The State of Qatar and the French Republic continue to deepen their longstanding partnership in education, research, and academic collaboration, reflecting a shared commitment to fostering a knowledge-based society and investing in human capital. This cooperation, rooted in decades of strategic dialogue and bilateral agreements, spans a wide range of educational sectors, including public K-12 education, higher education, scholarship programs, and cultural exchanges.
Central to the bilateral cooperation is a joint committee established to oversee education-related initiatives. This committee facilitates coordination between Qatari and French institutions, focusing on curriculum development, teacher training, and the promotion of the French language within Qatar’s public schools. French higher education institutions, such as HEC Paris and the French Institute in Qatar, operate within the country, offering programs aligned with local labor market needs and serving as cultural hubs that promote Francophone language and values.
Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), represented by Undersecretary HE Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi, highlighted the robust growth in educational ties, including scholarship support, student exchanges, and joint academic programs. He noted the recent work of the Education, Health, and Sports working group—part of the broader Qatari-French Strategic Dialogue—and its efforts to enhance institutional collaboration. This group’s most recent meeting took place in May 2026.
In January, a high-level delegation from the MoEHE undertook an exploratory visit to France to expand current cooperation frameworks. The visit focused on strengthening linguistic collaboration, monitoring Qatari scholarship students based in France, and enhancing higher education ties. Officials engaged with representatives from the French Ministry of National Education, the High Council for Curricula, and international bodies such as UNESCO and the OECD to gain insights into governance, curriculum standards, teacher development, and sustainability initiatives within the French educational system.
Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs Omar Abdulaziz Al Namaa detailed the presence of French curriculum institutions in Qatar for the 2026–2027 academic year. He reported that seven educational establishments—including five schools and two kindergartens—follow the French curriculum, serving a total of 4,492 students, of whom 692 are Qatari nationals. Additionally, nine nurseries either implement the French curriculum or provide French language instruction, enrolling 129 Qatari children. For the 2025–2026 academic year, 44 Qatari students graduated from French curriculum schools in Qatar.
Ongoing collaborations also extend to scientific research, with Qatar University maintaining partnerships with French universities aimed at fostering innovation and sustainable development aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030. Both nations continue to explore new avenues for cooperation, focusing on knowledge exchange and capacity building in education and research sectors. These efforts underscore the sustained strategic partnership between Qatar and France, aimed at mutual advancement in education and scientific progress.