The General Secretariat of the Khalifa Award for Education announced the launch of specialized workshops to help potential applicants prepare submissions for the 20th edition of the awards. These sessions focus on the requirements for both the established Khalifa International Award for Early Learning and the newly introduced category centered on artificial intelligence applications. The secretariat’s statement distributed via the Emirates News Agency emphasized that the workshops would cover evaluation standards and submission processes in detail. Nominations for the cycle opened in mid-July 2026 and remain available through an online portal until the end of the year.
The new Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Education category aims to recognize initiatives that leverage digital tools to enhance teaching practices and learning outcomes. According to the General Secretariat, it targets individuals, multidisciplinary teams, institutions, students and projects that have demonstrated sustainable impact over the past three years with supporting evidence. Updated assessment criteria include originality, clarity of objectives, quality of design, measurable educational results, ethical AI governance and potential for scalability. This addition aligns the award with ongoing transformations in the education sector.
Established in 2007, the Khalifa Award for Education has honored outstanding contributions across local, Arab and global levels in its previous cycles. The Khalifa International Award for Early Learning, introduced four years ago as the first of its kind worldwide, continues with its focus on research and studies alongside programs, curricula and teaching methodologies. Prior workshops in this field have featured input from international experts on topics ranging from language development to comprehensive early childhood care, the secretariat has noted in past announcements.
Around three-quarters of teachers in the UAE use artificial intelligence for work, a figure well above the global average, according to an OECD survey. The country introduced AI as a mandatory subject in public schools from kindergarten through secondary level beginning in 2025. Such steps have contributed to the UAE leading Arab nations in PISA 2025 performance across science, mathematics and reading, the Ministry of Education reported. These advancements provide context for the award’s expansion into AI-focused recognition.
The General Secretariat receives all entries through its electronic application system and maintains a support team to address technical inquiries from nominees. Evaluation for the AI category stresses documented impact, compliance with ethical standards and mechanisms for ongoing improvement. Workshops are designed to ensure participants understand these requirements fully before the December 31, 2026, deadline.
In the most recent edition, the award recognized 40 winners, including 11 from across the Arab world and four international honorees from the United States and United Kingdom in the early learning field. The secretariat has highlighted projects such as early childhood development measurement tools and instructional practice systems among past recipients. The 20th cycle builds upon this record by incorporating technological innovation to further elevate standards in early education worldwide.
