UAE Education As A Global Beacon For Human Empowerment, Nahyan Bin Mubarak

The UAE’s long-term focus on education and human development was highlighted as Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan joined PACE Group’s 25th anniversary event in Dubai. The Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence said the country, led by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has become a regional reference point for education and continues to prioritise empowering people through knowledge and skills.

Sheikh Nahyan stated that national policy aims to build a complete framework of opportunities that supports all sons and daughters of the country. He said this includes policies and mechanisms designed to guarantee effective human development, structured capacity building, and sustained investment in the future. He also stressed that residents who share this commitment to education and human progress are highly valued in the UAE.

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At the ceremony, Sheikh Nahyan underlined that the UAE appreciates expatriates who contribute to its educational goals and wider human development agenda. He said this appreciation extends to families such as the Ibrahims, whose educational initiatives span several countries. Their work, he noted, supports the UAE’s broader ambition to promote learning, opportunity, and social responsibility within local and global communities.

Sheikh Nahyan explained that he is particularly impressed by PACE Group’s emphasis on building students’ character and integrity together with academic learning. He noted that rapid global change increases the pressure on educators, who must decide how best to prepare young people for uncertain futures. According to Sheikh Nahyan, strong identity, clear values, responsibility, and care for others are now vital qualities.

These qualities, Sheikh Nahyan said, are actively nurtured across PACE Group schools. He welcomed the way campuses in the UAE, India, and Kuwait promote tolerance as a route to deeper knowledge and global awareness. By encouraging responsible citizenship and openness to other cultures, the Group is, in his view, developing educated, ethical, and tolerant global citizens who are already contributing positively in many fields.

The Minister described the 25th anniversary as a fully deserved moment of recognition for the Group. He linked PACE’s progress to its consistent focus on education, knowledge, innovation, critical thinking, and ethical conduct. Sheikh Nahyan said every member of the organisation has valid reasons to feel proud, while the UAE is equally proud to have hosted and supported this educational journey over a quarter-century.

PACE Group 25th anniversary and UAE education community

The silver jubilee celebration, known as PACE Silviora, took place at Etisalat Academy in Muhaisnah, Dubai. Large numbers of staff members, leaders, and families attended. More than 6,000 people from the wider PACE community joined the event, including over 2,000 teachers and educators. The gathering highlighted strong professional ties inside the Group and reinforced its "one family" culture across classrooms and workplaces.

The PACE Board of Directors attended in full, signalling collective leadership and structured governance. Members present included Abdul Lateef Ibrahim, Shafi Ibrahim, Abdullah Ibrahim, Ameen Ibrahim, Salman Ibrahim, Zubair Ibrahim, Bilal Ibrahim, and Adil Ibrahim. They were joined by Aseef Mohammed, Malayil Moosa Koya, and Ahmed Kutty. Their participation reflected shared responsibility for the Group’s growth over twenty-five years.

PACE Group education legacy and UAE education values

During his speech, Sheikh Nahyan recalled the life of Dr. P. A. Ibrahim Haji, Founder and Chairman of PACE Group. He noted that Dr. Ibrahim Haji first reached the UAE in October 1966, almost six decades ago, and went on to make lasting contributions both within the country and internationally. One of the central milestones, he said, was establishing the PACE Group twenty-five years ago.

Sheikh Nahyan explained that the anniversary gathering was, in essence, a tribute to Dr. Ibrahim Haji’s enduring vision. The celebration, he said, expressed pride and gratitude for a lifetime dedicated to shaping young people’s futures through education. He described the Group’s ongoing work as a living extension of this legacy, linking the founder’s early efforts to the current regional and global impact.

A key moment in the event was a documentary film about the late founder. The screening traced the life and journey of Dr. Ibrahim Haji, highlighting educational ideals, leadership style, and humanitarian work. Testimonies from current leaders and long-serving staff showed how his principles still guide daily practice across schools. The film connected historical milestones with present achievements and future direction.

PACE Group education achievements and UAE education workforce

The celebration also focused on staff loyalty and continuity. A total of 743 long-serving employees were honoured for completing 30, 20, 10, and 5 years of service. Each received commemorative shields and gold coins as recognition of their contribution to the Group’s development and performance. The awards underlined the importance of experience, institutional memory, and stability within PACE’s educational model.

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Sheikh Nahyan offered special congratulations to staff members who received Loyalty Awards for twenty-five years of service, as well as other honourees. He praised their achievements and expressed hope that such recognition would encourage further success in the coming years. He wished everyone a joyful PACE Silviora celebration and renewed his congratulations to the Group on reaching the 25-year mark.

The family of the late Dr. Ibrahim Haji expressed deep gratitude to Sheikh Nahyan for attending the anniversary. They said this distinguished presence is a major source of pride for both the family and the Group. The family thanked Sheikh Nahyan for consistent support for education and for recognising the founder’s humanitarian and educational legacy, which motivates them to continue serving future generations.

The PACE Silviora event closed with a clear restatement of the organisation’s direction. The Group emphasised its people-centred and values-based approach, and its goal of providing accessible, high-quality education. Leaders stressed that their work aims to meet community expectations while preparing students to play active roles in comprehensive and sustainable development, in the UAE, the wider region, and other partner countries.

With inputs from WAM