Doha, Qatar – Six Qatari educators and public schools have been recognized with awards from the 2025 Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance. The wins showcase Qatar’s continuous advancements in its education system and demonstrate excellence among both individual teachers and institutions. This marks a significant achievement for Qatar within a highly competitive regional context.
The Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award, established in 1998 by the United Arab Emirates, is a prestigious honor within the Arab world’s education sector. The award’s standards prioritize elevating educational quality, recognizing exceptional contributions from educators, fostering innovation, and boosting school performance. Participation from Qatar reflects the nation’s commitment to these goals.
Qatar’s Success in the Hamdan Award Highlights Education Progress
This year’s results successfully represent Qatar across multiple categories. The award recipients included educators from primary and secondary schools, as well as recognition for school-wide achievements. This broad success indicates a systemic focus on quality throughout the Qatari academic landscape.
Distinguished Educators Honored
Moza Saeed Al Muraikhi, a teacher at Al Khwarizmi Primary School for Girls, was among the winners in the Distinguished Teacher category. Additionally, Mohammed Ali Al Hail of Abdullah bin Ali Al Misnad Secondary School for Boys, and Ghaleb Saleh Shajaa from Qatar Science and Technology Secondary School for Boys were also honored for outstanding teaching practices.
Inas Mahmoud Hassan from Ruqayya Preparatory School for Girls received the Distinguished Educator award, a new category expanded to include all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This win is particularly noteworthy, representing the first time a Qatari educator has been recognized in this specific category. According to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the introduction of this category underscores the growing emphasis on holistic educational leadership.
Schools Recognized for Excellence
Al Khansa Primary School for Girls and Sumaya Primary School for Girls both earned recognition in the Distinguished School category. The specific criteria for their selection weren’t immediately detailed, but the award generally considers factors like student achievement, community involvement, and implementation of innovative teaching methodologies. This demonstrates a broader commitment to school development.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education emphasized that these accomplishments are the product of collaborative effort. This includes dedication from teachers, students, families, and the ongoing institutional support for adopting modern educational practices, the ministry stated. These collaborative approaches are seen as crucial to Qatar’s academic performance.
The award results align with Qatar National Vision 2030, which identifies human capital development as a key pillar for the country’s future. The vision specifically calls for a world-class education system founded on quality and innovation. The Ministry affirmed its ongoing dedication to achieving this vision, stating its commitment to furthering the development of the education system and empowering talent within the nation.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education is evaluating data from the award process to identify best practices that can be scaled across other schools. Details on a potential workshop to disseminate these findings are expected by the end of the year. Further details on Qatar’s future participation in the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award, including potential nominations, are typically announced in the first quarter of each year, but are subject to budgetary review and alignment with national education strategies.
The Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance website provides more information on the award’s criteria and past winners.
Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education is the governing body for all education matters in the country.
Discussions around educational reforms continue as Qatar aims to be a regional leader in innovation.
