French schools in Doha: Bonaparte, Voltaire, fees and enrolment

Moving to Doha with your family? Good news: the city has two French schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education, from kindergarten all the way to the baccalauréat. Here is how they differ, what tuition really costs (official, up-to-date figures) and how to enrol your children.

Two French schools, both accredited

Doha has exactly two French establishments accredited by the French Ministry of Education (through the AEFE network), both covering kindergarten to Year 13:

• the Lycée français Bonaparte (an AEFE conventionné school);
• the Lycée franco-qatarien Voltaire (an AEFE partenaire school).

There is no other French school, and no Mission laïque française establishment, in Qatar. Both offer a comparable standard of education: the best approach is to visit both and meet the teams before deciding.

Lycée français Bonaparte

Opened in 1976 (it took the name Bonaparte in 1994), it is Doha’s AEFE conventionné school. It teaches close to 2,000 pupils, from kindergarten to the final year, on a modernised campus in West Bay (Al Intisar Street).

Tuition fees 2025-2026 (annual, full rate):

• Kindergarten: QAR 30,209
• Primary: QAR 30,618
• Middle school: QAR 36,036
• High school: QAR 46,200

A reduced rate exists for French or Qatari pupils whose parents’ employer does not cover school fees. Also budget for a first-registration fee (QAR 5,908) and a deposit. Transport and canteen are not included. (The 2026-2027 fees had not yet been published in summer 2026.)

Lycée franco-qatarien Voltaire

Founded in 2007, it is the AEFE partenaire school, also accredited from kindergarten to the final year. It stands out for its bilingual, bicultural French-Qatari curriculum, CIS accreditation and IB programme, spread over three campuses (West Bay, Al Waab, Salwa Road) with around 1,700 pupils.

Tuition fees 2026-2027 (annual tuition):

• Kindergarten: QAR 40,600
• Primary: QAR 41,580
• Middle and high school: QAR 44,690

Add school supplies (about QAR 640 per year) and a first-registration fee (around QAR 2,600). Payment is spread over three instalments (40 / 40 / 20%).

How to choose between the two?

A few pointers:

• Location: pick the campus closest to your future home (Doha commutes can be long at rush hour).
• Profile: Bonaparte follows a classic French curriculum (conventionné); Voltaire focuses on French-Qatari bilingualism and offers the IB.
• Budget: Bonaparte is markedly cheaper in kindergarten and primary (roughly QAR 10,000 less per year); at high-school level, however, Voltaire edges ahead (QAR 44,690 versus 46,200).
• Timing: places go fast. Enquire and submit your application as early as possible.

Enrolment, step by step

Both schools handle admissions online (the EDUKA platform). The typical journey:

1. First contact and online application.
2. Placement test or interview (depending on age and previous school).
3. Approval by the school management.
4. Payment and confirmation of the place.

Documents usually required: the child’s and parents’ passports, Qatar ID (QID) both sides, current school certificate and recent report cards, up-to-date vaccination record, family record book or birth certificate, and (for French or Qatari nationals) an employer certificate. Incomplete applications are rejected: prepare everything in advance.

Before school age: nurseries

For younger children, Doha has a few French or bilingual nurseries, such as Perles d’Avenir (which presents itself as Qatar’s first French nursery) or Petits Pas (bilingual French-English). The list is not exhaustive and places are limited: contact nurseries directly, and ask the community for advice.

📖 This article is part of our full series: Settling in Doha: the complete guide.

Fees and information verified in July 2026 against official sources (AEFE, the Bonaparte and Voltaire school websites). Tuition fees change every school year: always confirm the current amount on the school’s website.