Dr. Al Ali said that the UAE’s educational experience is an integrated development model that combines clarity of leadership vision.

Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of the TRENDS Research & Advisory, affirmed that the designation by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, may God protect him, of February 28 as the Emirati Day for Education embodies a profound vision that places education at the heart of knowledge sovereignty, as a tool to enhance international competitiveness, and as a launchpad for building an economy based on innovation and human capital.

In a statement marking the occasion, he explained that linking this day to the graduation of the first cohort of teachers from United Arab Emirates University in 1982, in the presence of the founding leader, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, reflects a profound awareness of the roots of the UAE’s educational project where the teacher has always been, and remains, the cornerstone in shaping generations, building awareness, and reinforcing national identity.

Dr. Al Ali added that the UAE’s educational experience represents an integrated development model that combines clarity of leadership vision, sustained strategic investment, and continuous institutional modernization. He emphasized that education in today’s world is no longer merely a service sector but a transformative one that reshapes the structure of the economy and society amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the accelerating advancement of artificial intelligence.

He further noted that TRENDS views the Emirati Day for Education as a platform to enhance international knowledge dialogue on the future of education and to launch research initiatives that develop evidence-based educational policies grounded in scientific indicators. He also highlighted the vital role of the TRENDS International Training Institute in preparing national cadres equipped with future skills and fostering a culture of continuous learning and research, thereby strengthening the readiness of future generations to lead the development journey with confidence and competence.

Dr. Al Ali concluded by stressing that investment in education is the highest-return and most sustainable form of investment, and that creative minds will remain the true wealth that secures the UAE’s advanced standing among nations.