Doha English Speaking School

DESS is located at P.O. Box 7660, Al Maarri Street No. 940, Fereej Kulaib, Zone 35, Doha, Qatar. The campus sits in the Fereej Kulaib district along Al Maarri Street, with access via nearby roads in central Doha. Gate opening times for drop-off and pick-up are published to aid planning. The address and location details are publicly listed in the school's materials.

DESS is organized into three levels: Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. It offers education from Foundation Stage 1 (age 3) through Year 8 (age about 13) under the English National Curriculum.

DESS is co-educational and not-for-profit. It operates as a preparatory school delivering the English National Curriculum in Qatar.

The Learning Support team provides in-class support and small group work to maximise each student's learning. A dedicated Learning Mentor supports children from FS1 to Year 8 for social and emotional development, with interventions such as Friendology, social-emotional skills sessions, and Sensory Circuits.

The school follows the English National Curriculum and maintains links with the British Embassy in Qatar, reflecting United Kingdom affiliation in its curriculum and standards.

Not stated publicly.

The academic year runs from September to June. Autumn term 2025 begins 31 August 2025; Spring term 2026 starts 4 January 2026; Summer term 2026 begins 29 March 2026. Gate opening times show morning drop-off windows (07:00–08:00 for Gate 1; 07:00–07:25 for Gates 3, 4 and 5), afternoon pickup (13:25–14:15 for Gate 1 and Gates 3,4,5), and after-school activity gates (15:00–15:30).

A formal school bus service is not publicly listed by the school. For transport arrangements, prospective families should contact the school directly at +974 4459 2750 or via admissions@dess.org.

Application and assessment fees
- Registration fee (one-time, non-refundable): QAR 2,750.
- Seat Reservation Fee (SRF) (non-refundable; payable in advance to reserve a place): QAR 2,000. The SRF is offset against the Autumn Term tuition fee.
- Assessment fee (payable only if an entrance assessment is required): QAR 300 for FS1–Year 6; QAR 275 for Year 7 and Year 8.

Tuition fees (per term and per year group)
- Foundation Stage 1 through Year 6:
- Termly: QAR 12,706.
- Yearly (annual): QAR 38,120.
- Year 7:
- Termly: QAR 16,166.
- Yearly (annual): QAR 48,500.
- Year 8:
- Termly: QAR 16,500.
- Yearly (annual): QAR 49,500.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The academic year is billed by term; invoices are issued for one term's school fees (and the registration fee) upon acceptance of an offered place. The invoice must be settled in full by the due date shown on the invoice to secure the place.
- Published term due dates for the 2025/2026 schedule are: Autumn Term due 31 August 2025; Spring Term due 4 January 2026; Summer Term due 29 March 2026.
- The Seat Reservation Fee is charged in advance for children reserving a place for the Autumn Term and will be offset against that term's tuition. Registration and SRF are non-refundable.

Boarding fees
- Doha English Speaking School operates as a day preparatory school; boarding is not offered.

Other costs and typical additional fees
- Uniform: Official school uniform is supplied through the authorised uniform shop (Zaks). Uniform items and their prices are available from that supplier; the uniform shop accepts payment by Visa and Mastercard.
- External invigilation and courier charges for entry assessments to other schools are additional to the tuition fees and are payable by the parent/guardian.
- Lost or unreturned library or classroom books will be invoiced for replacement value and must be settled with the Finance Office.

Refund information and withdrawal notice
- Registration fees, the Seat Reservation Fee (SRF), and assessment fees are identified as non-refundable. The SRF will be offset against the Autumn Term tuition when applicable.
- When withdrawing a child, the school requires written notice: a minimum of one term's notice in writing before the pupil's last day (excluding holidays) for all year groups except at the end of Year 8 (end of the Summer Term). Failure to provide the required notice will affect fee liability.
- Additional refund specifics (circumstances and any refundable deposits) and any late-payment penalties or detailed refund procedures are covered in the School Fee Policy and the published fee schedule for the academic year. Payment deadlines and consequences for unpaid fees are set out in the school's published fee policy.

Fee payment options
- School fees may be paid by bank transfer, cash, or cheque as part of the accepted payment methods for fee settlement. The authorised uniform shop accepts Visa and Mastercard for uniform purchases. Parents remain ultimately responsible for fee payment even when a company or sponsor pays directly.

Notes on invoicing and securing a place
- Upon acceptance of an offered place the Accounts Office issues the invoice for one term's fees plus the registration fee; payment of that invoice by the stated due date is required to secure the child's place.

(Figures and procedures above are taken from the school's published fee schedule and associated admissions/fee policy documents for the current academic year.)

DESS describes its student body as diverse with international families. No official public breakdown of nationalities is published. External listings have cited around 45 nationalities with approximately 62% of students being British, but these figures are not published by the school itself.