QatarAmerican Curriculum
American Curriculum Schools in Qatar
Market Data
At a Glance
~338
International schools in Qatar
Relocate Magazine, citing ISC Research data
Information as of June 2021
~239,000
Students enrolled
National Human Rights Committee of Qatar, citing National Planning Council education statistics
Information as of June 2024
~20%
Local citizens
National Human Rights Committee of Qatar, citing National Planning Council education statistics
Information as of June 2024
School Directory
All American Curriculum Schools in Qatar
- Ages 3–18From $10,047/yr
Where these schools are in Qatar
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Policy Watch
Policy changes in Qatar
Rules that affect cost and eligibility, with the date each was last checked.
- In force
No VAT currently applied to private school tuition fees in Qatar
According to the General Tax Authority's investor guidance, Qatar does not apply VAT nationally, so no VAT charge is added to private school tuition under the currently applied tax system. The same guidance sets income tax at generally 10% of net income generated in Qatar, but this applies to an operator's taxable profit rather than being a fee charged to families. No school-fee-specific tax, levy, or parent exemption is identified in the authority's published guidance. This reflects the current, in-force tax position rather than any pending or proposed change.
Checked August 2026
- In force
Compulsory Arabic, Islamic Studies and Qatar History in private schools
Qatar's Ministry of Education and Higher Education requires private schools, including international and community schools, to teach three compulsory subjects: Arabic and Islamic Studies for Qatari students, and Qatar History for all students regardless of nationality. This requirement, in force under a 2021 policy update building on earlier ministerial decisions, applies across educational systems and curricula operating in the country. A 2024 Ministry guide establishes a formal process for temporary or permanent exceptions where specific conditions are met, confirming the underlying requirement remains active rather than being replaced or suspended.
Checked August 2026
- In force
Qatari students barred from enrolling in private schools other than Arab schools
Article 13 of Qatar's Law No. 7 of 1980 states that the admission of Qatari pupils to private schools other than Arab private schools is prohibited. Qatar's official legal portal currently shows this article as in force. Separately, Ministry materials indicate Qatari students may enrol in nationally accredited private institutions and access an educational voucher, suggesting practical outcomes depend on a school's classification and accreditation. No current public source was found clarifying how this restriction is operationally applied to specific categories of international-curriculum schools today.
In force since July 1980 · Checked August 2026
- In force
Educational voucher for Qatari students at accredited private institutions
Qatar's Ministry of Education and Higher Education operates an educational voucher scheme for Qatari students enrolled in nationally accredited private institutions, published with a value of QAR 28,000 for the 2024–25 academic year. Eligibility requires the guardian to confirm they do not already receive an employer-provided education allowance. This is a subsidy mechanism that reduces the net cost of private schooling for eligible Qatari families, distinct from the general restriction on Qatari enrolment in non-Arab private schools, and is a currently operating Ministry scheme rather than a proposed measure.
In force since September 2024 · Checked August 2026