In 1938, at the age of four years old, Al-Qatami joined kindergarten. After two years she moved to an English school to study for O-Levels and A-Levels, at the suggestion of her father who believed an English education would be more useful to her when she returned to Kuwait. She studied English and French at the
University of Edinburgh. In the early 1960s she led a tour for women students from Kuwait to Jerusalem. During the visit of the Algerian revolutionary
Djamila Bouhired to the school, Al-Qatami encouraged students to donate their jewellery for the cause. In 1963 Al-Qatami was a founding member of the
Kuwait Women's Cultural & Social Society. Part of her work with the society was to ensure that there were enough classes and resources for young women who could not afford to attend private schools. However, during her time at the university she introduced a women's-only prayer room for students. == Awards and recognition ==