Who licenses nurseries in Qatar?
In Qatar, nurseries are licensed and inspected by the Nurseries Department of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. By law a nursery cares for children under four; from four, children move on to kindergarten, which is licensed as a private school. Check a nursery's licence before you enrol.
Checked October 2026 · Sources
Who licenses nurseries in Qatar
The Nurseries Department of the Private Education Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education licenses nurseries, and its inspectors visit them regularly to check health and safety, management, the curriculum and staff qualifications. Kindergartens, for children from four, are licensed as private schools by the same ministry.
"Stating the licence" counts the nurseries listed here that name the ministry as their licensing authority on their own website.
| City | Regulator | Nurseries listed | Stating the licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doha | Ministry of Education and Higher EducationNurseries Department, Private Education Affairs Sector | 186 | 8 |
| Al Wakrah | Ministry of Education and Higher EducationNurseries Department, Private Education Affairs Sector | 25 | 1 |
| Lusail | Ministry of Education and Higher EducationNurseries Department, Private Education Affairs Sector | 17 | 0 |
| Umm Salal | Ministry of Education and Higher EducationNurseries Department, Private Education Affairs Sector | 11 | 0 |
What the law covers
Qatar's nurseries law, Law No. 1 of 2014, defines a nursery as a place for the care of children under four, and makes running one without a licence an offence. When it was passed, nurseries were licensed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; licensing now sits with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
Since 2024 the ministry licenses three types of nursery:
- Daycare nurseries, providing childcare for working parents.
- Early childhood and educational nurseries, which also build early literacy, numeracy and language.
- Special care nurseries, for children with disabilities and learning difficulties.
How to check a nursery's licence
- Ask to see it. A licensed nursery can show you the licence issued by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
- Check the ministry's list. The ministry publishes a list of licensed nurseries on its website, with each one's address, phone number and email.
- Check the name matches. The name and address on the licence should match the nursery you're visiting, branch included.
- Report unlicensed nurseries. The ministry's "Be Cautious" campaign asks parents to report nurseries operating without a licence.
- On GulfNurseries, a nursery's page shows its licence when the nursery states it.
Questions parents ask
Who licenses nurseries in Qatar?
The Nurseries Department of the Private Education Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education licenses, inspects and supervises nurseries in Qatar. Kindergartens for children from four are licensed as private schools by the same ministry.
What age is a nursery for in Qatar?
Qatar's nurseries law (Law No. 1 of 2014) defines a nursery as a place for the care of children under four. From four, children go to kindergarten or school.
How do I check that a nursery in Qatar is licensed?
Ask to see its licence, and check the list of licensed nurseries that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education publishes on its website. The ministry also asks parents to report unlicensed nurseries.
Are there different types of nursery in Qatar?
Yes. Since 2024 the ministry licenses three types: daycare nurseries for working parents, early childhood and educational nurseries that build early literacy, numeracy and language, and special care nurseries for children with disabilities and learning difficulties.
Sources
Rules change: confirm them with the authority or the nursery, and tell us if something here is out of date.
- The Peninsula: 179 nursery schools operating across Qatar, the Ministry's list of nurseries (January 2023)
- QNA: Ministry of Education and Higher Education issues decisions on nursery regulations (July 2024)
- QNA: Private Education Affairs Sector launches the Be Cautious initiative on unlicensed nurseries (January 2023)
- Gulf Times: new law on nursery schools in Qatar, Law No. 1 of 2014 (January 2014)