The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has officially unveiled the UAE Award in Higher Education. Operating under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council, the national initiative is designed to foster a culture of innovation and recognise outstanding achievements across the country’s universities and vocational institutions.
Applications for the inaugural cycle of the award open for institutional submissions from July until September 2026. Following a dedicated evaluation and judging phase, the final winners will be formally announced during the fourth quarter of 2026.
The newly launched award framework is structured around four main pillars:
- Leadership: Honouring leading universities, higher education institutions, and vocational bodies.
- Readiness: Awarded to transformative, future-focused higher education projects.
- Pioneers: Celebrating individuals and educators who have made significant contributions to the sector.
- National Impact: Recognising strategic international universities and cross-sector partners that contribute to national education goals.
The comprehensive evaluation framework will measure genuine, sustainable impact, focusing on quality learning outcomes, graduate employability, and applied scientific research that addresses the UAE's national priorities.