UAE leaders marked the opening of more than 1,180 public and private schools for the 2026-27 academic year by issuing messages that placed children at the centre of national development. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan posted on X that the country’s children are its true wealth and encouraged students to approach their studies with optimism, ambition and determination while acquiring knowledge and life skills. According to Gulf News more than 1.277 million pupils returned to classrooms on August 31 following extensive preparations across the education system.
Sheikh Mohamed singled out teachers for their contribution to spreading knowledge nurturing talent and inspiring future generations. He told pupils directly that from their classrooms and the lessons they absorb the future of the nation is constructed. The statements align with a longstanding leadership view that human capital drives the UAE’s progress.
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak the Mother of the Nation has repeatedly described UAE children as the nation’s greatest wealth and future in line with the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In a 2022 statement carried by The National she said Sheikh Zayed translated his forward-looking vision around his belief that children are the true wealth that must be developed to reap its fruits in the future by relying on them to advance the UAE’s capabilities and to preserve its rich resources. She called for maximised efforts and increased cooperation among the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood government bodies the private sector and civil entities to improve services for children and develop their capabilities.
The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood which Sheikha Fatima chairs has driven initiatives to enhance child welfare and education over decades. Data from the Mother of the Nation Foundation shows female enrollment in general education increased from 27,021 students in 1975 to 890,341 in 2024 while women now account for 52.6 percent of university graduates. Such trends illustrate the sustained focus on empowering youth that leaders reaffirmed on the first day of school.
Sheikh Mohamed’s message also urged families and schools to collaborate as partners in shaping generations equipped for future challenges. The communications stressed the importance of national values alongside academic achievement as students begin the year. Similar sentiments have appeared in past leadership remarks compiled by Khaleej Times that repeatedly positioned youth as the real wealth of the nation rather than its natural resources.
Additional messages from senior officials reinforced the call for students to rise to the level of national ambition through dedication and perseverance. The annual back-to-school addresses serve to unify the education community around shared goals for development. Leadership statements continue to tie the success of the younger generation to the UAE’s long-term vision for prosperity.
