The Ministry of Education (MoE) recognised public school students and teachers across the UAE for their creative contributions to the first edition of My School… My Identity, a nationwide art competition aimed at reflecting Emirati heritage through school spaces.
Winners announced
Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, led the awards ceremony, where she congratulated the winning schools and highlighted the role of art in education.
“This competition unveiled emerging creative talents and illustrated how art, when thoughtfully integrated into education, can be a powerful catalyst for character building and instilling pride in our cultural identity,” she said.
The Zayed Educational Complex in the Awafi area of Ras Al Khaimah won first place, receiving Dhs100,000. Al Fujairah Girls School For Cycle 2 took second place with Dhs70,000, while Al Fayhaa Kindergarten Al Bateen in Abu Dhabi came third and received Dhs50,000.
Seven other schools were awarded Dhs25,000 each for ranking in the top ten:
Zayed Educational Complex, Al Suyoh, Sharjah
Al Sumou School, Al Ain
Al Shaheed Tariq Al Shehhi Kindergarten, Shaam, Ras Al Khaimah
Al Marfa Girls School, Mirfa, Al Dhafra
Mohammed Noor Boys School Cycle 2, Rashidiya, Dubai
Al Jahili Girls School, Al Ain
Al Hudaiba Girls School Cycle 3, Al Hudaiba, Ras Al Khaimah
Heritage through art
More than 140,000 students and 11,000 teachers from public schools participated in the contest. Entries included fine art, Arabic calligraphy, sculptures, and heritage-themed installations that turned school campuses into immersive cultural showcases.
Over 5,000 artworks were submitted, supported by more than 1,000 workshops and artistic activities. The judging panel evaluated entries based on creativity, technical quality, safety, and how well they integrated educational and cultural themes.
Dignitaries attend event
The awards ceremony was attended by prominent officials including Her Excellency Sara Musallam, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge; His Excellency Dr. Omar Al Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs; and representatives from entities such as Dubai Culture and the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center.
The Ministry also thanked jury members for their role in selecting the winning submissions and expressed appreciation for the collaborative spirit shown by students and teachers.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
