Guides / Family & education / Kids' activities & camps
Summer camps in Qatar: choosing, booking and costs
How to find, compare and book a summer, winter or spring-break camp for your child in Qatar: the main types, age ranges, when registration opens, typical 2026 prices, and the safety questions to ask before you pay.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Season
- Summer camps mostly late June to late August; winter-break camps in the last third of December
- Ages
- From toddler (nursery camps) up to 18; most mainstream camps take 4–14
- Typical cost
- Free (Aspire, some Katara and ministry programmes) to about QAR 500–1,650 per week for private camps
- Book
- Early: most 2026 programmes opened registration in June and free camps filled first
Qatar's school summer holiday runs roughly from late June to late August, and with daytime temperatures above 40°C most parents look for an indoor, supervised camp for at least part of it. Camps range from free government and Aspire programmes to private sports, coding, arts, play-centre, hotel and nursery camps that charge by the day, week or month. This guide is for working parents and new families who want to choose well rather than just book the first advert they see. The usual order is: decide what you need (hours, dates, age, interests, budget), shortlist camps in early June when most programmes are announced, check the provider and its safety arrangements, then book quickly because free and popular camps fill up. The same approach works for shorter winter-break and spring-break camps. Prices below are examples from 2026 listings, not fixed rates; always confirm with the organiser.
Before you start
- Your child's exact age on the camp start date; many camps group by age band (for example 4–6 and 7–10) and are strict about it
- The weeks you actually need covered, including any travel, Eid or school start dates, so you only book those weeks
- Your work hours, to decide between half-day (about 8am–1pm) and full-day (up to about 5pm) camps and to plan drop-off and pick-up
- A copy of your child's QID or passport, which most registration forms ask for
- Your child's medical details: allergies, medicines, asthma or other conditions, and your health card or insurance details
- Two emergency contact numbers, including one person other than you who can collect your child
- A payment card for online booking; many private camps only hold a place once paid
- Swimwear, a named water bottle, a hat and a packed snack if the camp asks you to provide them
Step by step
Decide what kind of camp you need
Start with your needs, not the adverts. Write down the dates, daily hours, your child's age and what they enjoy, and your weekly budget. Camps in Qatar fall into a few types: sports (Aspire, Evo, trampoline parks), learning and STEM (coding, robotics, library and university programmes), arts and culture (Katara, VCUarts), indoor play and edutainment centres (KidzMondo, OliOli, Doha Quest, Bounce), hotel and club kids' camps, nursery camps for under-4s, and special-needs programmes. A child who is new to Qatar often settles better in a smaller camp with a familiar routine than in a big multi-activity one.
Check the free and government options first
Aspire Zone Foundation's summer camp is free with registration, for boys and girls aged 6–14, Sunday to Thursday 8am–1pm (in 2026 it ran 5–30 July, boys at Aspire Dome and girls at the Ladies Sports Hall). Katara Cultural Village runs a summer programme of short afternoon courses, some free and some paid. Qatar National Library runs weekly summer camp sessions for ages 1–17 that need online registration. The Ministry of Education's summer student activity centres (in 2026, 5 July–3 August, 9am–1pm, ages 6–18) are aimed at government-school students, Qatari students in private schools and students with disabilities, and registration is through the ministry's Maaref portal. The Ministry of Sports and Youth also announces a summer youth programme through its youth centres.
Watch for announcements from May to June
Most summer camps announce dates and prices between late May and mid June, and some open registration only a few weeks before they start. In 2026, Aspire opened registration on 12 June for a camp starting 5 July and said places were limited. Follow the Instagram accounts and websites of the camps you are interested in, and check the summer camp round-ups that The Peninsula, Marhaba and QIC publish each year. For winter break, look in November; the government school winter break falls in the last third of December, and many private schools break around 20–31 December, so check your own school's calendar.
Compare the real weekly cost
Prices are quoted in different ways, so convert everything to a weekly figure for the hours you need. Some camps charge per day (around QAR 150–280 in 2026), per week (commonly QAR 500–1,100), or per month, and half-day and full-day rates differ a lot. Ask what is included: lunch, snacks, materials, a T-shirt, trips and transport are often extra. Ask about sibling discounts, multi-week discounts and employer or ministry staff discounts, which some camps offer. Remember that camps usually run Sunday to Thursday only.
Read guide: Cost of living in Qatar: a realistic monthly budget →Check who runs the camp
Prefer camps run by an established organisation you can identify: a school, university, sports club, hotel, licensed nursery, library or a registered company with a real venue. Ask for the company name and its commercial registration, and for nursery camps ask whether the nursery holds its government licence. The Ministry of Sports and Youth publishes a guide to the licences and permits private companies need to offer youth activities, so it is reasonable to ask a youth-activity provider whether it has one. Be careful with camps advertised only on social media with no address, no company name and payment by personal bank transfer.
Read guide: Finding a nursery in Qatar: licensing, fees and what to check →Ask the safety questions
Before paying, ask how many staff look after each group and how children are grouped by age. Ask whether staff are trained in first aid, whether there is a nurse or first-aid room, and how they handle allergies and medicines. For swimming, ask whether a qualified lifeguard is on duty and how children are split by ability. Ask who is allowed to collect your child and how they check it, and whether boys and girls are in separate groups if that matters to you. A good camp answers these questions easily and in writing.
Ask about heat and outdoor time
From June to September, outdoor activity in the middle of the day is risky for children. Choose camps that run indoors or in air-conditioned halls, and ask how much time is spent outside, at what times, and whether water breaks are built in. Outdoor sessions should be early in the morning or after sunset. Pack a named water bottle every day and teach your child the signs of heat exhaustion so they tell a counsellor if they feel unwell.
Read guide: Surviving Qatar's summer: heat safety and staying cool →Register and pay
Most camps register online through their own website, a ticketing site such as Q-Tickets or Platinumlist, or a simple online form; some still take bookings by phone or WhatsApp. Fill in the medical and emergency sections carefully, upload any requested ID, and keep the confirmation email or receipt. Read the refund and transfer policy before paying: many private camps do not refund missed days, but some will move a week if you tell them in advance. If a camp is full, ask to join the waiting list, because places do open up when families travel.
Plan transport and the daily routine
Most camps do not provide transport, so plan the drop-off and pick-up route and allow for summer traffic around Aspire Zone, Education City and the malls. Check where you are allowed to park and the exact drop-off and pick-up windows; some camps charge for late collection. If someone else will collect your child, register their name and number with the camp in advance. Some venues, such as Aspire and Education City, are reachable by Doha Metro if an older child travels with an adult.
Read guide: Doha Metro, Metrolink and Karwa buses: cards, fares and how to ride →Prepare your child for day one
Label everything: water bottle, bag, hat, swimwear and towel. Pack the snacks or lunch the camp asks for and respect nut-free or other food rules. Hand over any medicine in its original box with written instructions, and tell staff about allergies again in person on the first morning. Talk to your child about what will happen, who to go to if they need help, and when you will collect them.
Check in after the first few days
Ask your child what they did and how they felt, and ask the counsellor how they are settling in. If something worries you, such as poor supervision, too much screen time or long periods outside in the heat, raise it with the camp manager straight away. If a commercial camp refuses a refund it promised or does not deliver what it advertised, you can complain to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Keep notes on which camps worked so you can book early next year.
Read guide: Consumer rights in Qatar: refunds, exchanges, warranties and complaining to MOCI →Use the same approach for winter and spring breaks
Winter-break and spring-break camps are shorter, often one or two weeks, and are run by many of the same providers: play centres, sports academies, the library and some schools and universities. They are announced later, often only two to four weeks ahead, so check providers' Instagram pages and the library's events calendar early. Winter is also the season for outdoor activities, so outdoor sports and nature camps are more common then than in summer.
Read guide: After-school sports and activities for children in Qatar →
What it costs
| Aspire Summer Camp (2026, ages 6–14, half day) | Free, registration required |
| Hotel kids' camp, example (2026, half day) | QAR 150 per day; QAR 500–600 per week |
| Multi-sport camp, example (2026, 8am–1pm) | QAR 750 per week |
| Coding / robotics camp, example (2026) | QAR 750 per week |
| Indoor play and edutainment camps, examples (2026) | About QAR 650–1,650 per week depending on hours |
| Trampoline park camp, example (2026) | From QAR 199 per day; QAR 800–1,100 per week |
| University junior camp, example (2026, 8am–2pm) | QAR 800 per week, public rate |
| Special-needs summer programmes, examples (2026) | QAR 900 per week to QAR 2,500 per session |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until school ends to look; free and popular camps fill within days of opening registration
- Comparing a per-day price with a per-week price without working out the real weekly cost for your hours
- Booking a camp with long outdoor sessions in July or August without asking when and where children are outside
- Paying by personal bank transfer to a camp with no company name, address or receipt
- Not reading the refund policy before paying for a whole month you may not use
- Leaving allergy and medicine details off the form, or assuming the information reached the counsellor
- Not registering the name of another adult who may collect your child
- Assuming the Ministry of Education summer centres accept all children; check eligibility first
Questions people ask
Are there any free summer camps in Qatar?
Yes. Aspire Zone Foundation's summer camp for ages 6–14 was free with registration in 2026, and Katara's summer programme includes some free courses. Qatar National Library runs registered summer sessions, and the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sports and Youth run summer programmes. Places are limited, so register as soon as registration opens.
Can expat children join the Ministry of Education summer centres?
The 2026 centres were announced for government-school students, Qatari students in private schools and students with disabilities, aged 6–18. Expat children at government schools are covered; for expat children at private schools, eligibility was not stated, so check the Maaref portal or ask the ministry. Most expat families in private schools use Aspire, library or private camps instead.
When should I book a summer camp?
Start looking in late May and be ready to book in the first half of June. In 2026, Aspire opened registration on 12 June for a camp starting 5 July and warned that places were limited. Private camps often keep taking bookings week by week, but popular weeks in July fill first.
Are there camps for toddlers or children under 4?
Yes, many nurseries run summer camps for babies and toddlers, usually booked by the week or month, and some play centres and hotel clubs take children from about age 3 or 4. Choose a licensed nursery and check staff ratios and nap and feeding routines. See the nurseries guide for how licensing works.
Are there summer camps for children with special needs or disabilities?
Yes. In 2026, Education City ran an Ability Friendly Summer Camp for ages 5–18, Step by Step ran a therapeutic summer programme for ages 3–18, Mada Center has run short technology camps for children with disabilities, and the Ministry of Education ran a dedicated centre at Al Hidayah School. Dates and prices change each year, so contact them early.
Do summer camps in Qatar provide transport?
Most do not; parents drop off and collect. Some school-based or larger camps offer a bus for an extra fee, so ask when you book. Plan for heavy traffic at drop-off times near Aspire Zone, Education City and big malls.
Are camps outdoors in the summer heat?
Reputable summer camps keep children in air-conditioned halls, pools and indoor centres for most of the day. Ask how much time is spent outside and at what time; outdoor play in July and August should be early morning only. Send a large named water bottle every day.
Can I get a refund if my child is sick or we travel?
It depends on the camp's terms, which you should read before you pay. Many private camps do not refund missed days but may move a week or give credit if you tell them early. If a business does not honour its written terms, you can complain to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Official sources
- Aspire Zone: Aspire Summer Camp 2026 registration ↗
- The Peninsula: Summer camps across Qatar in 2026 ↗
- The Peninsula: Ministry of Education summer 2026 student activity centres ↗
- Gulf Times: Ministry of Sports and Youth 2026 summer youth programme ↗
- Marhaba: Summer camps in Qatar 2026 ↗
- QIC: Summer camps in Qatar guide for parents ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.