Mansour bin Abdullah Al-Mansour wins Global Teacher Prize
A dedicated Saudi Arabian teacher who has spent decades transforming the lives of disadvantaged students has been named the winner of the prestigious GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize.
Mansour bin Abdullah Al-Mansour, a teacher at Prince Saud bin Jalawi School in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, was awarded the $1 million prize at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
Now in its ninth year, the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize is a Varkey Foundation initiative organised in collaboration with UNESCO.
The $1 million award is the largest prize of its kind. It is designed to honour exceptional educators who have made a significant impact in their communities and beyond and highlight the vital role of teaching in shaping the future.
Chosen from over 5,000 nominees from 89 countries, Al-Mansour has profoundly impacted students from low-income backgrounds, including hundreds of gifted orphans. His efforts have extended far beyond the classroom—he has volunteered more than 3,000 hours to his community, established mentorship programmes with top professors, and provided financial literacy training to students to help them achieve financial independence.
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On receiving the award, Al-Mansour expressed his gratitude: “Every child deserves the chance to shine, regardless of their circumstances, and I will continue to work towards breaking barriers so that no young person is left behind.”
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Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Global Teacher Prize and GEMS Education and Chairman of the Varkey Foundation, praised Al-Mansour’s dedication: “Your inspiring journey is a true reflection of your passion, dedication, and the life-changing power of education.”
Al-Mansour’s impact has reached beyond students—he has authored 21 books on education, trained educators across the Gulf, and even led literacy programmes for prison inmates. He has pledged to use the prize money to build a school specifically for orphans.
Teachers interested in applying for the Global Teacher Prize can submit their applications online. The prize is open to educators who teach students aged five to 18 in any recognised curriculum. Applicants are assessed on their teaching practices, innovation in addressing local challenges, community impact, and contribution to the profession.
To join the conversation and learn more, follow @TeacherPrize on social media or visit the official website for submission details and deadlines.
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