• The applicant must be a practicing teacher at a governmental or a private school at the time of applying for the award.
• The applicant has a minimum teaching experience of 3 years.
• The applicant must achieve an “excellent” or (exceeds expectations) average in the annual performance evaluation for any of the three years required for the nomination, and an average of no less than “very good” or (meets expectations) for the other two years.
• The applicant shall represent only one school.
• The applicant teaching in a private school shall provide a letter of “full-time employment,” issued and attested by the school administration.
• The applicant shall attach a recent video recording of a complete, 45-minute instructional session, clearly stating the time and date at the beginning of the session.
• The applicant must attend the introductory workshop for the Distinguished Teacher Award prepared by Hamdan Foundation.
• The applicant must meet the application deadlines specified in advance by Hamdan Foundation.
• The applicant shall enclose recommendation letters written by the school’s principal and a fellow teacher.

Special conditions for applicants from GCC countries: In addition to the above-mentioned conditions, the applicant must:

• Be a citizen of the applying country.
• Have been granted a “teaching excellence” award from an educational district or the Ministry of Education, or holds a certificate issued by the Ministry of Education testifying to his or her excellence and eligibility to apply for the award.