Educators from the UAE, Saudi and Qatar have been named among the top 50 finalists for the $1 million GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2026 

Dubai, Dec 16, 2025: Three teachers from across the GCC have been shortlisted among the top 50 finalists for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2026, a Varkey Foundation initiative organised in collaboration with UNESCO. The teachers are from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. 

The shortlisted educators include Hala Abdelmoemn Mohamed Kotb Shahin, a mathematics teacher at Khawla Bint Tha’albaa School in Sharjah, UAE; Saeed Salem Abdullah Al-Zahrani, a primary school teacher at Al-Mutrafiyah Elementary School in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia; and Hossam Ibrahim Hassan Asal, a science teacher at Hamza Bin Abdulmotalib Preparatory School in Doha, Qatar. 

The shortlist will be narrowed down to the top 10 finalists, and the winner will be selected by the Global Teacher Prize Academy, comprising prominent global figures, and announced at the World Governments Summit in Dubai from Feb 3–5, 2026.  

Making mathematics joyful and inclusive 

Shahin is a mathematics teacher at Khawla Bint Tha’albaa School for Girls in Sharjah and a leading trainer in smart learning and artificial intelligence in education. Inspired at the age of 14 by a creative mathematics teacher, she has spent nearly three decades demonstrating that mathematics can be engaging, joyful and transformative. 

After beginning her career in Egypt, she moved to the UAE, where she combined advanced studies in school leadership and artificial intelligence with daily classroom practice. To address learning gaps, Shahin developed learning-loss tracking tools, AI-powered diagnostic pathways and a play-based teaching strategy that has reshaped students’ attitudes towards mathematics. 

Her programmes for gifted learners and students with disabilities, including the Guiding Young Talents framework and the Treasures of Mathematics resources, have significantly supported learners with special needs and led to marked improvements in academic performance. Alongside this, she integrates climate education and volunteering through initiatives such as ‘You Are Strong’, the Khawla Sustainability Competition and a student Red Crescent team, linking mathematics with green skills and community service. 

A Microsoft-certified trainer and recipient of multiple national awards, Shahin shares her innovations with thousands of teachers, contributing to the evolution of mathematics education across the UAE and the wider Arab region. 

Championing inclusive learning 

Al-Zahrani is a distinguished Saudi educator known for his commitment to inclusive, high-quality education. Teaching at Al-Mutrafiyah Elementary School in Jubail Industrial City, he has developed initiatives such as ‘The Challenge’, ‘Maher’ and ‘Steps’, which have improved reading, writing and learning outcomes for students of all abilities. Several of these programmes have been adopted in Royal Commission kindergartens and recognised by the Ministry of Education. 

Holding a doctorate in linguistics and language studies, along with a master’s degree in counselling psychology, Al-Zahrani integrates storytelling, interactive digital tools and personalised learning approaches to support student success. He has published research in peer-reviewed journals, presented at international forums and trained teachers across Saudi Arabia and beyond. 

He also provides mentorship and guidance to families and children with disabilities or learning difficulties. 

Empowering learners through science  

Asal is an award-winning science educator and mentor whose career spans more than three decades across Egypt and Qatar. Renowned for creating inclusive, engaging and multicultural learning environments, he integrates STEAM education, project-based learning, digital tools and global citizenship education to develop students’ critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills. 

Committed to supporting marginalised learners, Asal has launched initiatives including free literacy classes for parents, enrichment programmes for students from low-income backgrounds and digital learning platforms such as the ‘Half an Hour of Honey’ channel, which supported student learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Beyond the classroom, he has led environmental and community engagement campaigns focused on recycling, conservation and climate education, while also mentoring teachers, publishing research and delivering professional development programmes across schools in Qatar. His work has earned multiple national and community awards, including the Khalifa Educational Award.