Qatar University celebrates first dental graduates

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 23. June 2025

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DOHA, Qatar: Qatar University has marked a historic milestone with the graduation of the founding cohort from the College of Dental Medicine, the country’s first and so far, only dental school. This achievement represents a significant advancement in Qatar’s ongoing efforts to develop a sustainable, locally trained oral healthcare workforce.

The first graduating class comprises 14 students, half of whom are Qatari nationals. The majority are set to begin their professional careers with leading national healthcare providers, including Hamad Medical Corporation and the Primary Health Care Corporation, thereby directly contributing to the country’s health services. The development represents a notable stride towards workforce localisation and national self-sufficiency in Qatar’s healthcare sector, according to an article by the Qatar-based English daily The Peninsula.

Founded in September 2019, the college offers a six-year Doctor of Dental Medicine programme specifically designed to build a sustainable, locally trained workforce of oral health professionals. The curriculum integrates foundational sciences with early clinical exposure, and students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including a simulation clinic equipped through a partnership with Dentsply Sirona.

Reflecting on the occasion, Prof. Asmaa Al-Thani, vice-president for health and medical sciences, commented that the graduation ceremony was a celebration of the students’ achievements and of the country’s progress in providing high-quality health education. He said: “The College of Dental Medicine stands as a national model of what can be achieved when academic excellence, clinical partnerships and strategic vision come together. We are proud to contribute to a new generation of health profession leaders who will shape the future of patient care in Qatar.”

Dean of the College, Prof. Mandeep Singh Duggal, said the graduation was a “proud and pivotal moment in the history of education in the State of Qatar, and a dream that has been realised to have dental education within our borders.”

Prof. Duggal continued: “In partnership with our stakeholders, the college has grown into an internationally recognised institution. These new graduates are ready to make an excellent, evidence-based and ethical contribution to dental practice, and they will stand shoulder to shoulder with the best dental graduates in the world.”

Qatar has undertaken significant efforts to Qatarise its health workforce, aligning with its National Vision 2030 and broader labour localisation objectives. Late last year, Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani ratified a law mandating private-sector organisations to prioritise Qatari nationals and issue biannual reports on their workforces.

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