Top International schools in Qatar

Qatar’s education system is highly accessible to all, with options for public and private schools. While locals prefer public schools, most expatriate families opt for private schools to overcome the language barrier and introduce their children to other cultures. International schools are definitely high on everyone’s priority list as expats vie for world-class education in a competitive environment for their kids.

International schools in Qatar cater to a range of audiences with varying budgets, offering American and British curricula. Getting your children admission to such private schools requires you to plan ahead and send in early applications to get in. We’ve curated a list of top international schools in Qatar for you to give you an informative breakdown of the curriculum, fee structure, location, and other factors too.

Here are some of the most popular international schools in Qatar.

ACS International School

Part of the ACS International Schools Group with three sister schools in Greater London, ACS International School Doha is a premier institute with a landmark campus in Qatar. The school offers an international curriculum focusing on both IB (International Baccalaureate) and AP (Advanced Placement) programs. ACS is the first school in Qatar to offer all four IB programs from ages 3-18. AP programs are offered to students of age 16-18.

The school also has advanced sport facilities and encourages quite a few after-school sports activities for students. The student base is diverse and inclusive, with more than 70 nationalities finding representation here. Download their brochure here for more information.

Annual Fees: QAR 51,300 – QAR 80,400 approx. (depending on schooling levels)

Campus tours: Open days – Wednesday, March 15 and Tuesday, May 9

Personal tours of campus are also available.

Location: Al Kheesa

Contact: 4474 9000 (main switchboard) | 3026 6800 (admissions) | doha-admissions@acs-schools.com

Arab International Academy

Fairly recent in the list of international schools, Arab International Academy (AIA) was founded in 2016 and has swiftly become a preferred school of choice for international schooling in Qatar. The school offers IB Diploma Program, Middle Years Program, and Primary Years Program. AIA also focuses on holistic development of students through co-curricular activities including ballet, reading clubs, martial arts, Qur’an reading, science, and sports activities. They also focus on providing students with community service opportunities to instill a sense of civic duty in them.

Annual fees: QAR 35,000 – QAR 55,000 approx. (depending on the grade level)

Campus tours: Available but advance booking required

Location: Al Sadd

Contact: 4041 4999 | info@aia.qa 

The Hamilton International School

The Hamilton International School is a part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP) and adopts a very student-centric strategy for education. They follow the American curriculum and offer an American-accredited high school diploma. The curriculum includes Hamilton Early Years Thematic curriculum (kindergarten), International Primary Curriculum (primary school), and an international curriculum for middle and high school.

The school also has state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities including a theater big enough to host an orchestra, two swimming pools, and a professional standard football pitch. Hamilton International School’s list of extra-curricular activities includes an impressive range of activities including parkour, 3D modeling, martial arts, lego, robotics, and many other sports.

Annual fees: QAR 55,000 – QAR 75,000 approx. (depending on grade level)

Campus tours: Available. Contact 3329 6569 for more info.

Location: Mesaimeer

Contact: 4492 4343 | admissions@this.qa

Sherborne Schools

Sherborne Schools in Qatar comprise four schools including Sherborne Junior School, Sherborne Preparatory School, Sherborne Senior School, and Sherborne School for Girls. The school group follows a British curriculum and encourages their students to study, innovate, ideate, communicate, and learn in a competitive House system. The Senior School offers I/GCSE, AS and A level qualifications.

The school students are also part of several extra-curricular activities and sports. Their well-maintained infrastructure facilities include a 250-seat theater, science labs, design & technology rooms, library, 100 mtr running track, football pitch and a 25 meter swimming pool.

Annual fees: QAR 35,000 – QAR 59,000 approx. (depending on chosen school and grade level)

Campus tours: Available

Location: Ar-Rayyan (Sherborne Preparatory School), Al Kheesa (Girls School), Ar-Rayyan near Mall of Qatar (Senior School) Ar-Rayyan (Junior School)

Contact: office@sherborneqatar.org

Compass International Schools

Compass International Schools are a part of the Nord Anglia family of international schools. The schools' emphasis is on providing a personalized experience to each student so they can receive the best education and opportunities tailored to their journey. The curriculum is British and international, with Compass having been recognized as the first school in the Middle East to get accreditation for International Primary Curriculum. They even offer high school students the option of choosing between IB Diploma Program or A-levels.

Compass International Schools’ infrastructure facilities are top-notch and boast of advanced STEM-learning labs, ICT suites, music rooms, instrument rooms, a 25-meter swimming pool, fitness studios, and primary & secondary libraries.

Annual fees: QAR 63,000 to QAR 68,000 approx. (depending on grade level)

Campus tours: Available

Location: Madinat Khalifa Campus, Gharaffa Campus, Themaid Campus

Contact:

Gharaffa – 4034 9666 | Madinat Khalifa – 4034 9888 | Themaid – 4034 6800

Qatar Academy schools

Qatar Academy schools come under the umbrella of Qatar Foundation and are focused on being pioneers of a rich educational system. The schools promote an international bilingual education while respecting Qatar’s local culture and heritage. Currently, there are five campuses of Qatar Academy schools in Qatar: Qatar Academy Doha (QAD), Qatar Academy Al Khor, Qatar Academy Al Wakra, Qatar Academy Msheireb, and Qatar Academy Sidra. QAD has been accredited for International Baccalaureate (IB) and is also recognized by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Council of International Schools.

Qatar Academy also offers specialized programs of learning under eight different schemes. Awsaj Academy ( for kids with mild to moderate learning needs); Academic Bridge Program (premier pre-university program for secondary school graduates); Qatar Leadership Academy; Qatar Music Academy (comprehensive music education); Renad Academy (for autistic children); Qatar Academy for Science & Technology: Academiyati (innovation school); and Tariq bin Zaid School (bilingual school rooted in Qatari heritage) are the specialized programs for students.

In addition to the great infrastructure at Qatar Academy schools, the students also get to make the most of the student facilities offered by Qatar Foundation’s community-wide recreation centers.

Annual fees: QAR 45,000 to QAR 76,000 approx. (depending on the grade level) Read more about fees structure here.

Campus tours: Available

Location: Qatar Academy Msheireb | Qatar Academy Sidra (Ar-Rayyan) | Qatar Academy Al Wakra | Qatar Academy Al Khor

Contact: qataracademyal-doha@qf.org.qa

Swiss International School

Swiss International School in Qatar (SISQ) welcomes students of all nationalities and is currently in its fifth year of operation. The school operates as an IB Continuum World School and offers a multilingual learning environment. SISQ even offers up to 100% scholarships for students with merit.

In terms of facilities, the school offers competitive facilities that aid students in sports, drama, art, science, and technology-related co-curricular activities.

Annual fees: QAR 54,000 – QAR 72,000 approx. (depending on grade level)

Campus tours: Available here

Location: Al Luqta

Contact: admissions@sisq.qa 

 ---

Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content. 

Instagram - @qatarliving

Twitter - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living

YouTube - qatarlivingofficial