Dubai, UAE, February 12, 2026 – The Asia-Pacific Federation of the Gifted announced, at the conclusion of the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness (APCG 2026), that Dubai has been selected to host the next edition of the conference in 2028. The announcement was made at the closing of the conference, which took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 7 to 11 February under the theme “Fast Forward: Vision 2050 of Gifted Education”.

Professor Kyungbin Park, President of the Asia-Pacific Federation on Giftedness (APFG), said: “Dubai is an exceptional city that brings together diverse cultures and nationalities under one umbrella. It stands as a global model of diversity, openness, and coexistence. We very much look forward to convening the conference in Dubai in 2028. APFG is confident that Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, as the host and organizing institution, will deliver a conference of the highest calibre, given its distinguished track record in advancing giftedness and excellence. Dubai itself provides a dynamic and enabling environment that nurtures gifted individuals and supports innovation across society as a whole.”

H.E. Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, stated: “Dubai’s selection to host the 2028 Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness reflects the regional recognition of the United Arab Emirates’ leadership in advancing education systems that prioritize the identification and development of gifted learners within an integrated framework of policies, initiatives, and strategic partnerships supported by our leadership. Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences has developed a globally benchmarked model for discovering and nurturing gifted individuals, supported by strong expertise and impactful partnerships. Under the directives and close follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, Supreme President of the Foundation, hosting international conferences forms part of a comprehensive strategy to empower gifted students and position them at the forefront of leadership and influence. The Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness provides an important platform for advancing dialogue on gifted education from both theoretical and applied perspectives, fostering collaboration among Asian institutions, and supporting the development of future-ready educational models. Dubai’s continued investment in educational innovation further reinforces its role as a nurturing environment for talent development at all levels.”

In this context, the Foundation concluded its participation in the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness, held in Jeddah. The papers presented and the accompanying exhibition reflected a strong level of academic and applied excellence, highlighting innovative models and professional practices that contribute to advancing education and research.

Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, said the Foundation’s participation aligns with its commitment to advancing specialized dialogue on gifted education and exchanging expertise in programme design and policy development that support creative and innovative capacities. Dr. Al Suwaidi added that Dubai’s selection to host the 2028 edition presents an opportunity to further strengthen the link between research and educational practice, while expanding collaboration with Asian institutions in gifted education to advance evidence-based learning models.

The conference programme featured several contributions from the Foundation’s delegation. Dr. Mariam Al Ghawi, Director of Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, presented a paper on academic giftedness and university major selection. Dr. Rashid Al Riyami, Chair of the Distinguished School Award Committee, addressed the Hamdan–EFQM Educational Model as a framework for educational excellence. Dr. Sadeq Abdulwahid, Researcher at the World Giftedness Center, highlighted initiatives promoting a culture of excellence, while Huda Al Hammadi, Gifted Initiatives Specialist, presented the Global Talent Mentorship Programme in STEMM fields.

The Foundation’s team also participated in specialized seminars and the Youth Summit, focusing on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, and secured third place in the Innovation Hackathon dedicated to developing creative solutions to educational challenges.

Through its exhibition pavilion, the Foundation showcased its global and regional initiatives in gifted education and strengthened avenues for institutional collaboration.

Dubai, UAE, February 9, 2026 – The team of Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, part of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, has been crowned champion of UAE Robotics Championship – FIRST LEGO League for 2025–2026 season, following a highly competitive national journey. This year’s championship saw broad participation from across Emirates, with more than 2,000 students taking part, making it one of the largest editions held at national level.

Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Mariam Al Ghawi, Director of Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, said: “This achievement reflects an educational approach that positions students as designers, critical thinkers, and decision-makers. FIRST LEGO League serves as a real-world learning environment where students tackle complex challenges, view problem-solving as an integral part of learning, and translate ideas into practical solutions. Qualifying to represent United Arab Emirates internationally underscores the value of applied learning in preparing future-ready, globally competitive innovators.”

Dubai Emirate qualifiers brought together around 80 teams from schools and educational institutions, with Hamdan Centre team representing Dubai. The team secured first place, winning Dubai Championship and earning qualification to UAE finals, alongside 38 teams advancing from local qualifiers across all Emirates.

UAE finals were held on 7 February 2026 at American School of Creative Science in Sharjah, bringing together 38 teams from across the country. Hamdan Centre team delivered another strong performance, securing UAE Robotics Championship title for 2025–2026 season, following its earlier win in Dubai qualifiers.

With this result, Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation team has qualified to represent United Arab Emirates in upcoming international FIRST LEGO League competitions, highlighting students’ advanced capabilities and readiness to compete on regional and global scientific and technological platforms.

This achievement aligns with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences’ ongoing commitment to nurturing gifted students through applied, hands-on learning environments that strengthen analytical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, and prepare learners for active participation in international scientific and innovation arenas.

Dubai, UAE, January 27, 2026 – Students from Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, part of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, won the FIRST LEGO League competition at the Emirate of Dubai level. The competition was held yesterday at Metropole School in Dubai, with the participation of eighty-five (85) teams representing various schools and educational institutions across the Emirate.

In this context, Dr. Mariam Al Ghawi, Director of Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, stated: “This achievement reflects the advanced level reached by the programmes of Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, and demonstrates the scientific competencies and innovative capabilities our students possess in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. These results also reaffirm the Centre’s commitment to providing applied learning environments based on experiential learning, enabling students to develop analytical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, while linking theoretical knowledge with practical application. The Centre’s participation in the FIRST LEGO League competition aligns with its vision to prepare a generation of innovators capable of competing in scientific and technological forums and contributing effectively to the UAE’s transition towards a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.”

The first student team was crowned overall champion of the competition, securing first place in the Robot Performance category, in addition to achieving the highest score recorded at the local competition level in the United Arab Emirates, underscoring the advanced skills of the participating students and their ability to excel in technical competitions. The first team comprised Khaled Mohammed Al Amadi, Hamdan Rashid Baljafla, Abdullah Fahad Al Mahmoud, Abdulkarim Yousuf Bu Khashm, and Sayed Mansour Sayed Hassan Al Hashemi.

Meanwhile, the second student team achieved second place in the Robot Design category, in a highly competitive field that reflected advanced skills in engineering innovation and design thinking. The second team included Zayed Jassim Al Banna, Sheikh Dhiab bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, and Issa Yousuf Bu Khashm.

The participation of students from Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation in the FIRST LEGO League competition comes as part of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences’ ongoing commitment to supporting gifted students and developing their capabilities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through applied, hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity and teamwork, and contribute to preparing a generation capable of innovation, competition at local and international levels, and achieving national accomplishments.

·       Ten training programs and workshops in talent and innovation targeting youth aged 10 to 22

·       Interactive scientific stations took students on an educational journey across three eras: the Golden Age, the Industrial Age, and the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Dubai, UAE, 18 December 2025:  Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences concluded the activities of the Future Skills Winter Forum 2025, organized by Hamdan Bin Rashid Center for Giftedness and Innovation. The forum served as a specialized educational platform aimed at developing students’ scientific and technological competencies, promoting applied learning, and nurturing talent and innovation among participants aged 10 to 22, through an integrated suite of training programs and specialized workshops.

His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, stated: “The Future Skills Forum represents one of the Foundation’s flagship initiatives that reflects our commitment to providing innovative educational environments that empower students with future-ready skills. The forum is an extension of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support talent and innovation, and to promote applied learning that enables students to discover their potential and expand their scientific and technological knowledge.”

The forum featured more than ten specialized training programs across the talent and innovation tracks, including foundational and applied programs such as Smart TECH Explorers, Humanoid Robot, FIRST LEGO League, CubeSat, and The 5 Buckets. In addition, innovation-focused programs addressed applications of artificial intelligence, community-based technologies, and digital agriculture, including AI Smart Air Monitor, Community Arcade Challenge, and Digital Green Farm. These programs were delivered within learning environments designed to support project-based learning and collaborative teamwork.

The forum also included a dedicated dialogue session for parents of gifted students, aimed at strengthening the role of the family as a key partner in nurturing talent. The session enabled parents to better understand the educational pathways offered and their role in supporting their children’s scientific and innovative development.

The forum’s closing day featured an interactive scientific program that included honoring participants, a student project exhibition, as well as scientific presentations and competitions. Students showcased the projects they developed throughout the forum, reflecting the outcomes of the training programs and the practical, hands-on scientific and technical skills they acquired.

Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences affirmed that the Future Skills Winter Forum forms part of its ongoing programs to support talent and innovation and to develop modern educational models that contribute to preparing a generation equipped with the scientific and technological competencies required to meet future challenges.

In Presence of Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum:

• Nine nominations from seven countries competed for the international prize for the development of educational infrastructures.
• Three winners from Yemen, Morocco, and Azerbaijan were selected for projects exceeding a total value of USD 28 million.
• A new cooperation agreement was signed between the Foundation and ICESCO to strengthen support for educational initiatives across the Islamic world.

Dubai, UAE, 5 December 2025:  Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Supreme President of the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, honored the winners of the fourth cycle of the Hamdan–ICESCO Prize for the Development of Educational Facilities in the Islamic World during a ceremony held on Monday 8 December in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The award is organized in collaboration with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).

Dubai, UAE, 28 November 2025:  Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), announced today (Friday, 28 November 2025) the winners of the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research and the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education for the 2025 cycle. This year’s edition received 116 educational research submissions from 13 Arab countries and 77 digital innovations from 11 countries, resulting in two winning research papers in the Distinguished Educational Research category and three winning projects in the Digital Innovations in Education category.

This year’s cycle stood out for the breadth and quality of Arab participation, with submissions reflecting a wide range of research interests and emerging trends in digital education. Entries across the Distinguished Educational Research and Digital Innovations in Education categories provided a clear picture of the region’s growing scientific and innovative momentum, setting the stage for selecting the winning projects in each category.

His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, stated: “The announcement of Hamdan–ALECSO Award results marks an important milestone in advancing educational research and innovation across the Arab world. It reflects the Foundation’s commitment to enhancing the quality of education and empowering educational systems with talent capable of driving positive change. Over its successive cycles, the award has firmly established itself as a leading platform for identifying distinguished researchers and innovators, supporting studies that contribute to the development of educational policies, improving learning practices, and guiding efforts toward future priorities.”

The 2025 Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research recorded strong regional participation, with 116 educational research submissions from 13 Arab countries, reflecting the diversity of research interests and the depth of educational issues across the region. Saudi Arabia topped the submissions with 41 research papers, followed by Egypt with 16, Palestine with 13, and the United Arab Emirates with 10. Qatar submitted 9 papers, Jordan 7, while Syria, Oman, and Iraq each submitted 5. In addition, Kuwait participated with 2 submissions, and Sudan, Bahrain, and Yemen with one research paper each.

His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Al Qutami added: “The strategic partnership between Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) reflects a shared vision centered on strengthening Arab knowledge production, empowering researchers to propose innovative solutions to educational challenges, and broadening the impact of Arab expertise in advancing education. We congratulate the winners on this well-deserved achievement and reaffirm the Foundation’s continued commitment to supporting excellence and creativity, and to providing an enabling environment for scientific research—contributing to the development of an educated, informed generation capable of keeping pace with global transformations and actively shaping the future.”

On this occasion, His Excellency Professor Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, stated: “The announcement of the winning research for the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research represents an important scientific milestone, reflecting the distinguished role the award plays in supporting Arab educational research and enhancing the quality of knowledge production in this vital field. The award—through its rigorous standards and forward-looking vision—has contributed significantly to strengthening a culture of scientific inquiry and encouraging researchers to produce innovative studies capable of informing educational policy development and improving pedagogical practices across the Arab world.”

His Excellency Professor Mohamed Ould Amar added: “The longstanding partnership between ALECSO and Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences embodies a shared commitment to supporting educational research and directing it toward priority issues within Arab education systems, thereby advancing human capital development and raising the overall quality of education. We congratulate the winners on this well-deserved scientific achievement and reaffirm our continued collaboration with the Foundation to deepen the award’s impact, broaden the community of benefiting researchers, and foster an Arab research environment that keeps pace with global transformations and contributes to shaping a more innovative and effective educational future.”

Commenting on the results of Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education, His Excellency Professor Mohamed Ould Amar added: “The launch of Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education represents a strategic step and a significant turning point in the development of education across the Arab world. The award strengthens the regional shift toward supporting innovative digital solutions and adopting advanced technologies—such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and data analytics—to enhance teaching and learning processes. Since the launch of its inaugural cycle in March of this year, the award has played an essential role in reinforcing digital transformation within Arab education systems, empowering teachers, students, and researchers to design initiatives capable of building more efficient and sustainable learning environments that keep pace with global developments.”

Following a rigorous evaluation process based on stringent scientific criteria, two research papers were selected as winners in this year’s cycle. The first, titled “Concurrent and Longitudinal Predictions of Mathematics Anxiety, Science Anxiety, and Enrollment in the Scientific Track in Secondary Education,” was authored by Prof. Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Hamed Majriya and Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Emadi. The second winning study, authored by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Magda El-Sayed Ali Bathish Al-Kushki, is titled “The Inflation of Illusory Competence as a Mediating Variable in the Relationship Between Cognitive Reliance on Generative Artificial Intelligence and Distortion of Intellectual Identity Among Graduate Students.” The winning research papers demonstrated strong scientific rigor, clear relevance to contemporary educational issues, and a notable capacity to contribute to the development of educational policies and the enhancement of learning practices across Arab countries.

The 2025 Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education also witnessed strong regional participation, with 77 digital innovations from 11 Arab countries, reflecting the diversity of digital initiatives and the growing adoption of advanced technologies in educational development. Algeria topped the submissions with 21 innovations, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 16, Palestine with 10, Saudi Arabia with 7, Iraq with 6, and Jordan with 5. Kuwait and Morocco each submitted 4 innovations, in addition to 2 innovations from Syria, and one submission each from Oman and Qatar.

Following an evaluation process based on criteria of innovation, educational impact, and applicability, the judging committee selected three winning innovations in this inaugural cycle, across both the institutional and individual categories. In the institutional category, the winning project was Alef Pathways, submitted by Alef Education from the United Arab Emirates.

In the individual category, the winners were Hind Abdullah Ali Al Ateeqi Al Junaibi from the UAE for her innovation TAIA: Teaching AI Assistant, and Nouf bint Abdulaziz bin Muqbil Al-Jehani from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for her innovation Raseen Platform.

The winning projects demonstrated exceptional ability in leveraging artificial intelligence and digital solutions to enhance educational quality and build more efficient, innovative learning environments.

Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, in partnership with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), reaffirms its commitment to advancing educational research and promoting digital innovation in education. Through its leading programs and awards, the Foundation continues to empower researchers and innovators across the Arab world and to provide platforms that support high-quality scientific and technological contributions. Both institutions remain dedicated to expanding the impact of these awards and strengthening their role in developing education systems and building the capacities of future generations. The winners will be honored on the sidelines of the Conference of Arab Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, to be held in Baghdad at the end of December under the auspices of ALECSO.