Sheikh Hamdan announces new reward system for Dubai's best high school pupils

Cash prizes, scholarships and golden visas will be provided to top performers as part of plans to empower future generations

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, has unveiled a new rewards system for the emirate's brightest high-school pupils. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, has unveiled a rewards system to honour the emirate's brightest high school pupils.

Sheikh Hamdan said Emiratis and residents at both public and private schools would be in line for recognition under plans to empower future generations.

The scheme will include financial prizes for 50 top high school students, as well as academic sponsorships and scholarships for Emiratis at universities at home and abroad.

Outstanding expatriate pupils will win discounts at international university branches and will continue to receive golden visas for themselves and their families.

The UAE government announced in July 2021 that children who scored 95 per cent or more in final exams would receive the 10-year visa for themselves and their immediate families.

The latest strategy covers the Ministry of Education, American, British and International Baccalaureate curriculums.

The first batch of top performing pupils will be given their rewards in September.

Sheikh Hamdan said the initiative was in line with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to invest in and harness the potential of young people who are ready to play a crucial rule in the country's development.

Sheikh Hamdan said on Twitter that Sheikh Mohammed had “boundless ambitions for the future of Dubai” which would require people with a “great deal of distinction, efficiency and creativity”.

Sheikh Mohammed on Tuesday made surprise phone calls to the UAE's best-performing public school pupils to tell them of their results, a day before they were officially released.

Emirates Schools Establishment, the UAE’s public school operator, released Grade 12 exam results for 28,775 pupils at public schools, plus a small number of private schools that follow the Ministry of Education curriculum.

The overall pass rate was 94.4 per cent.

Dubai's top ranked schools - in pictures

Dubai English Speaking School (Dess), one of the oldest schools in the country, was established in 1963 in a room of a residential villa in Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National

Located in Barsha South, Gems Dubai American Academy focuses on celebrating diversity, resilience, creativity and driving positive change. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Jumeirah English Speaking School at Arabian Ranches. The non-profit school was started in an apartment in Deira in 1975 with only 17 pupils. Stephen Lock / The National

Dubai College in Al Sufouh is one of the oldest in the city and often touted as one of the best in the emirate. Pawan Singh / The National

Gems Modern Academy, located in Nad Al Sheba 3, was founded in 1986 and is the only Indian curriculum school in Dubai to be ranked as outstanding by the KHDA. Victor Besa / The National

Located in Emirates Hills, Dubai British School has 1,171 pupils and is sought after by families. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Horizons English school, situated in Dubai’s Al Wasl area, caters to foundation stage one to Year 6, with almost 1,000 pupils enrolled. Photo: Horizons English School

Kings School Barsha is a relatively new school, opening in September 2014, and has managed to achieve a DSIB score of 'outstanding' in its last two inspections. Satish Kumar / The National

Located in Umm Suqeim, close to Burj Al Arab, Kings School Dubai offers primary education for children aged 3 to 11. Photo: Kings School

Gems Wellington International School in Al Sufouh offers both the UK curriculum and the International Baccalaureate programme. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Repton School located in Nad El Sheba is one of three branches in the UAE. Photo: Repton Dubai

Gems Jumeirah Primary School in Jumeirah 3 is one of the most sought-after primary schools in the emirate and has been rated 'outstanding' since 2010 by the KHDA. Photo: Jumeirah Primary School

Jumeirah College, a UK curriculum school located in Al Safa 1, has 1,125 pupils from 59 countries. Photo: Jumeirah College

Pupils at Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou have a consistently outstanding performance in mathematics across all ages, DSIB's latest quality indicators report showed. Pawan Singh / The National

Jumeirah English Speaking School at Al Safa 1 has a little more than 2,000 pupils. Pawan Singh / The National

Dubai English Speaking College at Academic City was established with the aim of providing quality British education for pupils up to the age of 18 and preparing them for entry into university. Pawan Singh / The National

Victory Heights Primary School, located in the heart of the Sports City community opened in 2012. Teaching the British curriculum, it has just under 1,000 pupils. Pawan Singh / The National

The Nord Anglia International School Dubai, located in Al Barsha 3, teaches pupils from early years up to Year 13. Photo: Nord Anglia International School Dubai

Dubai International Academy opened in Emirates Hills in 2005. It has more than 2,600 pupils, ranging in ages from 3 to 18. Reem Mohammed / The National

Deira International School, in Al Badia, Festival City, has just over 1,800 pupils enrolled, ranging in age from 3 to 18. Photo: Deira International School