DOHA: Al Rayah Driving School, one of the biggest in Qatar, relocated yesterday much to the surprise of many oblivious learners. The school currently operates from a facility in Mesaimeer.
Hundreds of learners had turned up at the school premises in Freej bin Omran, just to see a locked gate and a court notice.
The legal notice from the Judiciary Council’s office of confiscation, evacuation and selling, posted outside the school warned prosecution for trespassing the premises.
“Our contract with the landlord has expired and hence the legal notice,” Adil Salim, Manager, Al Rayah Driving School told The Peninsula last evening.
“We have new premises being built in Umm Salal, which will be operational in six months. For now, our staff and students have been shifted to Dallah Driving Academy in Mesaimeer. The facility can accommodate all the students and staff of Al Rayah. We have everything ready at the academy premise,” he added.
The official claimed that the school had announced the shifting earlier. “We had in fact informed students about the change in location. At least 75 percent of our students turned up at Mesaimeer today,” said Salim. However, many students turned up at the Bin Omran premises, yesterday morning, shocked to see closed gates. A few students also missed their driving tests.
Many learners who turned up yesterday vented their anger on the social websites calling for refunds. Some who chose Al Rayah Driving School over others due to proximity to their homes or office are in distress.
The school will be running a bus service between the old facility and the Mesaimeer school between 5am and 9am, for now, according to the official. “For many who missed their tests today, we will be rescheduling it for the next few days. We also have buses throughout Doha to pick up and drop off our learners who need transport. We are cooperating with the Traffic Department to make this transition smoother,” Salim said.
