Al Jazeera Academy Qatar

What Al Jazeera Academy Qatar does

Best Buddies Qatar (بست باديز قطر) is a non-profit organization established in 2008 under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, operating under the umbrella of Qatar Social Work (مؤسسة قطر للعمل الاجتماعي) and the Ministry of Social Development and Family. It is the 40th branch among 46 Best Buddies branches worldwide, dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of individuals with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Qatar, including those with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities. The organization is led by Manager Mashael Ali Al-Misnad (مشاعل بنت علي المسند) and operates from the Legtaifiya Area in Doha.

The organization delivers three core programmatic pillars. The Friendship Program operates school-based chapters in middle schools (954 participants) and high schools (924 participants), university programs (170 participants including at University of Arkansas Qatar), and a Citizens community program for adults with IDD (89 participants). The Jobs Program (Integrated Employment) places IDD individuals with employers based on interest and talent match, with ongoing workplace support — currently 6 individuals are employed, contributing 252 hours weekly or 1,728 hours yearly. The Leadership Development Program includes Promoters (Sahem) with 69 youth advocates and an Ambassadors program with 4 trained speakers. All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries.

The revenue model is donation- and grant-based, supported by corporate sponsorships (Ooredoo since 2017, Qatar Financial Centre since 2019), strategic partnerships with Qatar Foundation, Qatar Paralympic Committee, Qatar Red Crescent, and Shafallah Center, and government backing through Qatar Social Work. Go-to-market is community-led: direct field engagement through schools, universities, employers, and volunteer chapters, supplemented by website (bestbuddies.org.qa), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels. The organization is not a technology business and operates without proprietary software products, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Al Jazeera Academy Qatar

Legal name

Best Buddies Qatar (بست باديز قطر)

Website

https://bestbuddies.org.qa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Best Buddies Qatar is a Doha-based non-profit, established in 2008 under Qatar Social Work, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Friendship, Jobs (Integrated Employment), and Leadership Development programs across schools, universities, and community chapters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Mentorship, Buddy & Host-Family Matching Programs (EDAIAKAD)

Keywords

• Disability inclusion services
• Integrated employment programs
• Friendship programs
• Leadership development
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Doha

HQ country

Qatar

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a nonprofit organization, Best Buddies Qatar relies on donations, grants, and support from government entities and private sector partners to fund its programs and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Best Buddies Qatar is a nonprofit organization that creates one-to-one friendships, integrated employment opportunities, and leadership development programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The organization operates three core programmatic pillars — the Friendship Program (schools, colleges, citizens), the Jobs Program (supported employment), and the Leadership Development Program (Promoters/Sahem and Ambassadors) — delivered free of charge to beneficiaries through schools, universities, employers, and community partners.

Product overview

Best Buddies Qatar operates as a non-profit organization offering three core programmatic pillars: (1) the Friendship Program with school-based chapters (middle schools, high schools, colleges) and a Citizens community program for adults; (2) the Jobs Program providing integrated employment opportunities with ongoing support; and (3) the Leadership Development Program featuring Promoters/Sahem for youth advocacy and an Ambassadors program for public speaking training. The organization focuses exclusively on serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) including Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, and Williams syndrome.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Friendship Program One-to-one friendship matching program that connects people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with peers without disabilities through clubs in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and community-based Citizen chapters.
• Jobs Program (Integrated Employment)

Quantifiable outcome

• 954 middle school students with IDD matched in friendships
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Al Dana ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsored the Sports Day Celebration with participation of 30 members with disabilities and 30 volunteers.
• Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Provided official support and sponsorship for the promotional film of the Best Buddies initiative in 2019.
• OoredoocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership agreement signed in 2017 to support programs and activities of Best Buddies Qatar.
• Shafallah Center for Persons with DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBest Buddies Qatar was established as an initiative under the umbrella of the Shafallah Center. The center serves as the parent organization providing operational support.
• Qatar Social Work / مؤسسة قطر للعمل الاجتماعيcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating under the umbrella of Qatar Social Work and the Ministry of Social Development and Family since 2013.
• Place Vendôme QatarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting Best Buddies Qatar initiatives.
• Trocadero Theme ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing support for Best Buddies Qatar programs.
• KidzMondominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting inclusion activities.
• Qatar Foundation (Ability Friendly)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner supporting ability-friendly initiatives in Qatar.
• Qatar Tennis and Squash FederationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting sports activities for persons with disabilities.
• Education City Golf Club QatarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting Best Buddies Qatar events and activities.
• Qatar Red CrescentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian partner supporting social initiatives.
• Al Rayyan Sports ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports partner supporting inclusion through athletics.
• Mars Wrigley Middle East AfricaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting programs and activities.
• IKEA QatarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting inclusion initiatives.
• Al-Shaqab (Qatar's Royal Equestrian Academy)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner hosting equestrian experiences for Best Buddies participants.
• Qatar Paralympic CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner for sports activities for persons with disabilities.
• U.S. Embassy DohaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiplomatic partner supporting cultural exchange and inclusion programs.
• Rasan Sports CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored the outing event for International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mada Center Qatar: Qatari assistive technology center for persons with disabilities. Operates in the same disability inclusion space in Qatar and shares stakeholder overlap with Qatar Social Work.
• Qatar Foundation: Major Qatari nonprofit with inclusion-focused initiatives (Ability Friendly) and a partner of Best Buddies Qatar. Operates education, research, and community development programs that overlap in beneficiary base.
• Inclusion International: Global federation advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities. Operates in a similar advocacy and inclusion space with comparable international network structure.
• Qatar Red Crescent Society: Qatari humanitarian nonprofit and partner of Best Buddies Qatar. Operates social and humanitarian programs with similar community-based service delivery in Qatar.
• Qatar Social Work (مؤسسة قطر للعمل الاجتماعي): The umbrella government-affiliated social work foundation that oversees Best Buddies Qatar and a portfolio of centers (Nama, Wifaq, Dreama, Ehsan, Aman, Al-Noor, Daem). Directly comparable governance structure and beneficiary focus.

Direct peers

• Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities: Qatari center for persons with disabilities that originally hosted Best Buddies Qatar as an initiative. Provides operational support and shares a direct service overlap in disability services in Qatar.
• Best Buddies International: The global parent organization founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989. Best Buddies Qatar is a local chapter of this network and operates using its program standards, brand, and Keith Haring logo.
• Al Noor Foundation (Al-Noor Center for the Blind): Qatari disability services organization under Qatar Social Work's umbrella. Direct comparable as a Qatar-based disability services nonprofit serving similar populations.
• Special Olympics Qatar: Global nonprofit focused on intellectual disabilities through sport. Highly comparable mission of inclusion for people with IDD, operating with similar volunteer and chapter-based models.

Emerging players

• Disabled Peoples' International: Global cross-disability advocacy network. Comparable international disability rights focus with a similar chapter-based operating model and self-advocacy orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bestbuddiesqatar6577
• Facebookfacebook.com/bestbuddies.qtr
• Instagraminstagram.com/bestbuddiesqatar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/al-jazeera-academy-qatar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Al Jazeera Academy Qatar