Cardiff International School vs Doha Academy Al Waab Campus

	C Cardiff International School Doha, Qatar	D Doha Academy Al Waab Campus Doha, Qatar
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year QAR 19,000 - 31,630	Fees / year QAR 21,910 - 43,150
Age range	Age range 3 - 11 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type —	Type —
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 400	Pupils 2,100
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service —	Bus service —
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The Cardiff International School is located at Villa 40, University Road, Al Dafna, Doha, Qatar, near Qatar University. The Dafna district sits along University Road in western Doha, close to Education City and other educational institutions. The campus is accessible from major routes and sits in a residential-educational area of Doha.	Location Doha Academy Al Waab Campus is located at 220 Duhail Street, Al Waab, Doha, Qatar (PO Box 9691). The campus sits in the Al Waab district, a residential area in Doha. The address is published for mail and visits, and the campus is accessible by road via Duhail Street. The Al Waab campus is the largest of Doha Academy's campuses.
Stages	Stages The school provides Early Years and Primary education. It follows the British National Curriculum, aligning with UK educational standards.	Stages The Al Waab campus operates an all-through KG to Year 13 programme, following the National Curriculum of England and Wales. It is structured into EYFS/Primary and Secondary divisions, with the secondary split into Boys' and Girls' sections.
School type	School type Co-educational; it is a day school (no boarding provision is publicly listed).	School type The school is co-educational from Kindergarten to Year 5 and is gender-segregated from Year 6 onwards at the Al Waab Campus (and Salwa Branch).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix There are pupils from over 42 nationalities represented at the school. Public sources do not provide a local vs international ratio.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Details on Additional Learning Needs (SEN) provisions are not publicly listed. No explicit SEN facilities are described in public sources.	Additional learning support The school has a Learning Support (SEN) department. It identifies four broad areas of need (speech, language and communication; cognitive/Special Educational Needs; social, emotional and mental health; sensory/physical needs) and may implement Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Provision includes in-class support, differentiated teaching, extended time, ICT aids, and SEN Homework Club as part of ECAs.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Located in Doha, Qatar, and follows the British National Curriculum.	Country affiliation The school follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales and is described as British-based education.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is publicly listed for the school.	Religious affiliation The school identifies as a Muslim institution of education, integrating Islamic values with its academic program.
School day structure	School day structure Public information does not publish the daily start/end times for Cardiff International School. Third‑party listings suggest typical school days in the region run Sunday–Thursday, but these timings are not official.	School day structure EYFS doors open at 06:40, registration at 07:00, lessons from 07:15, with the day ending at 12:00. Al Waab Primary typically starts around 07:15 and ends around 13:30. These schedules reflect phase-specific timetables published by the school.
Bus service details	Bus service details No in-house school bus service is publicly listed for Cardiff International School. Families should contact admissions to discuss transport options.	Bus service details The school's pages do not publish detailed information about a bus service (routes, providers or schedules). For confirmation and exact arrangements, contact the campus directly at +974 40202700.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and assessment fees - Assessment / application fee: QAR 200 (one-off at the time of assessment). - Registration / enrolment fee (one-off, payable on acceptance of a place): reported between QAR 625 and QAR 681 depending on the published schedule. Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term where published) - FS1 / KG1 (age 3): Annual tuition QAR 17,750. First-year charges including registration and resources/books are published as QAR 19,625 (breakdown: tuition QAR 17,750; registration QAR 625; resources/books QAR 1,250). - FS2 / KG2 (age 4): Annual tuition QAR 17,750. - Years 1–6 (Key Stage 1 and 2): Annual tuition commonly published as QAR 29,450 with a per-term split of QAR 9,817 (Term 1), QAR 9,817 (Term 2), QAR 9,816 (Term 3). An alternative published schedule lists annual tuition for primary year groups in the low-31,000 QAR range (e.g., QAR 31,630) in other fee lists; both figures appear in current publicly available fee schedules. Per-term examples - Where a three-term instalment is shown, Years 1–6 are invoiced as approximately QAR 9,817 / QAR 9,817 / QAR 9,816 for the three terms (summing to QAR 29,450 annually). FS/KS1 term breakdowns follow the same three-term invoicing pattern when per-term figures are published. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is billed termly in three instalments (Autumn/Term 1, Spring/Term 2, Summer/Term 3). Term invoices correspond to the per-term figures above and are issued in advance of each term; termly invoices are payable at or before the start of the term. - Additional one-off first-year charges (registration, assessment, resources/books) are invoiced at enrolment and are payable when the place is accepted or at assessment/registration stages. Boarding fees - There is no boarding provision listed for Cardiff International School (the school operates as a day school for ages FS to Year 6). No boarding fees apply. Other costs and additional fees - Consumables, resources and book fees: a resources/books charge is published for early years (example: QAR 1,250 first year figure given for KG in one schedule) and higher consumables/book charges are shown for primary year groups (examples around QAR 2,180 in some published primary fee lines). These charges are invoiced in addition to tuition. - Uniform: uniform costs are not included in published tuition figures and are typically purchased separately by parents; uniform charges are invoiced or required separately where noted in school communications. - Examination / external assessment fees (where relevant), extra-curricular activity charges, school trips and some specialist resources are commonly invoiced separately as incidental charges and are not included in the headline tuition figures. Refund information - No publicly available, definitive Cardiff-specific refund policy was located in the fee schedules reviewed. Multiple local-school fee policies in the same regulatory environment state that registration and certain advance fees are non-refundable and that full-term fees are chargeable once placement is confirmed; however, a Cardiff-specific statement on refundable vs non-refundable items was not found in the published fee lines that were available. Fee payment options - Published practice across Doha international schools and the formats in which Cardiff publishes term figures indicate that standard payment methods accepted by peer schools include bank transfer, debit/credit card and cheque/cash at the school business office. Specific bank account details or the exact set of accepted card types for Cardiff were not found in the public fee lines reviewed. Sibling discount and other concessions - A sibling discount is reported in some public fee summaries: 2nd child 15% and 3rd child 25% discounts on tuition (applied to tuition only) are shown in summaries of the school's fee structure. Confirmed availability and application rules should be checked with admissions when arranging enrolment.	Fee details Application, registration and seat-reservation fees - Seat reservation (one‑time): QAR 2,000. - Registration fee (one‑time, payable when place is accepted): QAR 1,500. - Entry/assessment test (one‑time): QAR 500 for Years 1–13; no entry test fee for KG1 and KG2. Annual tuition fees (Doha Academy — Al Waab campus) and per‑term amounts (two equal instalments) - KG1 — Annual tuition: QAR 20,300. Per term (50%): QAR 10,150. - KG2 — Annual tuition: QAR 20,300. Per term: QAR 10,150. - Year 1 — Annual tuition: QAR 25,900. Per term: QAR 12,950. - Year 2 — Annual tuition: QAR 25,900. Per term: QAR 12,950. - Year 3 — Annual tuition: QAR 25,900. Per term: QAR 12,950. - Year 4 — Annual tuition: QAR 25,900. Per term: QAR 12,950. - Year 5 — Annual tuition: QAR 25,900. Per term: QAR 12,950. - Year 6 — Annual tuition: QAR 25,900. Per term: QAR 12,950. - Year 7 — Annual tuition: QAR 28,900. Per term: QAR 14,450. - Year 8 — Annual tuition: QAR 28,900. Per term: QAR 14,450. - Year 9 — Annual tuition: QAR 28,900. Per term: QAR 14,450. - Year 10 — Annual tuition: QAR 33,300. Per term: QAR 16,650. - Year 11 — Annual tuition: QAR 33,300. Per term: QAR 16,650. - Year 12 — Annual tuition: QAR 39,400. Per term: QAR 19,700. - Year 13 — Annual tuition: QAR 39,400. Per term: QAR 19,700. Other compulsory and exam-related charges - Book / textbook fee (annual), by year group: - KG1: QAR 1,610. KG2: QAR 2,250. Year 1: QAR 2,580. Year 2: QAR 2,580. Year 3: QAR 2,900. Year 4: QAR 2,900. Year 5: QAR 2,900. Year 6: QAR 2,900. Year 7: QAR 3,330. Year 8: QAR 3,330. Year 9: QAR 3,330. Year 10: QAR 3,750. Year 11: QAR 3,750. Year 12: QAR 3,750. Year 13: QAR 3,750. - IGCSE external examination fee (where applicable to relevant examination year groups): QAR 1,500 for the relevant IGCSE year groups as listed by the school. - Remarking/correction of IGCSE, AS/A Level papers: remarking fees accepted only with prior approval from the Examinations Officer. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is payable in two equal instalments. First instalment due on or before 31 August. Second instalment due on or before 10 January. All invoices must be settled within 30 days of issuance. Textbook/book fees are payable with the first instalment. - No fee can be transferred from one child to another, even within the same family. Company‑sponsored students are invoiced under the same schedule; additional company documents are required. Boarding and transport - Boarding: Not applicable — Doha Academy operates as a day school. School bus transport service is available. - Transport fees (if a parent requires bus service): transport fees are charged separately where offered; amounts and service options are managed through the school's transport arrangements (transport fees may differ by campus and route). Other costs (uniforms, incidental charges, discounts) - Uniform: A school uniform is required and is sold through the school's official uniform shop/authorized outlets; uniform costs are charged separately from tuition and other mandatory fees. - Other incidental costs may include extracurricular activity fees, school trips, optional external examination fees and materials not covered by the book fee; these are charged in addition to the fees listed above. - Sibling discount: a discount on tuition is applied for multiple children from the same family (5% for the third child, 10% for the fourth child, 15% for the fifth child and any subsequent children). This discount applies to tuition only. Refund and deduction policy - Tuition is charged on a calendar‑day basis if a withdrawal application is received within 30 calendar days from the beginning of the term. If a withdrawal application is received after 30 calendar days from the start of the academic year (or registration, whichever is later), the full term tuition fee is payable. For withdrawal received after more than 30 calendar days from the start of the second term, the second and third term fees are non‑refundable. - All other fees (entrance/assessment test, registration, books, remark fees, seat/reservation fee in the case of no‑show) are non‑refundable. The refund/deduction policy applies to tuition and bus fees only. Accepted payment methods and invoicing notes - Accepted payment methods: Visa and MasterCard, direct bank deposit, telegraphic bank transfer, online bank transfer and current‑dated cheques. For telegraphic/online transfers, include the student name and ISAMs ID number as the payment reference. Company invoices follow the same payment terms. Notes - The amounts above are the fee items published by the school for the Al Waab campus and are listed per year group; instalment amounts are exactly half of the published annual tuition where payments are made in the standard two instalments.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement The school uses a formal school uniform. In 2024, Doha Academy announced a redesign of the school uniform in collaboration with Qatari designer Sheikha Zulfa bint Jassim Al Thani.
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership Doha Academy is privately owned and operates as an independent day school. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Faleh Educational Holding Q.P.S.C., with a Board of Directors chaired by Sheikha Aisha Bint Faleh Al Thani. The Doha Academy group comprises three licensed schools: Doha Academy Al Waab, Doha Academy Salwa, and Doha International Kindergarten (DIKg).
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Cardiff International School Doha teaches in English and follows the English National Curriculum, applying the Early Years Foundation Stage framework for its youngest learners. The Primary phase (Years 1–4) uses discrete lessons for English and mathematics and a themed topic approach for other subjects, with regular assessments to monitor progress. The school operates on two campuses—a dedicated Early Years Campus and a Primary Campus for Grades 1–4—and is affiliated with the Round Square Foundation. Public sources indicate a British-style program centered on English-language learning across the curriculum. Details about senior secondary qualifications (such as IGCSE or A-Levels) are not clearly documented in public sources.	Curriculum details Doha Academy Al Waab offers an all-through KG–12 education based on the English National Curriculum, with Arabic, Islamic Studies and Qatar History taught to meet Qatar's requirements. The curriculum follows the English National Curriculum and provides Cambridge International IGCSE in Year 11 and AS Level in Year 12, with GCE A levels offered in Year 13 as part of the qualification pathways. The Al Waab campus is organized into three blocks: Block A for Secondary Boys, Block B for EYFS/Primary, and Block C for Secondary Girls. The Doha Academy group holds NEASC accreditation with ACE Learning status and Qatar National Schools Accreditation for Al Waab, with ongoing QNI accreditation. Arabic, Islamic Studies and Qatar History are incorporated as core subjects in line with MoE requirements.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) provision, including any formal programs, staff roles, or initiatives.	Social & emotional learning Pastoral care at Doha Academy Al Waab places wellbeing, belonging and security at the center of its work, embedding pastoral care across the curriculum with assemblies on friendship, leadership and anti-bullying and PSHE lessons to help students know who to talk to if they have concerns.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, the types of needs supported, or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution.	Special educational needs (SEN) Learning Support is the responsibility of all teachers; the SEN department identifies four broad areas of need: speech, language and communication needs (SLCN); cognitive learning difficulties, including specific learning difficulties (SpLD); social, emotional and mental health difficulties; and sensory and/or physical needs; an Individual Education Plan (IEP) may be provided and shared with teachers and parents to guide targeted support, differentiated teaching, and reasonable accommodations.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language The school does not publicly disclose information regarding English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision.	English as an additional language The school has a large population of EAL learners and uses Cambridge Insight assessments and MidYIS data to identify language and learning needs and to set targets, guiding teachers in supporting EAL learners.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing The school does not publicly disclose information regarding mental wellbeing support, programs, or staff.	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is supported through strong pastoral care that aims to provide wellbeing, belonging and security, with health and wellbeing integrated across the curriculum and through PSHE provision and assemblies addressing wellbeing, friendships and resilience.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding and child protection policies.	Safeguarding Safeguarding and child protection align with the MoEHE Code of Ethics; staff are expected to follow this code, and the school provides MoEHE-linked safeguarding guidance for its community.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview The Al Waab campus is divided into three blocks: Block A houses the Secondary Boys section, Block B is the EYFS and Primary section, and Block C hosts the Secondary Girls section. The campus is spread over four floors and contains 160 well-furnished classrooms. The total building size is over 19,000 square metres. The campus includes three libraries, three indoor gyms, and three medical clinics with full-time nurses. There are numerous science laboratories, a large auditorium, and outside play areas. Wi-Fi extends to all teaching and learning spaces.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities The campus features three indoor gyms for physical education and indoor sport. Outside play areas offer space for outdoor activities and games. The sports facilities are integrated with the campus layout to support PE classes and after-school activities. Wi-Fi extends to all spaces to support digital resources during physical education.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities The school has 160 well-furnished, equipped classrooms across four floors. The total building size exceeds 19,000 square metres. There are three libraries to support reading, research, and study. Numerous science laboratories are available for practical learning. A large auditorium supports presentations and assemblies. Wi-Fi extends to all teaching and learning spaces.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities Outside play areas provide spaces for outdoor activities and informal extracurricular events. A large auditorium supports performances, assemblies, and events outside regular classes. The three libraries and science laboratories provide resources for independent study and enrichment activities. Internet connectivity enables digital resources to be used during extracurricular activities.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Cardiff International School Doha was founded in 2013 as a privately held institution. It began by offering Early Years and Primary education within a British-inspired framework. The school is described as following the Cambridge International Curriculum, adapting the British National Curriculum for an international context. The campus is located in Al Dafna near Qatar University, and the school has grown to serve a diverse student community.	History Doha Academy opened in September 2000 as an independent, privately owned day school in Doha, following the national curriculum for England. It is supported by Al-Faleh Educational Holding and administered by a Board of Directors chaired by Sheikha Aisha Bint Faleh Al Thani. In 2014, expanding numbers led to the opening of a purpose-built Al-Waab campus to house EYFS, primary and secondary sections. Doha Academy operates across three licensed campuses—Al Waab, Salwa, and Doha International Kindergarten (DIKg)—providing KG-13 education with a British-based curriculum integrated with Islamic teachings. The school has pursued national and international accreditation, including Qatar National Schools Accreditation (QNSA) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) for its Al Waab and Salwa branches.
Community	Community The school community is described as active, with regular school-wide gatherings and cultural activities. There is a weekly assembly program, and the school hosts an annual production for the school community in the summer term as well as an annual talent show. Arts and sports are emphasized as part of the community experience.	Community Doha Academy maintains an active school community across its Al Waab and Salwa campuses, with events that bring together students, families, and guests. Art Matters 2024 expo opened at Doha Academy Al Waab Campus auditorium, featuring over 250 artworks by students from Year 1 to Year 12 across Al Waab and Salwa Branches, and was designed to foster engagement with parents and the wider school community. Graduation ceremonies across Al Waab, Salwa and DIKg campuses in 2024 were attended by families and included speeches, Qur'an readings and awards. National Identity-related events in 2025 included a showcase with bilingual presentations in French and English and involvement of guests and staff. Media coverage of these events underscores the school's role as a community hub.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Cardiff International School Doha's PTA details are not publicly documented in the sources consulted. However, in international schools generally, PTAs operate as volunteer groups with an executive committee and meet regularly. Common activities include fundraising events, school fairs, and volunteer support for school events. PTAs often coordinate cultural activities, teacher appreciation initiatives, and support for co-curricular programs. Membership usually includes all parents and teachers, with officers such as chair, treasurer and secretary in many schools.	Parent teacher association Public materials describe parent involvement through events rather than detailing a formal PTA. Examples of events include Art Matters 2024, which involved parents and the wider school community; Art Matters 2024 coverage in The Peninsula Qatar notes parent engagement. Doha Academy hosted six graduation ceremonies across its Al Waab, Salwa and Doha International Kindergarten campuses in 2024, with family attendance, speeches, Qur'an readings and awards. National Identity-related events in 2025 included bilingual student work and guest presentations, reflecting ongoing parent and community participation in school life. The school's public coverage of these events demonstrates a strong emphasis on family and community involvement in student achievement.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual The school provides an all-through KG-12 British-based education for boys and girls at the Al Waab Campus. It follows the National Curriculum for England and emphasizes personal learning and thinking skills to develop a deep core of knowledge and curiosity.
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 The school follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions Step 1: Learn about the school. The school provides education from Kindergarten to Year 13, follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales, and offers the IGCSE and GCE A levels. The Al Waab Campus operates as co-educational from Kindergarten to Year 5 and is gender segregated from Year 6 onwards. The admissions process is designed to assist families at every stage. Step 2: Initiate contact. The admissions team is available to assist at every stage of the process. You can reach them to schedule a tour or ask questions about programs and requirements. The contact number is +974 4020 2709. Step 3: Visit the school. If you would like to visit, call the office to book an appointment. Unplanned visits are not accommodated at this time. A campus visit provides an opportunity to learn about classrooms, facilities, and the curriculum. Step 4: Transfer from another local school. If transferring from another local school, ensure all documents are signed and stamped as part of the transfer process. The admissions team will guide you through any additional steps required for enrollment.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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