Abu Dhabi: Monday, 11 May 2026
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa Award for Education, one of the institutions of the Erth Zayed Philanthropies, will attend the Award’s ceremony honoring 40 winners in its nineteenth edition. The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, 13 May, at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of a number of ministers and educational, academic, and institutional leaders from within the UAE and abroad.
During the ceremony, His Excellency will also honor Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairperson of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, winner of the Distinguished Educational Personality Award in the nineteenth edition, in recognition of her vision in supporting and developing an integrated national education system, driven by the distinct values and aspirations of the UAE, enabling it to anticipate the future, and build specialized national talents across all priority fields of the UAE Centennial 2071 agenda.
His Excellency will also honor the winners of this edition at the local, Arab, and international levels, totaling 40 winners, including 25 winners from within the UAE and 4 Emirati families who won the Distinguished Emirati Family Award for their outstanding contributions to raising and educating their children and guiding them toward platforms of excellence. In addition, 11 winners from across the Arab world will be honored. The ceremony will also recognize the 4 winners of the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning from the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
Humaid Ibrahim Al-Houti, Secretary-General of the Khalifa Award for Education, emphasized the importance of this edition, which coincides with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, may God protect him, to designate 2026 as the “Year of the Family.” He noted that the family is a fundamental pillar in advancing children’s journey, and a key partner that plays vital roles in shaping individuals who are proud of their national identity, civilizational heritage, and developmental achievements across all fields, foremost among them education.
He praised the support and directives of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, Chairman of the International Humanitarian Affairs Council, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Erth Zayed Philanthropies, as well as the follow-up of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa Award for Education. He highlighted their keenness to ensure that the Award remains at the forefront of specialized educational awards and further strengthens the position of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates as a leading hub for education that keeps pace with the times and anticipates the future.
Humaid Ibrahim Al-Houti said: “The ceremony honoring the winners represents a prominent platform for translating the Award’s mission and objectives into action by promoting a culture of excellence and sustaining the positive impact through which the Award consolidates excellence as a benchmark for quality performance across educational institutions at the local, Arab, and international levels. This positive impact is inspired by the vision of the Founding Leader, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, and his belief in education as the foundation of civilization and progress, from which the blessed journey of the Union was launched more than five decades ago.”
The Award’s Secretary-General congratulated the winners from within the UAE, across the Arab world, and internationally, commending the broad participation of various members of the educational and academic community in the fields offered in the current edition. He also affirmed the Award’s appreciation for the contributions of all work teams and specialized committees, including judges, coordinators, and others, who made sincere efforts to elevate the Award’s standing and strengthen its leadership as a national initiative launched from the United Arab Emirates, carrying to the educational field in the Arab world and globally a creative vision that excellence should be a central pillar of educational quality and performance across all components of the educational process, for the benefit of societies everywhere.