UAE: Abdullah bin Zayed Leads First 2025 Education and Development Council Meeting

UAE: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Chairs First 2025 Meeting of Education and Community Development Council

Abu Dhabi [UAE], January 21: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of the Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council, presided over the council’s first session of 2025 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Abu Dhabi.The Vice-Chairperson of the Council, Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was present at the meeting.

Along with updates from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, and Scientific Research, as well as the activation strategies of the Ministry of Community Empowerment and the Ministry of Family, the council also reviewed key priorities and strategic directions for the upcoming period.

“The council’s recently reorganized framework reflects the leadership’s confidence and lays the groundwork for furthering national goals,” Sheikh Abdullah said in his opening remarks, emphasizing the council’s critical role in creating comprehensive policies that complement the UAE leadership’s vision for community development, education, and human capital development.

Sheikh Abdullah praised the work done by many organizations to determine the objectives for the next stage. He emphasized that encouraging cooperation among interested parties is essential to carrying out the council’s strategic goal. He emphasized the importance of strategic thinking, creativity, responsibility, effective communication, and a dedication to lifelong learning in creating high-performance teams.

He also urged council members to think beyond the box when identifying opportunities and creating successful policies. To ensure the UAE’s long-term prosperity, Sheikh Abdullah emphasized the significance of accountability, collaboration, and openness to new ideas.

“The foundation of progress is education, and our goal is to align the educational system with individual growth and community empowerment.
We aim to build a knowledge-based society that nurtures human capital and preserves national identity, encompassing every stage of life from childhood to family establishment and social contribution. This will help secure a bright future for upcoming generations in the UAE,” Sheikh Abdullah stated.

Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reaffirmed the council’s commitment to fulfilling its objectives in line with the leadership’s vision. She restated the council’s emphasis on human-centered approaches that give skill development first priority and encourage lifelong learning.

“We enter the new year with more ambition and resolve to support the development of the Emirati community. Developing people, maximizing their potential, and fostering creativity are at the heart of our strategic direction. Sheikha Mariam continued, “Continuous learning is a fundamental pillar that ensures every individual can contribute meaningfully to society and is a collective responsibility for all.”

The meeting also saw the participation of key government officials, including Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Empowerment; Sarah bint Youssef Al Amiri, Minister of Education; Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family; Jassem Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Department of Finance – Abu Dhabi, and Hajer Ahmed Althehli, Secretary-General of the Council.

Althehli presented a comprehensive overview of the council’s latest initiatives aimed at improving governance, aligning strategies, and ensuring seamless coordination between education, human capital, and community development. She emphasized the importance of enhancing productivity, strengthening accountability, minimizing bureaucracy, and fostering collaboration between government and private sectors.

The council’s efforts are aimed at attracting and retaining talent, improving the efficiency of financial and human resources, and enabling people to effectively contribute to national goals in line with the leadership’s vision.

With a focus on continuous institutional and operational advancements, Sarah Al Amiri offered insights into the Ministry of Education’s progress within the transitional framework. She listed the ministry’s priorities, which center on four main areas: improving school governance and oversight, curriculum creation, assessment and learning paths, and professional training for teachers. These initiatives seek to close current academic gaps and improve the system of education as a whole.

The reform initiatives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research were updated by Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar. Significant short-term accomplishments were emphasized by him, including 16 projects organized around three main pillars: strengthening institutions, assisting students, and updating regulations to raise the bar for higher education.

Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Empowerment, discussed the ministry’s focus on empowering people, fostering a thriving community, and reinforcing a feeling of shared responsibility. She described the ministry’s strategy, which consists of benefit service enhancement, family support programs, People of Determination development programs, and the adoption of innovative family-strengthening laws.

She reiterated the ministry’s dedication to working with interested parties to make sure policies are sustainable and successful while promoting an inclusive and empowered culture in all spheres of society.