Qatar's first Turkish school opens in Doha

The first Turkish school in the Gulf Arab country of Qatar was scheduled to open Sunday, according to the school director.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Mehmet Said Karatosun said the school will offer teaching to the children of Turks living in Qatar. "The school will follow the Turkish curriculum and teaching will be in Turkish," he said.

Karatosun said the non-existence of Turkish schools in Qatar has prevented many Turkish families from residing in the Gulf state. "Turkish families are keen on teaching their children in Turkish schools," he said. He said the school, whose cornerstone was laid by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan three years ago, has a capacity of 350 students and will be supervised by the Turkish embassy in Doha.

Karatosun said the fees of the Turkish school are moderate compared to "the high fees of private schools in Qatar." "We hope our school will attract many Turkish families residing in Qatar and encourage other Turkish families to stay in the country," he said. There is a Turkish community of around 7,000 in Qatar. In December, the Turkish Cultural Center Yunus Emre opened in Doha, in a move seen as bolstering ties between Turkey and Qatar.