UAE Celebrates World Teachers' Day Honouring Educators For Their Role In Shaping Future Generations

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrates World Teachers’ Day on 5th October each year, acknowledging the essential role teachers play in fostering innovation and social development. This day highlights their contribution to shaping future generations. Teachers in the UAE are highly respected for building an educated society that upholds moral and human values.

In addition to World Teachers' Day, the UAE observes Emirati Day for Education on 28th February annually. This day honours education's central role in national development and recognises those contributing to the educational system. The UAE's commitment to education is evident through various initiatives aimed at enhancing teaching standards.

Among these initiatives, the Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher stands out. Established as a legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this award identifies and honours exceptional teachers who demonstrate innovation and excellence in their communities. Since its inception in 2017, it has set comprehensive standards to highlight educational excellence.

This year, the award introduced the "Executive Educational Excellence Pioneers Programme" in collaboration with Emirates College for Advanced Education. This programme empowers award-winning teachers by equipping them with global practices and tools necessary for driving innovation and lifelong learning through technology integration.

The Khalifa Award for Education also plays a significant role in advancing educational institutions within and beyond the UAE. It encourages creativity and innovation in education while supporting institutions' growth. In July, its General Secretariat announced the launch of its 19th edition (2025–2026), featuring ten fields across 17 categories at local, Arab, and international levels.

Applications for this edition are open until 31st December 2025 via the award’s official website. Since its establishment in 2007, this award has promoted a culture of educational excellence as a cornerstone for progress and quality improvement in education.

Global Commitment to Education

Internationally, the Hamdan–UNESCO Prize for Teacher Development reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting educators worldwide. The Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation collaborates with UNESCO to open nominations for its 2025–2026 cycle on 8th September. This prize motivates continuous improvement in teaching methods globally.

The prize aims to build a global network of experts contributing to education's advancement and sustainable development goals. Winners are selected biennially by an independent jury of five leading education experts appointed by UNESCO’s Director-General, ensuring balanced representation from all regions.

The current cycle's three winners will be honoured during an official ceremony coinciding with World Teachers’ Day on 5th October 2026 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Empowering Educators

The UAE Government’s third Annual Meetings in 2019 launched several initiatives to appreciate and empower teachers nationwide. These initiatives focus on strengthening teachers' professional skills and recognising their contribution to preparing future generations with skills needed for emerging global challenges.

In October 2022, the Emirates Schools Establishment introduced Educational Councils for school leaders and teachers in government schools. This initiative engages educators in decision-making processes and ongoing educational development, leveraging their field experience to advance UAE’s strategic goals for education.

With inputs from WAM