Al Arqam Academy vs Oryx International School

	A Al Arqam Academy Doha, Qatar	O Oryx International School Doha, Qatar
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year QAR 27,954 - 50,134	Fees / year QAR 34,000 - 47,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Girls School	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels	Curriculum British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils	Pupils 1,622	Pupils 1,520
Typical class size	Typical class size 25	Typical class size 10
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Arabic	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1996	Opened 2016
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Al-Arqam Academy is located at 13 Haloul Street, Mamoura, Doha, Qatar (Building No. 13). P.O. Box 23148 Doha, Qatar. The campus is in the Mamoura district along Haloul Street.	Location Mesaimeer Campus, Barwa City Street, Mesaimeer, Doha, Qatar. The campus is in the Mesaimeer/Barwa City area and is accessible via Barwa City roads, with the site designed to serve families working with Qatar Airways and its approved subsidiaries. The address is Mesaimeer Campus - Barwa City Street, Mesaimeer, Doha, Qatar.
Stages	Stages Primary and Secondary	Stages Oryx International School serves boys and girls from age 3 through 18, with a structure that includes Primary and Secondary sections. The curriculum combines the English National Curriculum framework with UK IGCSE/GCSE offerings.
School type	School type International school for girls	School type Co-educational day school. It operates exclusively for the children of Qatar Airways employees and approved subsidiaries. There is no boarding facility offered for any year group.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix The student body comprises more than 90 nationalities. The school describes itself as globally diverse, but the most common nationality and the local-to-international student ratio are not publicly published.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Academic support is provided for low-achieving students with in-class and extra coaching, coordinated by coordinators and a student counselor; includes individual support and progress monitoring.	Additional learning support The school provides English as an Additional Language (EAL) support and has received ALFRI accreditation for EAL provision. An Inclusion Team supports SEND and EAL needs, and the school holds a SENDIA Inclusion Award for inclusive education. There are ongoing parent-facing EAL initiatives, including parental language classes.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Qatar	Country affiliation No formal country affiliation is stated; the school offers a British curriculum and is part of Qatar Airways and Orbital Education.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Islamic	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is indicated.
School day structure	School day structure School day timings: Key Stage 3 7:00 a.m. – 1:50 p.m.; Key Stage 4 & 5 7:00 a.m. – 1:50 p.m.; Mondays finish at 12:15 p.m.	School day structure School days run Sunday to Thursday from 07:15 to 14:00, with morning gates opening at 06:50 and registration from 07:15–07:30. After the regular lessons, after-school activities run from about 14:05 to 15:00.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school operates a bus service with a Bus Officer and bus rules; violations include penalties and potential restrictions.	Bus service details New Image Building Services provides the school's dedicated bus service with routes across Doha. Parents arrange seats directly with New Image; the school notes that Qatar Airways Education allowances can be used to pay for bus costs. For 2025–26, there are designated transport contacts (transport coordinator, payment/contract contact, transport manager) and enrolment documents are available on the Parent Zone.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and Registration Fees A non-refundable registration fee of QAR 1,600 per student is charged annually. An application fee is not specified in the available fee schedule. Tuition Fees For the 2025/2026 academic year, annual tuition fees are: KG1: QAR 27,954 annually KG2: QAR 29,625 annually Grades 1–6: QAR 28,410 annually Grades 7–9: QAR 31,752 annually Grades 10–11: QAR 41,780 annually Grade 12: QAR 50,134 annually The school fee schedule provides annual amounts only; term-by-term tuition fees are not specified. Other Fees Additional annual charges may apply for books, transportation, school uniforms, educational trips, administrative services, document processing, and international examinations for applicable year groups. These charges vary by grade level. Transport Fees School transport is available. Annual transport fees are QAR 5,335 per student. Boarding Fees The school does not advertise boarding facilities, and no boarding fees are listed. Billing Schedule and Payment Terms The published fee schedule lists annual fees. Specific instalment schedules, payment deadlines, and payment terms are not stated in the available fee documentation. Refund Policy Refund terms are not specified in the published fee schedule. Payment Methods Accepted payment methods are not specified in the available fee documentation.	Fee details Application and Admissions Fees - Application fee: QAR 450 (non-refundable) payable prior to any assessment. - Registration fee: QAR 3,190 (non-refundable) payable once an Offer Letter is issued to secure the place; one-off payment. - Annual seat reservation fee: QAR 2,000, charged each year to confirm re-enrolment and deducted from the first term's tuition invoice for the forthcoming academic year. Tuition fees by year group (2025/26) — per term and annual total - FS1: Autumn term QAR 13,600 · Spring term QAR 10,200 · Summer term QAR 10,200 · Annual total QAR 34,000. - FS2: Autumn term QAR 13,600 · Spring term QAR 10,200 · Summer term QAR 10,200 · Annual total QAR 34,000. - Year 1: Autumn term QAR 14,400 · Spring term QAR 10,800 · Summer term QAR 10,800 · Annual total QAR 36,000. - Year 2: Autumn term QAR 14,400 · Spring term QAR 10,800 · Summer term QAR 10,800 · Annual total QAR 36,000. - Year 3: Autumn term QAR 14,400 · Spring term QAR 10,800 · Summer term QAR 10,800 · Annual total QAR 36,000. - Year 4: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000. - Year 5: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000. - Year 6: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000. - Year 7: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000. - Year 8: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000. - Year 9: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000. - Year 10: Autumn term QAR 18,000 · Spring term QAR 13,500 · Summer term QAR 13,500 · Annual total QAR 45,000. - Year 11: Autumn term QAR 18,400 · Spring term QAR 13,800 · Summer term QAR 13,800 · Annual total QAR 46,000. - Year 12: Autumn term QAR 18,800 · Spring term QAR 14,100 · Summer term QAR 14,100 · Annual total QAR 47,000. - Year 13: Autumn term QAR 18,800 · Spring term QAR 14,100 · Summer term QAR 14,100 · Annual total QAR 47,000. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition fees are invoiced termly. The Autumn term invoice for 2025/26 is due by 31 August 2025. The Spring term invoice is due by the first day of Term 2 and the Summer term invoice is due by the first day of Term 3. - The school reserves the right to apply a 10% surcharge to late payments. No reduction in fees is made for temporary absence or illness, or for early withdrawal. - When a student joins during the first half of a term the full term fee is payable; when joining in the second half of a term a 50% term fee is charged. - The annual seat reservation fee (QAR 2,000) is deducted from the first term's tuition invoice. Registration and application fees are charged separately and are non-refundable. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable; fees published are for day pupils and there are no boarding fee schedules. Other costs and items excluded from tuition - Included in tuition: academic textbooks, student journals, exercise books and some stationery. - Not included in tuition (examples of additional costs parents should expect): school uniforms, bus transportation, educational trips, extra special needs requirements, fees charged by external after-school activity providers, BYOD requirements for Secondary students, IGCSE and A‑Level examination fees, before- and after-school care, one-to-one learning support/shadow teacher costs, and canteen/lunch purchases. - School uniform purchasing and bus service payments are handled separately and are chargeable in addition to tuition. Refund and non-refund information - The Application fee (QAR 450) and Registration fee (QAR 3,190) are non-refundable. No reduction in tuition is made for temporary absence, illness, or early withdrawal. The school may apply its published surcharge for late payment. Fee payment options and bank details - Accepted payment methods: bank transfer or cheque. Credit card facilities are not available. Cheques may be dropped at the school security gate for handover to the Finance Department; bank transfers must include the child's first and last name as the payment reference. - Bank details for transfers: Account Name: Oryx International School · Account Number: 4580-585935-001 · IBAN: QA87 CBQA 0000 0000 4580 5859 3500 1 · Bank: Commercial Bank of Qatar · Swift Code: CBQAQAQA. Payment from outside Qatar should be made by bank transfer.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The Academy is an international school following Islamic beliefs and has pupils aged 3 to 17 (Pre-school to Year 12). It follows Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Qatar History standards as set by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. KG and Primary follow Pearson iPrimary Curriculum, and Cambridge International Program is used at the secondary level. The school has Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and Edexcel accreditation; it is a fully recognized Cambridge and Edexcel testing centre for IGCSE and AS examinations. In secondary, Robot and Scientific Research curricula have been added to keep pace with technology, and the school emphasizes 21st-century skills and bilingual English/Arabic.	Curriculum details Oryx International School follows a modified English National Curriculum for its international student body, with Early Years Foundation Stage (ages 3-5) and Primary (Key Stages 1 and 2) delivered through a topic-based approach that integrates literacy, numeracy, and creative subjects. In Secondary (Key Stage 3, ages 11-14), students follow a variant of the English National Curriculum, progressing to International GCSEs in Years 10-11 (ages 14-16) and then Sixth Form (Years 12-13, ages 16-18) offering A Levels or Level 3 Diploma/Subsidiary Diploma. Core IGCSE subjects include mathematics, English, and at least one science, with Arabic for Arab passport holders and Islamic Studies, plus complementary subjects such as Core PE, PSHE, and Qatar History. Language programmes include EAL support, Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) from KS1, Arabic First Language for eligible students, Arabic as a Second Language after school, and home-language GCSE/A-Level options (Italian, Portuguese, Urdu, Sinhala) depending on availability. Regular assessments with personalised targets and parent reporting support progress across all stages, and IGCSE/A-Level syllabuses are UK-based (JCQ) and regulated by Ofsted.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results Al Arqam Academy follows Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and Edexcel examinations; Year 11 sits IGCSEs and Year 12 sits AS, with Year 9 taking International Checkpoint Exams in Math, English and Science. Progression rules require Year 10 to pass all subjects (50%) to advance to Year 11, Year 11 to take seven IGCSEs, and Year 12 progression to require passing at least five IGCSE subjects. Grade boundaries are published for KS3 (A* to C ranges). Full progress reports are issued at the end of Term 3.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression The school prepares students for local and international universities.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented The academy offers extra-curricular activities including robotics and scientific research competitions; participates in MOEHE and Qatar University competitions such as Al Bairaq for Scientific Research; Special Achievement Awards recognize outstanding student achievements.	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Waiting List: In February of each year, the registration process begins by asking all current students to re-register for the new school year. The number of vacant places for the new school year is determined. Siblings of existing students are given priority for the waiting list. Students who were tested but not offered a place from the previous year are given the second priority for a chance to pass the entrance test. Applications for the general public are then made on a first come first serve basis until the number of required students is full. Based upon the number of places available for each year group, the appropriate number of students are given an appointment for the entrance test. 2. Entrance Test: Students with an appointment pay the non-refundable entrance test fee and provide a copy of their birth certificate and a copy of their most recent school report showing the class, year group, date, and results. Students who have paid the fee and provided the required documents will be given an entrance test card, which they must present on the day of the test. Entrance tests are done for English, Maths, and Arabic. For KG students, a general evaluation of readiness for school is conducted to evaluate the appropriate early years milestones. Students must pass all areas with 70% or better in order to qualify for a place in the school. Students who arrive late for their test appointment or are absent will lose their place on the list. Secondary students must also attend an interview with their parents as part of the entrance test process. Results for entrance tests will be announced within one full week of the exam. 3. Retests: Students who fail only one area on the entrance test with marks between 55% and 69% may request a retest. Those who qualify for a retest must request a new test date, pay the retest fee and sign the retest form in the Student Affairs office. 4. Registration: Students who pass the entrance test are given one week to complete the registration forms and submit all required documents and fees. Students who do not submit the required forms, documents, and fees within one week will lose their place. Note that entrance test fees and retest fees are non-refundable. All students offered a place in the school must submit the following to open a file in the school and to register: 1. Completed registration form with all information filled in. 2. Report cards from previous schools certified by the Ministry of Education 3. Medical Files, including vaccination documents 4. Copy of passport for the student 5. Copy of I.D. for student, mother, and father. 6. Copy of student's birth certificate 7. Four recent photos 8. Non-refundable registration fee (for the exact fee, please see our MOHE-approved fee schedule. 9. Read and sign the student handbook and policies. 5. Withdrawal policy: In order to withdraw a student from the Academy, the following procedures must be followed: 1. Submit a request to withdraw in advance to Student Affairs. 2. Obtain a receipt disclaimer from the library. 3. Settle all financial matters with the Accounting Department and obtain a receipt. 4. Submit all documents and receipts to the Department of Student Affairs in order to receive the student's file. In the event that a student wishes to re-enter the academy, the decision will be based on an assessment by the administration and the student will be treated as a new student.	Admissions The school serves children aged 3 to 18 years, covering Foundation Stage 1 to Year 10 and Year 12 for Sixth Form. It is open to local and expatriate students. At least one parent or guardian must be a full-time employee of Qatar Airways or one of their approved subsidiaries. Admissions are currently open for the 2024/25 academic year for FS1 and FS2 applications. Applications are submitted via the online admissions portal after completing the Application Form, and a non-refundable 450 QAR application fee applies. January starters are accepted in most year groups with the exception of Years 10–13. Tours for prospective parents can be booked online. The admissions process consists of six steps: Step 1 Eligibility (must be a full-time Qatar Airways employee or approved subsidiary); Step 2 Submit an Enquiry & Visit Us; Step 3 Submit Your Application via the online Admissions Portal (the portal remains open for the duration of the admissions journey and editing after submission is not possible); Step 4 Assessment (FS1–Year 2 are assessed via Soft Assessments; Year 3–Year 13 complete a formal CAT4 assessment); Step 5 Offer & Acceptance (an Offer Letter and Admissions Enrolment Agreement are issued; a non-refundable Registration Fee of 3,190 QAR must be paid by the stated deadline, typically 7 days); Step 6 Welcome to Oryx International School (the Academic Administration Team provides further information after joining). Mandatory documentation includes attested report cards (Year 2 and above), MOEHE registration requirements, and health-related certificates. For arrivals, health certificates (Fit to Join) must be obtained from a local health centre, and new students must meet MOEHE health and paperwork requirements. Sixth Form admissions require prior English National Curriculum background and completion of I/GCSEs where applicable. The school is managed by Orbital Education and coordinated by the Admissions Team. Tours or enquiries can be made via the Admissions pages, Online Application, or Enquiry pathways.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships Sixth Form students have received university offers and scholarship opportunities. A May 2025 news post highlights that Sixth Form students secured offers to top universities worldwide, including instances of unconditional offers and scholarship opportunities. Examples include a Kyushu University offer with a full scholarship (including monthly living allowance and return flights) and scholarships to Massey University and the University of Canterbury. The article notes a substantial number of offers to Russell Group universities and other leading institutions, illustrating that students benefit from university-level opportunities through the school's Careers & Guidance Counsellor and Sixth Form leadership.
Waitlist	Waitlist Waiting List: The school begins waiting list in February by re-registering current students for the new school year. The number of vacant places is determined. Siblings of existing students are given priority on the waiting list. Students who were tested but not offered a place from the previous year are given second priority. General public applications are accepted on a first come first served basis until the required number of students is filled. Based on places available for each year group, an entrance test appointment is issued.	Waitlist The school does not publish information on any existing waitlist.
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