combined health and education spending in the 2026 government budget. Of this, QR21.8bn ($6bn) was allocated to education — up from QR19.4bn ($5.3bn) in 2025 — and QR25.4bn ($7bn) to health, up from QR22bn ($6bn) in 2025, reflecting the government’s aim to accelerate the transformation of the education sector in the final phase of QNV 2030 implementation.
Sector Breakdown
Qatar’s education market is heavily concentrated in and around the capital of Doha, where the majority of Qatar’s population – 3.1m as of 2025, as per World Bank estimates – resides. Doha has a large concentration of private and international schools, as well as eight universities. The neighbouring districts of Al Rayyan and Al Daayan/Lusail are considered growth corridors, where greater access to land has enabled the development of planned community infrastructure to support new campuses.
Qatar’s education system has expanded and diversified rapidly in recent years, as new education policies have been implemented in line with QNV 2030. According to the MEHE’s most recent figures, year unconfirmed, there are around 208 public schools serving more than 196,000 students and more than 310 private schools with around 200,000 students.
School attendance is compulsory from ages six to 18. Kindergarten One and Two are available for children aged three to six years; primary from ages six to 12 years; preparatory from 12 to 15 years; and secondary school from ages 15 to 18 years.
There are several types of schools in Qatar’s education system, with public and independent schools being run by the MEHE and following the national curriculum; international schools applying an international curriculum; community schools using a curriculum reflecting each school’s national community; and private schools, which are partially run by the MEHE and follow parts of the national curriculum.
Arabic is the official language of instruction in schools. However, due to the large number of expatriates residing in the country, the language can vary by school type. Independent and private schools teach in Arabic, while international schools use English and a variety of languages are offered at community schools.
Enrolment has risen in line with greater investment in the school system and successful education reform. Gross secondary school enrolment stood at 105% in 2022, while tertiary enrolment increased from around 31% in 2021 to 35%. While higher education enrolment remains below the global average, it is climbing steadily, supported by the opening of several new universities offering a wide array of degree options, such as Doha and Education City campus institutions. As of the most recently available World Bank data, Qatar has an adult literacy rate of approximately 98% among those aged 15 and above, placing it among the top global performers.
In the OECD’s PISA 2022 Assessment and Analytical Framework, 15-year-olds in the Qatari education system scored 414 points in mathematics, compared with a global average of 472 points. It received an average of 419 points in reading, compared to the global average of 476 points and 432 points in science, compared to the average of 485 points. Qatar’s 2022 mathematics scores were similar to those in 2018. However, it improved in reading and science, reflecting better learning outcomes following recent education reforms.
Nevertheless, students in Qatar achieved lower proficiency in maths than the OECD average, with 44% reaching level 2 proficiency compared to 69% at the OECD average. Meanwhile, 36% of students were in the top international quintile of the socio-economic scale, meaning that they were among the most advantaged students who took the PISA test in 2022, and which was published in 2025. As of the PISA 2022 assessment, girls outperformed boys in mathematics by eight score points and in reading by 40 score points in Qatar.
According to the Qatar Foundation (QF) “30 Years of Impact” report, released in 2025, the government-led non-profit sector has been a key driver of education in Qatar, with over 7500 graduates from its six International Baccalaureate schools, three specialised schools and three special education needs schools. Of its STEM graduates, 49% were women, and 41% of those were Qatari women, demonstrating high gender parity.
Private Sector Education
The private school sector in Qatar has grown rapidly in recent years, as the government demonstrates greater openness to private sector participation in education, in line with the aims outlined in QNV 2030. The passing of a law regulating public-private partnerships in 2020 has encouraged more international education providers to enter the market. This has helped the MEHE respond to the rapid growth in demand for education in recent years.
In the Gulf region, Qatar and the UAE have the highest percentage of private schools. In addition to receiving private funding from student tuition fees and grants from private donors, many of the country’s private schools receive government funding in the form of vouchers, which supports the enrolment of both high-achieving Qatari students on scholarships and students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
In 2025 private schools had an average cost of $7340 at the primary level, $7940 at the middle school level and $9290 at the secondary level. Tuition fees vary depending on the type of school. For example, international schools typically charge higher fees than Arabic and community private schools. Over 200,000 students attend Qatar’s more than 310 private schools, up from fewer than 100 in the 1990s. The rapid increase in the expatriate student population largely drove this expansion. Around 40.2% of Qatari students and 72% of non-Qataris attended private schools in 2022. Between 2012 and 2022 the private school population rose by roughly 91%, compared with a 39% increase in students attending government schools. This figure was higher for international students (87%) than for Qataris (37%).
The Law of 2015 for Regulating Private Schools has shaped the development of private sector education, which the MEHE oversees. The MEHE regulates tuition fees, student registration, teacher recruitment and curriculum quality in private schools.
The Qatar private K-12 education market is expected to grow from $2.9bn in 2025 to $3.2bn in 2026. It is further forecast to reach $5.3bn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 10.3% between 2026 and 2031, according to a 2026 projection.
Staff
Over the decade to 2026 the quality of teaching in Qatar’s schools has improved significantly as the MEHE has implemented more stringent professional standards and strengthened the teacher licensing system. Teaching approaches have shifted to become more student-centred, with teachers using diverse ICT in the classroom and focusing on using global educational trends to shape teaching methods. In 2025 the MEHE also introduced a teacher competency assessment for teachers at private schools in Arabic, Islamic studies and Qatari history, aimed at ensuring that the curricula for these subjects are delivered according to clear and consistent standards.
During the 2025 annual Teachers’ Day ceremony at the MEHE headquarters in Doha, Qatari Education Minister Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, stressed the importance of continuous teacher training, noting that over 20,000 teachers had benefited from development programmes over the previous academic year. These included the Innovation Leaders’ programme, which fosters creative teaching methods, and the Successful Start initiative, which supports new teachers during their first year in the classroom.
Al Khater acknowledged the ongoing challenges for educators and said that the MEHE had established a specialised committee to study the reality of teachers’ work environment, identify the challenges they face and propose practical solutions to ease administrative burdens and strengthen support systems.
Cross-Sector Coordination
The MEHE is also working with other government entities such as the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to strengthen cross-sector participation. The MoPH partnered with Generation Amazing in 2025 to deliver two teacher training workshops to support the Healthy Cities: Sports for Health and Development Programme, which promotes health, well-being and inclusion through sports. Over 40 teachers from 15 schools across Qatar were equipped with the tools to deliver a sports-based health curriculum to students aged eight to 12 years.
Furthermore, the government is using a range of incentives to encourage more Qataris to enter the field of teaching. The Tamouh Scholarship, launched in 2018, supports secondary school graduates in entering the teaching profession. The initiative had produced over 1650 graduates at the time of writing, with 1100 students enrolled in the programme in 2025.
The College of General Education at the University of Doha for Science and Technology has transformed its education degrees to align with the objectives outlined in QNV 2030 and national education strategies, focusing on workforce development goals. Education degrees now emphasise the importance of STEM subjects and technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Students are also taught experimental learning techniques, to think critically and communicate effectively, and to develop skills in personal and social responsibility. Qatar’s ambitious education policies will equip graduates with the skills and knowledge required to implement national policies effectively.
Universities & Higher Education
Qatar has 33 public and private universities, with over 41,000 students registered during the 2020-21 academic year. The Supreme Education Council and the MEHE oversee and regulate higher education in Qatar. The MEHE also awards and administers scholarships to talented or low-income Qatari students seeking to pursue higher education. In line with QNV 2030 development aims, the authorities aim to increase enrolment rates in post-secondary education and grow the number of students graduating from STEM and IT courses to meet the demands of the job market.
The National Committee for Qualifications and Academic Accreditation in Qatar, established in 2022, oversees the National Qualifications Framework and accredits higher education programmes to ensure quality and alignment with state policies. Universities are increasingly offering a broader range of degree choices, particularly at the undergraduate level. These include studies in humanities, medicine, science, engineering, education and Islamic studies. However, there remain fewer options at the postgraduate level, with limited opportunities for professional development.
Qatar is rapidly solidifying its reputation as a regional centre for higher education, with an increasing number of private actors entering the market. As such, eight branches of internationally recognised universities have opened in Qatar’s Education City, which serves as the central headquarters for QF, and Doha is continuing to attract students from all over the world, particularly from GCC member states. Qatar University is the largest higher education institution in the Gulf region; it is ranked among the top 200 universities globally and, in 2025, ranked in the top three in the GCC.
According to a 2022 Qatar University study, of 983 students surveyed, 45% of Qatari students and 65% of expatriate students intended to continue to higher education. While the Qatari students surveyed showed a strong interest in military careers, engineering and medicine, expatriate students leaned towards medicine, engineering and diplomacy. The study showed that more Qatari students are also opting to study abroad, with an increasing number of partnerships between Qatar’s universities and international institutions.
More Qatari universities are developing strategic partnerships with public and private sector institutions to support skills development. In early 2026 Lusail University and the Qatar Aeronautical Academy signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their academic partnerships, training and integrated educational pathways, aligning with labour market needs.
Professional & Vocational Training
As part of its plan to develop a knowledge-based economy, the government is focusing on expanding the TVET sector across all levels of education to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to meet the demands of the job market. TVET at the tertiary level is increasingly aimed at students who are less interested in pursuing academic degrees to offer an alternative path of study. The MEHE governs Qatar’s TVET sector and sets the curricula. In 2018 the MEHE established a TVET Committee to develop and implement a formal TVET policy.
In terms of financing, the MEHE funds public vocational secondary schools and post-secondary TVET institutions. Meanwhile, TVET programmes under other ministries and entities, such as the Civil Aviation Authority (Qatar Aeronautical Academy) and the Ministry of the Interior (Police Institute and Police College), are financed by their respective ministries. Additionally, prospective employers frequently sponsor students attending private TVET institutions.
The College of North Atlantic Qatar, a partnership between the government of Qatar, the College of the North Atlantic in Canada and the Community College of Qatar (CCQ), is one of the leading TVET tertiary institutions. As of mid-2026, over 8800 students were enrolled in the CCQ, and it had produced more than 4900 graduates with a 50% employability rate.
Despite the government’s efforts to encourage greater engagement with TVET, enrolment in the sector remains somewhat low. In its 2022 education student survey, Qatar University found that 4% of Qatari students surveyed planned to attend diploma or vocational colleges, compared to just 1% of non-Qatari students, out of a total of 983 participants.
Several challenges persist in advancing Qatar’s TVET sector, which is often viewed as a second-choice option. Traditional TVET careers are often considered to be poorly remunerated, making them less attractive to students. In addition, TVET graduates often lack the same career advancement opportunities as their counterparts at academic universities.
Technology
A digital transformation is underway in Qatar, as the government strives to develop the country’s education sector in line with international standards and best practices, incorporating a diverse range of technologies into classrooms. In the QF’s 2023 Year in Review, the organisation found an increasing number of technology-focused labs and artificial intelligence literacy programmes for K-12.
Education technology (edtech) took off during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the MEHE developed a bank of online learning materials. In the years since students returned to school, interactive display equipment has been rolled out across all public schools to enhance learning. To that end, in 2023 the MEHE launched its National E-Learning Strategy, which was developed in line QNV 2030’s goals. The ministry’s E-Learning and Digital Solutions Department is tasked with creating plans and policies to implement digital solutions in public schools. In addition, it supervises the development of digital education content and interactive books.
The 2022 launch of the Qatar Education System for grades three to 12 has enhanced communication among teachers, students, parents, school administrations and educational supervisors. It provides modern approaches to teaching, learning, collaboration and assessment; and supports adaptive learning. Teachers are encouraged to pursue continuous training in new technologies and learning methods to align their skills to international standards. The MEHE has launched several initiatives to enhance digital skills training. For example, teachers can earn certification as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert through Qatar Education System – Level One, a programme begun in May 2023.
A 2025 edtech report from the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar stated, “Qatar is home to prominent national champions, institutions and multinational firms, fostering innovation and driving EdTech development.” This reflects an increasing openness to private sector involvement, driving innovation. The report emphasised the success of the Ministry of Communications and IT’s launch of the Qatar Digital Academy to enhance competencies across the government in ICT. The academy has developed courses in fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and project management. It also stated the importance of the Qatar Science and Technology Park in establishing Qatar as a destination for research and development in the GCC.
Outlook
Since the introduction of QNV 2030, Qatar’s education sector has undergone a significant transformation, driven by high levels of public funding and greater openness to private sector participation. Investments in teacher training, infrastructure and edtech have enhanced learning in schools across Qatar. At the same time, an overhaul of the national curricula has helped to close the skills gap for graduates in the workplace. In the future, a continued focus on student skills development and digital literacy, aligned with market needs, will help produce future generations of highly skilled individuals to drive a knowledge-based economy.
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