​​Dukhan, 84 kilometres from Doha on the west coast of Qatar, gained its significance due to the discovery of crude oil. Exploration for oil in Dukhan fields began in 1935 and the first well was drilled in 1940. The first shipment of crude oil was exported from Qatar on 31st December 1949.

Dukhan English School is one of the oldest English medium schools in Qatar. It traces its origins back to 1954 when British Petroleum, the operators of the Dukhan Field at that time, established a school in the building which was later the Dukhan Water Sports clubhouse. 

The school soon outgrew its early roots and was moved to a villa in the senior staff housing area. Many people remember with affection the work of Sheila Smith who was the schoolmistress in the 1960's. 

The 1960's also saw the establishment of the Dukhan Nursery, run by Alice Lishman. When Alice left Dukhan, the nursery was taken over by Qatar General Petroleum Corporation and amalgamated with the Primary School. As the Dukhan oil operations grew, the school continued to expand and in September 1996 QGPC gave permission for Year 7 to be started, marking the beginning of the secondary section of Dukhan English School. 

Since then Dukhan has witnessed gradual development to accommodate oil and gas operation facilities in addition to housing, medical, recreational and educational institutions and services. Dukhan is being further developed and modernized to better meet Dukhan itself is now a multinational town with residents of 47 different nationalities. The town and its school continue to grow and develop at a rapid pace.

Dukhan has high quality leisure and recreation. There are also local shops and restaurants, a nearby hospital and an excellent road link to Doha, the capital of Qatar. Recently the Mall of Qatar has opened, which is much closer to Dukhan, affording even more convenience to living and working in Dukhan. Dukhan is a quiet community near the sea and is an ideal place for a slower pace of life than the city of Doha.

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