[2] Developed by the Qatar Foundation, it was established by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser[3] to advance education, research, and innovation in the region.

spanning 12 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi) property houses various educational facilities, including satellite campuses of eight international universities.

[6] Initially planned as a single university, Education City evolved into a partnership with international institutions tailored to Qatar’s needs.

American universities which have established campuses in Education City have been the subject of ongoing criticism of whether it is appropriate to maintain a campus in Qatar, given the alleged Qatari links to state-sponsored terrorism, the lack of freedom of speech in the country and the country's absolute monarchy.

In an interview with Gulf News Journal, Herbert London, president of the London Center for Policy Research and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said "universities I think have compromised themselves" by having campuses in a country like Qatar where academic freedom and freedom of the press are severely limited.