Hada News
Khalifa Award for Education: 20th-cycle nominations close on Thursday 31 December 2026
Egypt's education ministry has circulated the UAE award to its school directorates; teachers, lecturers, researchers, schools and families can apply online in fields from early learning to Arabic teaching.
Applicants have until Thursday 31 December 2026 to apply for the 20th cycle of the Khalifa Award for Education, a UAE education award. The award's website lists 29 July 2026 as the start of the 2026-2027 cycle and of applications.
**New push in Egypt.** Egypt's Ministry of Education and Technical Education has sent a letter to its regional directorates announcing the cycle and asking them to share it with schools and eligible staff, Cairo 24 and Iqraa News reported on 21 October.
**What is on offer.** According to the ministry letter as reported, the award spans 10 fields and 17 categories. They include: - an honour for an educational personality, for figures with a major contribution to education locally or across the Arab region; - general education, with a creative-teacher category at local and Arab level and one for institutional performance; - creativity in teaching Arabic, for school teachers and university lecturers; - higher education, educational research and people of determination; - educational writing for children, including research on children's literature; - innovative educational projects and programmes, open to individuals, institutions and students; - early childhood education; - education and community service, which includes a category for distinguished Emirati families.
**Timeline.** The award's published schedule runs: sorting of applications in January–February 2027, judging and assessment in February–March, winners announced in April and an awards ceremony in May 2027. Egypt's ministry letter adds that judging includes field visits to shortlisted entries.
Nominations are submitted electronically through the award's official website, where conditions and required documents for each category are posted.
**Why it matters:** Several categories, such as the Arab-level creative teacher and Arabic-teaching awards, are open beyond the UAE, and Egypt's circular brings the call directly to its schools.