Nominations for the 19th cycle of the Khalifa Award for Education have now closed, the General Secretariat announced, and the names of the winners will be revealed at the end of April. Launched in July for the 2025-2026 cycle, the award attracted a broad response from the education sector at local, regional and international levels.
Khalifa Award for Education 2025-2026 process and timeline
The cycle includes 10 fields across 17 categories. According to the award’s approved timetable, specialised committees have begun initial screening immediately after the close of nominations. Eligible submissions will be judged and evaluated against criteria specific to each field and category, with an emphasis on objectivity and transparency.
Hamid Al Houti, Secretary-General of the Khalifa Award for Education, said the wide response reflects the award’s standing and its role in promoting excellence in education and academic practice. He added that the process will include field visits to shortlisted educational and community institutions to verify the tangible impact of submitted projects and initiatives.
The award’s evaluation process is rigorous. After the initial screening, entries that meet the eligibility requirements will proceed to detailed assessment by specialist judges. The judging panels will measure submissions against established criteria that examine outcomes, innovation, scalability and community benefit. Shortlisted initiatives will receive on-site reviews to confirm reported results and to assess how interventions have affected learners and local communities.
Organisers say the steps are designed to safeguard fairness and to ensure that the winners exemplify measurable improvements in teaching, learning and community engagement. The inclusion of field visits adds an extra layer of verification, allowing judges to assess both quantitative results and qualitative effects such as changes in school practice or community involvement.
Past cycles of the Khalifa Award for Education have recognised projects ranging from curriculum development and teacher training to community education programmes and research that informs policy. Winners often receive not only financial awards but also recognition that helps to scale successful models and attract partners and funding.
For the UAE, the award is part of a broader effort to position the country as a regional hub for educational innovation and collaboration. The international response this cycle indicates continued interest from institutions outside the UAE, suggesting that the award remains a notable platform for sharing best practice and elevating effective education models.
Organisers will complete judging and evaluation in the coming months ahead of the final announcements. The timetable foresees the field visit stage to follow the shortlisting process, enabling judges to review in situ the projects that demonstrate strong evidence of impact.
As winners are announced at the end of April, stakeholders across the education sector will be watching for initiatives that can be adapted or adopted elsewhere, and for indicators of emerging priorities in education. The Khalifa Award for Education continues to highlight programmes that deliver measurable benefits to learners and communities, and to reward those who advance educational practice.
Key Takeaways:
- The Khalifa Award for Education nominations for the 2025-2026 cycle have closed, with winners due to be announced at the end of April.
- The 19th cycle covers 10 fields across 17 categories and attracted local, Arab and international submissions.
- Specialised committees have begun screening, followed by judging, evaluation and field visits to assess impact.
