Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 19 March 2026: The International Jury of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum / UNESCO Prize for Teacher Development convened its preliminary meeting on Thursday, 19 March, in the presence of Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences.

The meeting reviewed the procedures governing the individual evaluation process with jury members, marking the formal commencement of this year’s assessment cycle. The first phase of the evaluation will be conducted remotely in the coming period, followed by a second phase to be held in person at UNESCO headquarters in May.

Dr. Al Suwaidi stated that submissions to the international prize recorded a 66% increase compared with the previous cycle, with 169 applications received from 62 countries. He noted that this strong growth reflects the prize’s positive global footprint in advancing teacher performance and broadening its impact across the target regions worldwide.

Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi also commended the strong and enduring partnership with UNESCO, highlighting its central role in the continued success of this distinguished initiative, which supports teachers and elevates educational practices to higher standards of quality and excellence.

Dr. Al Suwaidi added that, in line with the prize agenda, the results are scheduled to be approved on 5 October by the Director-General of UNESCO in Paris, with the winners to be announced subsequently at the official award ceremony.

Dubai, UAE, February 9, 2026 – The team of Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, part of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, has been crowned champion of UAE Robotics Championship – FIRST LEGO League for 2025–2026 season, following a highly competitive national journey. This year’s championship saw broad participation from across Emirates, with more than 2,000 students taking part, making it one of the largest editions held at national level.

Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Mariam Al Ghawi, Director of Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, said: “This achievement reflects an educational approach that positions students as designers, critical thinkers, and decision-makers. FIRST LEGO League serves as a real-world learning environment where students tackle complex challenges, view problem-solving as an integral part of learning, and translate ideas into practical solutions. Qualifying to represent United Arab Emirates internationally underscores the value of applied learning in preparing future-ready, globally competitive innovators.”

Dubai Emirate qualifiers brought together around 80 teams from schools and educational institutions, with Hamdan Centre team representing Dubai. The team secured first place, winning Dubai Championship and earning qualification to UAE finals, alongside 38 teams advancing from local qualifiers across all Emirates.

UAE finals were held on 7 February 2026 at American School of Creative Science in Sharjah, bringing together 38 teams from across the country. Hamdan Centre team delivered another strong performance, securing UAE Robotics Championship title for 2025–2026 season, following its earlier win in Dubai qualifiers.

With this result, Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation team has qualified to represent United Arab Emirates in upcoming international FIRST LEGO League competitions, highlighting students’ advanced capabilities and readiness to compete on regional and global scientific and technological platforms.

This achievement aligns with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences’ ongoing commitment to nurturing gifted students through applied, hands-on learning environments that strengthen analytical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, and prepare learners for active participation in international scientific and innovation arenas.

Dubai, UAE, February 12, 2026 – The Asia-Pacific Federation of the Gifted announced, at the conclusion of the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness (APCG 2026), that Dubai has been selected to host the next edition of the conference in 2028. The announcement was made at the closing of the conference, which took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 7 to 11 February under the theme “Fast Forward: Vision 2050 of Gifted Education”.

Professor Kyungbin Park, President of the Asia-Pacific Federation on Giftedness (APFG), said: “Dubai is an exceptional city that brings together diverse cultures and nationalities under one umbrella. It stands as a global model of diversity, openness, and coexistence. We very much look forward to convening the conference in Dubai in 2028. APFG is confident that Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, as the host and organizing institution, will deliver a conference of the highest calibre, given its distinguished track record in advancing giftedness and excellence. Dubai itself provides a dynamic and enabling environment that nurtures gifted individuals and supports innovation across society as a whole.”

H.E. Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, stated: “Dubai’s selection to host the 2028 Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness reflects the regional recognition of the United Arab Emirates’ leadership in advancing education systems that prioritize the identification and development of gifted learners within an integrated framework of policies, initiatives, and strategic partnerships supported by our leadership. Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences has developed a globally benchmarked model for discovering and nurturing gifted individuals, supported by strong expertise and impactful partnerships. Under the directives and close follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, Supreme President of the Foundation, hosting international conferences forms part of a comprehensive strategy to empower gifted students and position them at the forefront of leadership and influence. The Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness provides an important platform for advancing dialogue on gifted education from both theoretical and applied perspectives, fostering collaboration among Asian institutions, and supporting the development of future-ready educational models. Dubai’s continued investment in educational innovation further reinforces its role as a nurturing environment for talent development at all levels.”

In this context, the Foundation concluded its participation in the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness, held in Jeddah. The papers presented and the accompanying exhibition reflected a strong level of academic and applied excellence, highlighting innovative models and professional practices that contribute to advancing education and research.

Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, said the Foundation’s participation aligns with its commitment to advancing specialized dialogue on gifted education and exchanging expertise in programme design and policy development that support creative and innovative capacities. Dr. Al Suwaidi added that Dubai’s selection to host the 2028 edition presents an opportunity to further strengthen the link between research and educational practice, while expanding collaboration with Asian institutions in gifted education to advance evidence-based learning models.

The conference programme featured several contributions from the Foundation’s delegation. Dr. Mariam Al Ghawi, Director of Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, presented a paper on academic giftedness and university major selection. Dr. Rashid Al Riyami, Chair of the Distinguished School Award Committee, addressed the Hamdan–EFQM Educational Model as a framework for educational excellence. Dr. Sadeq Abdulwahid, Researcher at the World Giftedness Center, highlighted initiatives promoting a culture of excellence, while Huda Al Hammadi, Gifted Initiatives Specialist, presented the Global Talent Mentorship Programme in STEMM fields.

The Foundation’s team also participated in specialized seminars and the Youth Summit, focusing on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, and secured third place in the Innovation Hackathon dedicated to developing creative solutions to educational challenges.

Through its exhibition pavilion, the Foundation showcased its global and regional initiatives in gifted education and strengthened avenues for institutional collaboration.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 28 January 2026: Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences has announced the launch of the new cycle of its local and Gulf awards, in addition to the Hamdan–ALECSO Awards and the World Giftedness Center Awards. The new cycle reflects the expanded scope and diversity of the awards and aligns with the rapid transformations taking place in education, research, and innovation.

The nomination and evaluation phases will commence in January 2026 and will include orientation workshops on eligibility criteria and advisory sessions held between February and July. The deadline for submitting applications has been set as 20 July 2026 for the local and Gulf awards, 19 August 2026 for the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education, and 24 August 2026 for the World Giftedness Center Awards. The cycle will continue with adjudication processes in August, followed by interviews and field visits in September, leading to the announcement of winners in November 2026.

On this occasion, Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, stated: “We are pleased to launch the new cycle of the Foundation’s awards, in line with our established commitment to our stakeholders and beneficiaries, and in accordance with the approved annual and periodic plans governing the awards. Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation places strong emphasis on the quality of its services as part of its ongoing efforts to support excellence in education, encourage scientific research, and recognise the qualitative contributions of students, teachers, educational professionals, and educational institutions, in addition to innovative initiatives and giftedness development. The 2026 awards cycle will be distinguished by its focus on initiatives with measurable impact and sustainable quality. Through these awards, we aim to motivate outstanding performance and foster a culture of quality and innovation, contributing to the advancement of education and the development of knowledge-based societies capable of keeping pace with global changes and achieving sustainable development.”

Dr. Al Suwaidi further explained that the new cycle includes local educational awards dedicated to recognising distinguished achievers within the United Arab Emirates. These comprise the Distinguished Student Award, the Local Distinguished University Student Award, the Distinguished Teacher Award, the Distinguished Educational Professional Award, as well as the Local Distinguished School Award and the Supporting Institutions of Education Award, in recognition of qualitative contributions that enhance the educational environment and advance the quality of education in accordance with established professional standards.

Dr. Al Suwaidi added that the Gulf educational awards include the Distinguished Student Award, the Distinguished Teacher Award, the Distinguished Educational Professional Award, and the Distinguished School Award, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to supporting educational excellence across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, promoting the exchange of educational expertise, and recognising leading educational models in the region.

With regard to the international awards in the new cycle, Dr. Al Suwaidi noted that they include awards for research and innovation, foremost among them the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research and the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education, implemented in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). These awards aim to support high-quality educational research and encourage innovative solutions that contribute to the development of educational systems and the advancement of educational practices.

The international awards also include those dedicated to gifted education, most notably the Applied Research Global Award of Gifted Education and the School Global Award Initiative of Gifted Education, implemented by the World Giftedness Center. These awards aim to support leading initiatives and applied research that contribute to the identification, development, and nurturing of gifted individuals at the international level.

The launch of the new cycle reaffirms the leading role played by Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences in supporting educational excellence, advancing scientific research, and empowering educational and student competencies, in line with national, regional, and international directions for the development of education.

For more information on the awards and the terms and application procedures for all categories, please visit:

Award link

Dubai, UAE, 29 January 2026:  Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, Supreme President of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, honoured the winners of the 2025 Medical Awards during an official ceremony organised by the Foundation at Etihad Museum in Dubai. The event was attended by senior healthcare leaders, policymakers, academics, and researchers from within the United Arab Emirates and abroad.

In his address, Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum emphasised that the medical sector constitutes a fundamental pillar of sustainable development and a core driver of quality of life and human empowerment. Sheikh Rashid noted that recognising distinguished achievers in this field reflects the Foundation’s steadfast commitment to promoting excellence grounded in scientific research, innovation, and professional integrity. Sheikh Rashid added that the Medical Awards represent a continuation of the scientific and humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose belief in fostering excellence and supporting research contributed significantly to advancing diagnostic and treatment practices and to enhancing healthcare services and public health awareness.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, HE Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Under Secretary Assistant of Public Health Sector at  Ministry of Health and Prevention, stated: “As we honour the winners of the Medical Awards today, we celebrate excellence and innovation while reaffirming our commitment to advancing scientific research, strengthening knowledge partnerships, and embedding a culture of excellence as a sustainable institutional approach.”

For his part, H.E. Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, noted that the honouring ceremony represents the culmination of a rigorous process of scientific evaluation and specialised peer review. He explained that the winning works demonstrated a high level of research quality and applied impact, highlighting leading models in medical research, healthcare innovation, and professional practice that contribute to strengthening healthcare systems and enhancing their societal impact. H.E. Al Qatami added that the Medical Awards reflect the advanced standards of healthcare services and reveal elite competencies within this vital sector, underscoring alignment with the leadership’s commitment to supporting healthcare development in pursuit of strategic objectives toward a knowledgeable, health-conscious society capable of meeting the demands of sustainable development. He concluded by congratulating the winners and reaffirming the Foundation’s continued support for advancing medical excellence and promoting sustained quality in healthcare performance.

Winners

A total of ten (10) institutions, specialists, and researchers were honoured across regional and national award categories in the 2025 Medical Awards cycle. These included the Arab Award for Research in Healthcare, the Arab Award in Genetics, the Best Research in the Healthcare Award, the Innovation in Healthcare Award, and the Hamdan Award for Distinguished Personalities in the Healthcare Sector. The winning submissions reflected a high level of scientific rigor and applied relevance, reinforcing the role of the awards in highlighting excellence in medical research and professional healthcare practice.

The Arab Award in Genetics under the Arab World Awards category was granted to Prof. Majed bin Abdullah Al Fadhel, Professor of Pediatrics and Genetics at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Chairman of Genetics and Precision Medicine department at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, and Deputy Executive Director of King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC).

The Arab Award for Research in Healthcare was awarded to a study titled “Long-read sequencing enhances the discovery of pathogenic and novel variants in patients with rare diseases”. The research was submitted by a team from Dubai Health Genomic Medicine Center, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine & Health Science, and the Dubai Police's Genome Centre. The same award was also granted to another study titled “The role of dapagliflozin in relieving cellular stress and inflammation through modulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in cardiomyocytes, aortic endothelial cells, and stem-cell-derived beta cells.” This study was prepared by a research team from the University of Sharjah, Mayo Clinic – United States of America, United Arab Emirates University, Emirates Health Services, the Armed Forces College of Medicine – Arab Republic of Egypt, and Mansoura University – Arab Republic of Egypt.

Within the United Arab Emirates awards, Hamdan Award for Distinguished Personalities in the Healthcare Sector was presented to Dr. Arif Abdulla Alnooryani, Executive Director and Head of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Heart Center – Al Qassimi Hospital, and Dr Wadeia Muhammad Sharif, Director of Medical Education and Research Department– Dubai Health Authority.

The Best Research in the Healthcare Award recognized three studies. Among them was a study titled “Physical activity as a means of preventing eye diseases,” submitted by a research team from Gulf Medical University and Johns Hopkins University. Another winning study, titled “Impact of multicomponent clinical interventions, including optimal medication use and lifestyle improvement, on patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial between two patient groups,” was prepared by a research team from The Life Corner Pharmacies – PureHealth and Seha Clinics – PureHealth. The same award also went to a study titled “Hemostasis techniques in neurosurgery: development of a consensus-based classification and validation using retrospective analysis of neurosurgical operative videos,” submitted by a research team from University College London. The Innovation in Healthcare Award was granted to the program “Not Even One Day: A Radical Transformation Journey in Access to Autism Services” from Al Jalila Children’s Hospital – Dubai Health. An additional Innovation in Healthcare Award was also presented to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi for the UAE’s first comprehensive Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) program for treating Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders, which has completed more than 100 AI-enabled smart implants equipped with advanced brain-sensing technologies that surpass global standards.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the winners affirmed that the Medical Awards of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation represent a key catalyst for fostering a culture of research and innovation and contribute to advancing the UAE’s vision of becoming a global hub for medical and scientific excellence.