Qatar Educational Vouchers 2026: MOEHE Reopens Applications, Income Limit Raised to QAR 35,000
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar has reopened applications for educational vouchers through the Maarif public services portal. In a significant update that will benefit a larger number of Qatari families, the Ministry has also raised the maximum eligible monthly family income from QAR 25,000 to QAR 35,000, after deducting all financial obligations.
The announcement was made on June 25, 2026 and comes as part of the Ministry’s ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility project, implemented in cooperation with private schools and kindergartens across Qatar. The project currently provides more than 9,000 seats across four support categories, with approximately 2,400 of those seats specifically funded through educational vouchers.
For Qatari families who were previously just above the old income threshold, this update is directly relevant. If your household net income, meaning your salary after all financial obligations are deducted, falls at or below QAR 35,000 per month, you may now be eligible to apply.
If you are also navigating school options in Qatar more broadly, our complete guide to the best schools in Qatar 2026 covers private school options, fees, curriculums and admissions information for every type of family.
What Are Qatar’s Educational Vouchers?
The educational voucher program is a Ministry of Education initiative that allows eligible Qatari students to enrol in participating private schools and kindergartens without paying tuition fees out of pocket. Each voucher is valued at QAR 28,000 per year.
Here is the part that makes this particularly valuable: even if the private school’s annual fees are higher than QAR 28,000, the family does not pay the difference. The school owners cover the gap as their contribution to the Ministry’s Corporate Social Responsibility project. This means a child can attend a school that costs significantly more than QAR 28,000 per year without any additional financial burden on the family.
The program is designed to give eligible Qatari families genuine access to diverse, high-quality educational options that they might not otherwise be able to afford, promoting equal educational opportunity across the country.
Who Is Eligible for Educational Vouchers in Qatar?
Eligibility for the subsidized educational voucher seats is based on the following:
The applicant must be a Qatari national. The maximum actual monthly family income, after deducting all financial obligations, must not exceed QAR 35,000. This is the updated threshold announced on June 25, 2026, raised from the previous limit of QAR 25,000.
The phrase “actual family income” is important and the Ministry has specifically clarified what it means. It does not refer simply to the gross salary figure on an official payslip. It refers to the income that remains after all financial obligations, such as loans, commitments, and other monthly deductions, have been accounted for. Parents are required to submit their original payslip alongside supporting documents that prove their other financial obligations when submitting an application.
Children with special needs are also included in the program, with dedicated seats in the disability support category among the more than 9,000 total seats available.
The Four Categories of Support Under the CSR Project
The Ministry’s Corporate Social Responsibility project with private schools and kindergartens offers support across four distinct categories:
Fully free seats, which cover the entire cost of tuition with no family contribution required. Discounted seats, which offer a reduced tuition rate for eligible families. Seats for students with disabilities, specifically allocated to support children with special educational needs. Seats subsidized by educational vouchers, which is the category this application reopening relates to, covering approximately 2,400 seats across participating schools.
How to Apply for Educational Vouchers Through the Maarif Portal
Applications must be submitted electronically through the Maarif public services portal on the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s official website. All required documents must be attached to complete the application and secure a seat.
Required documents include the original payslip and supporting documents proving all financial obligations. Additional documentation requirements may apply depending on individual circumstances, so checking the Maarif portal directly for the full and current list of requirements before submitting is strongly advised.
Given that the seats are limited and applications are now reopened following an update in eligibility, families who believe they qualify should apply promptly. Seats across all four support categories total more than 9,000, but demand is significant and availability will not remain open indefinitely.
How to apply: Visit the Maarif portal through the MOEHE official website and submit your application electronically with all required documents attached.
Why This Update Matters for Qatari Families
The decision to raise the income ceiling from QAR 25,000 to QAR 35,000 is a meaningful and practical change. Many Qatari families fall in the range between these two figures, either just above the old threshold or within the new one, and this update directly opens the program to a broader segment of the population.
Dr. Rania Mohammed, Director of the Private Schools and Kindergartens Department and Acting Director of the Private Schools Licensing Department at MOEHE, confirmed that the program continues to expand its support for eligible families and that the income threshold increase specifically aims to broaden the number of beneficiaries.
The value of the program itself, a QAR 28,000 annual voucher that covers fees even at schools that charge more than that amount, means the benefit is substantial for families who qualify. With private school fees in Qatar often running from QAR 30,000 to well over QAR 80,000 per year depending on the school and curriculum, access to this voucher can make a significant difference in which schools are realistically available to a family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Qatar educational voucher program?
It is a Ministry of Education and Higher Education initiative that provides eligible Qatari students with vouchers valued at QAR 28,000 to cover private school or kindergarten tuition fees, with no additional cost to the family even if the school fees exceed the voucher value.
Who can apply for educational vouchers in Qatar?
Qatari nationals whose actual monthly family income, after deducting all financial obligations, does not exceed QAR 35,000 per month. Children with special needs also have dedicated seats available under the program.
What is the Maarif portal?
Maarif is the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s public services portal through which eligible families can submit applications for educational support including the voucher program.
How much is the educational voucher worth?
Each educational voucher is valued at QAR 28,000 per year. If the school’s fees exceed this amount, the school covers the difference as part of the Ministry’s CSR project.
What documents are needed to apply?
The original payslip and supporting documents proving financial obligations are required. Full document requirements are listed on the Maarif portal.
Why was the income limit raised?
The Ministry raised the maximum monthly income threshold from QAR 25,000 to QAR 35,000 to broaden the number of eligible families and expand access to the program.
How many seats are available?
The project provides more than 9,000 seats across four categories. Approximately 2,400 of those seats are funded by educational vouchers.
How do I apply?
Through the Maarif public services portal on the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s official website, attaching all required documents electronically.
Source: Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE), Qatar News Agency (QNA), June 25, 2026
