UAE officials mark World Teachers' Day with tributes to teachers
In short
The UAE marked World Teachers' Day on October 5, 2026, with statements from senior officials. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised teachers’ enduring role in the UAE’s journey, while Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed said teachers nurture knowledge, skills, character and values. Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, highlighted the need for teachers to adapt to AI and align education with labour market needs.
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The United Arab Emirates marked World Teachers' Day on 5th October, 2026, with senior officials issuing statements praising the role of educators. H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, said teachers have played an enduring role in the UAE’s journey, leaving an impact that carries from one generation to the next and instilling the value of knowledge and learning. He renewed appreciation for every teacher whose dedication has contributed to preparing generations who carry forward the nation’s ambitions and shape its future. [ 2 ]
H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-Chairperson of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, said education is a cornerstone of human development, enabling every student to discover their strengths, realise their potential, and grow into confident, capable, and active contributors to society. She said teachers play a transformative role in this journey, nurturing not only knowledge and skills, but also character, values, curiosity, resilience, and a sense of responsibility towards others. She concluded that on World Teachers' Day, the UAE celebrates the lasting impact of teachers in shaping generations who are grounded in their identity, equipped to navigate a changing world, and inspired to contribute to their communities and the continued progress and prosperity of the UAE. [ 2 ]
Separately, Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, emphasized that teachers are fundamental to the UAE’s efforts to prepare and empower students, helping them develop skills aligned with their interests and future labour-market needs. He noted that rapid global advances in artificial intelligence technologies are placing new responsibilities on the education system and academic professionals, requiring them to continuously develop their professional capabilities, keep pace with emerging technologies, and harness them to enhance the educational process as an integral part of the UAE’s readiness for the future. In a statement marking World Teachers' Day, Al Awar said the UAE’s education system is undergoing significant transformation, bringing schools closer to universities and research centres, while aligning higher education outcomes with labour market needs and the aspirations of the national economy. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The statements underscore the UAE’s continued prioritization of education and human development, with officials emphasizing the need to adapt to technological changes like AI. The high-level attention reflects the government’s focus on aligning education with future labour market needs.
Key facts
- The UAE marked World Teachers' Day on October 5, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, said teachers have played an enduring role in the UAE’s journey and instilled the value of knowledge and learning. [ 2 ]
- Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-Chairperson of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, said education is a cornerstone of human development and teachers nurture character, values, curiosity and resilience. [ 2 ]
- Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, said teachers are fundamental to preparing students and that AI advances require continuous professional development. [ 1 ]
- Al Awar said the UAE’s education system is undergoing significant transformation, bringing schools closer to universities and research centres. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The UAE marked World Teachers' Day on October 5, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said teachers have played an enduring role in the UAE’s journey, leaving an impact that carries from one generation to the next. [ 2 ]
- Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said education is a cornerstone of human development and teachers play a transformative role nurturing knowledge, skills, character, values, curiosity, resilience and responsibility. [ 2 ]
Still unclear
- Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar’s statements about AI and education transformation Only one outlet (Aletihad) reported these statements; no official source corroborates them.
- The full text of Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar’s statement The Aletihad article ends mid-sentence, so the complete remarks are not available.
- Additional details from Aletihad’s summary article The summary text is empty, so no further information can be drawn from it.