Saeed Salem Abdullah Al-Zahrani, a primary school teacher at Al-Mutrafiyah Primary School in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia, is among the top 50 finalists for the 2026 Global Teacher Prize, selected from over 5,000 nominations from 139 countries.
Now in its tenth year, the Global Teacher Prize, the largest award for teachers, offers a US$1 million prize to honour exceptional educators for their significant contributions and to emphasise the pivotal role teachers play in society.
The Global Teacher Prize aims to honour teachers by sharing numerous inspiring stories that demonstrate their transformative impact on the lives of young people. Since its launch, the prize has garnered over 100,000 nominations globally.
Saeed bin Salem Al-Zahrani: Qualifications & Career
Saeed Salem Abdullah Al-Zahrani is a notable Saudi educator at Al-Mutrafiyah Elementary School in Jubail, recognized for his innovative educational programmes, including: “The Challenge,” “Launch,” “Maher,” “Awn,” and “Preparation,” which enhance students’ reading, writing, and overall academic performance, and the “Steps,” project uses interactive stories, animations, and instructional materials to teach Arabic to non-native speakers and English to Arab children.
These initiatives have been approved by the Minister of Education and implemented in the kindergartens of the Royal Commission.
Moreover, Saeed is a PhD holder in Linguistics and Language Studies with a Master’s in Counselling Psychology. He employs storytelling, digital tools, and personalised instruction to optimise student potential. He has authored peer-reviewed research, presented internationally, and trained teachers in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Likewise, Saeed advocates for global citizenship and sustainability through initiatives such as tree-planting campaigns, energy conservation, and waste reduction. He also supports families and children with disabilities by providing guidance, mentorship, and digital resources.
Further, Al-Zahrani, a Distinguished Teacher Award recipient and finalist for prominent educational awards, exemplifies the transformative impact of education. He empowers students, enhances the teaching profession, and fosters equitable and engaging learning experiences, inspired by a teacher who helped him overcome early learning difficulties.
The Global Teacher Prize 2026
The founder of the Global Teacher Prize, Sunny Varkey, GEMS Education, and the Varkey Foundation, congratulated Mr. Saeed on his shortlisting for the prize, which aims to honour and celebrate dedicated, creative, and compassionate teachers worldwide.
Additionally, Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, commended teachers for their vital role in shaping minds and instilling confidence in young people, highlighting their influence on building a better future. She also congratulated the top 50 finalists for this year’s prize.
Notably, UNESCO supports the Global Teacher Prize to honour the exceptional commitment of teachers worldwide.
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The GEMS Story: A Legacy of Excellence
GEMS, founded in Dubai in 1959, has established a significant legacy with nearly half a million alumni. It remains a family-run business, led by founder and chairman Sunny Varkey, alongside his sons Dino Varkey (Group CEO) and Jay Varkey (Group Deputy CEO).
The Global Teacher Prize recognises practising teachers who educate children aged 5 to 18, including those teaching 4-year-olds in approved kindergarten programs and part-time or online instructors.
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Qualifications: Who May Apply for the Global Teacher Award?
Teachers must dedicate a minimum of 10 hours per week and plan to teach for at least five more years to qualify for the Global Teacher Prize. This prize accepts teachers from all schools globally, in accordance with local laws. Alongside the Global Teacher Prize, the Global Schools Prize and Global Student Prize acknowledge the roles of teachers, students, and schools in driving innovation and change.
Together, these three awards foster a dialogue on delivering quality education, empowering children with essential skills for the future, and reimagining learning for future generations.
The evaluation criteria focus on teachers’ practices, innovative strategies for local issues, educational outcomes, community impact beyond the classroom, fostering global citizenship, enhancing the teaching profession’s profile, and receiving recognition from external organisations.
Teachers can apply for the Global Teacher Prize from GEMS Education by visiting www.globalteacherprize.org before the December deadline. A final list of the top 50 teachers will be reviewed to select the top 10 finalists, aiming to enhance respect for the teaching profession.
Furthermore, the Global Teacher Prize Academy will select a winner from ten finalists, to be announced at the World Government Summit in Dubai on February 3-5, 2026. Applicants must submit an online application detailing their motivation, after which nominated teachers will receive an email about their nomination and an invitation to apply.
Applications may apply for the prize in English, Mandarin, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian. Join the online discussions by following @TeacherPrize.
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