Guides / Family & education / Nurseries
Finding a nursery in Qatar: licensing, fees and what to check
How to find a licensed nursery for a baby or toddler in Qatar: who regulates nurseries, how they differ from kindergarten, what they cost, the documents to register, and what to check on a visit.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Regulator
- MOEHE, Department of Nurseries (call 155 or 4404 4444)
- Ages
- Under 4; many nurseries take babies from about 2 months
- Typical fees
- About QAR 2,000 to 5,500+ a month (2026 market survey)
- Usual hours
- About 7:00am to 2:30pm or 3:30pm, with paid extended care at many
In Qatar a nursery is a licensed place that cares for children under four, from a few months old up to the age when most children move to kindergarten. Nurseries are licensed and inspected by the Department of Nurseries at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE), not by the Ministry of Social Development and Family, and running one without a licence is a criminal offence. Most nurseries are private, fees are paid monthly, and infant places at popular nurseries fill first. The order that works is: decide what care you need, build a shortlist of licensed nurseries near home or work, visit and compare, then register with your child's documents and plan a gentle settling-in period. This guide is for parents of babies and toddlers; for kindergarten and school places, see the school guides.
Before you start
- Your child's Qatar ID (QID) or residence permit and passport copies; a newborn needs these sorted first
- Your child's birth certificate, plus an English or Arabic copy if it was issued abroad
- An up-to-date vaccination card, because nurseries check immunisations before a child starts
- Both parents' QID and passport copies
- Recent passport-size photos of your child
- Notes on allergies, medicines, feeding routine and any medical conditions, plus your doctor's contact details
- A list of people allowed to collect your child, with their QID copies and phone numbers
- A monthly budget that covers the registration fee, deposit and any extra hours, not only tuition
- Your work hours and commute, so you know the drop-off and pick-up times you really need
Step by step
Decide what kind of care you need
Start with your child's age and your working hours. MOEHE classifies nurseries into three types: day care nurseries, which mainly look after children while parents work; care and education nurseries, which also teach early language, reading, writing and number skills; and specialised nurseries for children with disabilities or learning difficulties. Decide whether you need half days, a full working day or extended hours, and how many days a week. Knowing this first saves time, because fees and availability depend on the room, the hours and the days you choose.
Understand nursery versus kindergarten
A nursery is for children under four. Kindergarten (KG) is the first stage of school, run by private schools, standalone kindergartens or government schools, and it is also supervised by MOEHE but under school rules. The labels are confusing: a class called Nursery, FS1, Pre-K or Lower KG in a school is usually for children who are three by the school's cut-off date, often 31 August or 30 September. If your child is close to three, compare a nursery place with a school or KG place, because school places for FS1 and KG fill early. In May 2024 the Cabinet approved a proposal to let government kindergartens enrol children from age three; check current rules with MOEHE.
Read guide: Choosing a school in Qatar: curricula, fees and admission →Build a shortlist of licensed nurseries
Use official sources first. MOEHE publishes a list of nurseries on its website, and its Where Is My School? search on the Maaref public services portal also lists nurseries alongside schools. Pick a handful close to your home or your route to work, because Doha traffic makes long drop-offs tiring for small children. Then read each nursery's own website or social media for its curriculum, hours and fees, and ask other parents in your building or workplace for honest views.
Check the licence before anything else
Every nursery needs a licence from MOEHE, renewed every year. Ask to see the current licence, check that the name on it matches the nursery and the address, and confirm the nursery appears on the ministry's list. If you are unsure, call MOEHE on 155 and ask. Avoid people who look after several children in a flat or villa without a licence: the ministry has warned that this is illegal and a serious health and safety risk, and you lose the protection of inspections. MOEHE also awards a White Flag to nurseries with three years in a row without violations or warnings, which is a useful extra sign.
Visit and use a checklist
Visit during a normal morning, not only at an open day, and watch how staff talk to and comfort the children. Ask how many children each adult looks after in the baby, toddler and preschool rooms, and how big each group is. Ask about staff qualifications and first-aid training, and who the nurse is; the nursery law requires a nurse, a dietitian and a visiting doctor, and only women may work directly with the children. Check secure entry, who can collect children, fire exits, clean nappy-change and sleep areas, shaded outdoor play, and whether there is CCTV and who can see it. Ask whether meals are cooked on site or packed from home and how allergies are handled.
Compare the full cost
Ask for the written fee schedule for the room, hours and days you need. On top of monthly tuition, many nurseries charge a one-time registration fee, a refundable deposit, meals, extra hours and late-collection charges, and some offer sibling discounts. Ask how many months' notice you must give to leave, whether fees are charged during holidays or your annual leave, and when the deposit is refunded. Add it all up before comparing, because a lower monthly fee can cost more once extras are counted.
Read guide: Cost of living in Qatar: a realistic monthly budget →Register early and join waiting lists
Places for babies are the hardest to find, so start looking several months before you return to work, and during pregnancy if you can. Ask how long the waiting list is for your child's room and start date, and whether a registration fee is refundable if no place opens. Registering with two nurseries can be sensible, but read the refund terms first. Nurseries usually ask for a completed registration form and a signed fee agreement along with your documents.
Get your child's papers ready
Nurseries normally ask for copies of your child's QID and passport, the birth certificate, recent photos, both parents' QIDs, and the vaccination card. For a baby born in Qatar, that means finishing the birth certificate, passport and residence permit first, which can take some weeks. Make sure routine vaccinations are up to date at your health centre, because the nursery will check the card. Keep scans of everything on your phone so you can send them quickly when a place is offered.
Read guide: Newborn in Qatar: birth certificate, passport and residence permit →Plan around your working hours
Typical nursery hours run from about 7:00am to 2:30pm or 3:30pm, and many offer paid early drop-off or extended care until 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Under the Labour Law, a mother returning from maternity leave is entitled to a paid nursing break, generally one hour a day for a year after the birth; agree with your manager how and when you take it. Qatar has no general rule that private employers must run a workplace nursery, but some large employers have their own centres or partner nurseries, so ask HR. Have a back-up person for days when your child is sick or the nursery is closed.
Read guide: Working hours, overtime pay and weekly rest in Qatar →Settle your child in gently
Most nurseries offer a settling-in period, often starting with short visits with a parent and building up over a week or two. Plan this before your first day back at work, not on the same day. Bring familiar comfort items, share your child's routine for sleep and feeding, and keep goodbyes short and calm. Ask how the nursery will update you, for example daily reports, photos or an app, and agree what will happen if your child is very upset.
Know the sick-child and safety policies
Ask for the written health policy before your child starts. Find out which symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or a rash, mean a child must stay home, how long they must be well before returning, and whether a doctor's note is needed. Ask how medicines are stored and given, and how the nursery reaches you in an emergency. Keep your phone numbers and authorised pick-up list up to date, and if you have a serious concern the nursery does not resolve, report it to MOEHE on 155.
Read guide: Emergencies in Qatar: who to call and where to go →Consider a nanny at home as an alternative
Some families prefer care at home, especially for young babies or for long working days. In Qatar this usually means sponsoring a domestic worker, such as a nanny, on a domestic worker visa, with a contract, housing, food and health cover provided by you. It can be more flexible than a nursery, but you take on an employer's legal duties. Do not rely on someone who looks after several children for money without a licence, because that is illegal.
Read guide: Hiring a domestic worker in Qatar: visa, contract and rights →
What it costs
| Monthly fee, mainstream full-time care (2026 market survey) | About QAR 2,000 to 4,000 |
| Monthly fee, premium or long-day programmes | QAR 5,000+ |
| Registration fee (one-time, typical) | About QAR 1,000 to 1,500 |
| Deposit (typical) | About QAR 2,000 |
| Extra hours (typical, where offered) | About QAR 60 an hour |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Leaving your child with an unlicensed home-based carer; it is illegal and there are no inspections
- Starting the search a few weeks before returning to work, when infant rooms are already full
- Comparing only monthly tuition and missing registration fees, deposits, meals and late-pick-up charges
- Not reading the notice period and refund terms before paying a registration fee or deposit
- Choosing a nursery far from home or work and underestimating the daily traffic
- Skipping a settling-in period and starting full days on your first day back at work
- Letting the vaccination card fall behind, which can delay your child's start date
- Missing the school cut-off for FS1 or KG because you assumed your child could stay in nursery longer
Questions people ask
Who licenses nurseries in Qatar now, the Ministry of Social Development and Family or the Ministry of Education?
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Its Department of Nurseries, under the Private Education Affairs sector, licenses, supervises and inspects nurseries. The 2014 nursery law originally gave this role to the former labour and social affairs ministry, which is why older articles name a different ministry.
From what age can my baby start nursery?
Nurseries in Qatar care for children under four. Many accept babies from about two months, but age limits differ by nursery and baby rooms have the fewest places. Ask each nursery for its minimum age and whether your start date is realistic.
Is a nursery the same as FS1 or KG1?
Not quite. A nursery is a separately licensed childcare centre for under-fours. FS1, Pre-K or a school's Nursery class is usually the first year of a school or kindergarten for children who are three by the cut-off date. Compare by your child's birthday and the school's cut-off, not by the label.
How much does a nursery cost in Doha?
A 2026 market survey put mainstream full-time care at about QAR 2,000 to 4,000 a month and premium programmes above QAR 5,000, plus a one-time registration fee and a deposit. Fees depend on the hours, days and area, so always ask for the written fee schedule.
My neighbour looks after a few children in her flat. Is that allowed?
Regularly caring for other people's children as a business needs a nursery licence. The ministry has warned against unlicensed home-based childcare as a serious health and safety risk, and operating without a licence can bring a fine of up to QAR 100,000 or jail. A licensed nursery or your own sponsored nanny are the legal options.
Does my employer have to provide a nursery?
There is no general rule requiring private employers in Qatar to run a workplace nursery. Mothers do get a paid nursing break under the Labour Law, generally one hour a day for a year after the birth. Some employers have their own or partner nurseries, so ask HR.
Can I register before my baby has a QID?
You can usually visit, join a waiting list and pay to hold a place, but most nurseries ask for the child's QID or residence permit before the start date. Finish the birth certificate, passport and residence permit early so they do not delay your return to work.
Does my child need to be toilet trained?
Not for nursery; baby and toddler rooms care for children in nappies. Some kindergartens and early years centres expect children to be toilet trained when they join at three or four, so check before you move your child on.
Official sources
- MOEHE: About nurseries (Department of Nurseries) ↗
- MOEHE: List of nurseries ↗
- The Peninsula (July 2024): new decisions on nursery types, staff and licensing ↗
- Gulf Times: Law No. 1 of 2014 on nurseries ↗
- Qatar Tribune (Jan 2026): 65 nurseries honoured under the White Flag initiative ↗
- Qatar Living (2026): Nurseries and daycares in Qatar, costs and how to choose ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.