Qatar is investing QR6.4 billion ($1.75 billion) in a public-private partnership (PPP) programme to develop 22 schools. The initiative aims to expand access to education and strengthen the country’s learning infrastructure.
Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater announced the programme at the World Investment Forum 2026 in Doha. She said investment in people remains central to national development.
“The most important investment any country can make is in its people,” Al Khater said during a panel discussion on investing in skills, talent and entrepreneurship.
The programme includes plans to build the world’s two largest schools using 3D-printing technology. In addition, Qatar has signed agreements with private-sector partners to establish four new private schools.
Qatar’s education PPP programme to add school capacity
The four planned private schools are expected to provide around 5,000 additional student places. Their combined investment and operating expenditure is estimated at QR1.48 billion over 25 years.
The projects form part of Qatar’s wider effort to increase education capacity through private-sector partnerships. By combining public investment with private-sector participation, the government aims to expand school provision and improve access to learning.
However, the programme also extends beyond the construction of new facilities. Qatar is seeking to make education more accessible to students from different economic backgrounds.
Subsidised school places expand access to education
Al Khater also highlighted the expansion of the Community Responsibility Programme. It provides free or reduced-fee school places to Qatari students and children from low-income families.
The initiative has grown from 40 places to more than 18,000. This expansion has increased the number of places available to eligible students.
Meanwhile, contributions from programme partners are expected to exceed QR2 billion over the next decade. The funding will support the initiative as Qatar seeks to widen access to education.
Al Khater said a child’s circumstances should not determine their educational prospects. She stressed the need to give every child access to learning opportunities.
“We do not accept that circumstances should define the limits of any child’s educational journey,” she said.
Qatar highlights lifelong learning amid AI-driven change
The minister also addressed how artificial intelligence (AI) and rapid technological change are reshaping the global economy.
She said education must continue beyond graduation. Instead, lifelong learning and regular skills development are becoming increasingly important as industries and job requirements change.
For employers, this shift puts greater emphasis on helping workers develop new skills throughout their careers. It also highlights the need for closer cooperation between governments, educational institutions and businesses.
Al Khater described investment in future skills as both an economic necessity and a strategic choice. She linked workforce development to the ability of economies to respond to technological change and emerging employment opportunities.
Public-private partnerships support Qatar’s skills agenda
Qatar’s education initiatives combine infrastructure development, wider access to schooling and investment in future skills. The 22-school programme and the four planned private schools will add to the country’s education capacity.
At the same time, subsidised school places address access for eligible students, while the minister’s focus on lifelong learning points to the changing demands of the workforce.
Al Khater concluded by reaffirming Qatar’s commitment to welcoming partnerships and initiatives that support education, talent development and economic progress.
For employers and workforce leaders, the announcement highlights the connection between education investment and long-term skills development. As AI reshapes industries, access to education and opportunities for continuous learning will remain important to workforce planning.
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