In October, the whole world celebrates a happy Teachers Day, including the UAE. This day is dedicated to celebrating the efforts of great teachers to teach children and help them develop in every possible way. Explore how UAE celebrates this day, what kind of gifts to get teachers, and more details in this guide.
Overview
This day is an annual celebration that occurs every year to celebrate and honour educators and teachers. It is also a global celebration – where all the countries around the world join in to give gratitude to those instilling knowledge, skills, and values to children.
World Teachers’ Day has been held on 5 October since 1994. UNESCO picked the date because it marks the anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, the first international document to set standards for teachers’ rights, training and working conditions.
This day is highly praised in the UAE, and many schools and educational institutions hold their celebrations and festivities. Such events are held to recognise those teacher’s hard work and show appreciation in creative ways. In addition, the Ministry of Education fosters various awards to thank teachers and educational institutions for their efforts. Also, some of these awards are valuable monetary awards!
UAE leaders also share messages of thanks on the day. In 2025, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan described the teacher as someone who “carries a noble educational and moral mission”, while Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum called teaching “the greatest job known to mankind”.
When is Teacher’s Day in UAE
Teachers Day date is recognised globally. Every year, this day falls on the 5th of October. This year, 2026, this day falls on a Monday. Because it lands on a regular school day, most schools will hold assemblies and classroom celebrations on the day, and some may stretch the activities across the same week.
Teacher’s Day Dates for the Next Three Years
| Year | Date | Day |
| 2026 | 5 October | Monday |
| 2027 | 5 October | Tuesday |
| 2028 | 5 October | Thursday |
Not every country follows the 5 October date. India marks Teacher’s Day on 5 September, and the US celebrates National Teacher Day on the Tuesday of the first full week of May. So if your child attends an Indian or American curriculum school in the UAE, you may see a second celebration during the year.
Teachers Day Gift Ideas
Students usually show their appreciation to teachers by getting simple and meaningful gifts. It is not a time for lavish or expensive materialistic gifts. But it is more about showing gratitude with something symbolic and from the heart. In addition, some schools hold arts and crafts sessions for students to hand-make such gifts for their teachers. So, if you are looking for a good gift for your child’s teacher, here are some ideas below.
- Handmade gift card with words written from the heart
- Chocolates
- Flowers
- A specially customised mug
- Books or notebooks
- A small plant for the teacher’s desk
- Homemade cupcakes
- A personalised pen
- A framed picture of your child and their favourite teacher
- New lanyard for personal badges
- Pencils and pens bouquet
- A small and symbolic snowglobe
- Teacher tote bag
- Handmade name plaque
- A mug coaster
- A healthy snack basket
Before you buy anything, check the school newsletter or the class parents’ group. Some schools set their own rules on gifts, and a few prefer one joint present from the whole class instead of individual ones.
Best Teachers Day Celebration Ideas
A gift is only one way to say thank you. Here are some of the best celebration ideas for students, parents and schools that cost little and still mean a lot to a teacher.
For Students
- Write a short thank-you letter that mentions one thing the teacher did that helped you this year.
- Decorate the classroom door or the teacher’s desk with balloons, banners and drawings before the first lesson.
- Put together a class card where every student signs and adds a line or a small sketch.
- Record a short tribute video with a message from each classmate.
- Plan a small surprise in the first few minutes of class, like everyone standing up to say “Happy Teacher’s Day” together.
For Parents
- Send a personal message or email to the teacher. A few honest lines about your child’s progress often mean more than a present.
- Agree with other parents on one shared gift, such as a flower bouquet with a card signed by the whole class.
- Help your child make something at home the night before, such as a card or a bookmark.
For Schools
- Morning assemblies with speeches, songs and short performances by students.
- A “role swap” lesson, where older students teach a class for a period while teachers watch.
- A staff breakfast or coffee morning organised by the parents’ committee.
- In-school recognition certificates for teachers, voted for by students.
- A traditional dress day, which adds an Emirati cultural touch to the celebration.
UAE Teachers Day Awards
In addition, the UAE realises the importance of giving gratitude to educators and teachers. Therefore, many awards were set up to show appreciation to these teachers and celebrate their efforts. The UAE Government presents six awards acknowledging these great efforts across all Emirates.
1. Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher
- It was launched in 2017 to highlight the work of special teachers in private and international schools. From its third edition, the award opened up to teachers of all nationalities working in eight Arab countries (the six GCC states, Jordan and Egypt), with AED 1 million going to each of the eight winners. Results are usually announced around World Teachers’ Day.
2. The Best GCC Teacher Award
- It was also launched in 2017 to recognise distinguished teachers all over the GCC. It is also a monetary award worth AED 6 million. This was the first edition of the same programme, launched as the Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best GCC Teacher before it grew into the wider award above.
3. The Bullying Prevention in Schools Award
- This award aims to enhance safe and bully-free environments in schools.
4. Emirates Award for Educational Excellence
- This award was launched in 2013 to fulfil the Ministry of Education’s set of goals for 2015 – 2021. It has 27 categories, including Exceptional Family, Exceptional Student, Exceptional Private School, and more.
5. Khalifa Award for Education
- In addition, this award took place in 2007 to honour teachers’ creativity and efforts in the regional UAE education sector. It now runs under the patronage of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and opened nominations for its 20th edition in 2026.
6. Ras Al Khaimah Award for Educational Excellence
- Lastly, in 2014, this award was launched to promote the culture of excellence in the educational sector. This award motivated educators in Ras Al Khaimah to follow international standards of excellence and follow through with them.
Outside these six awards, the UAE also funds the UNESCO-Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Prize for teacher development, which is presented at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris as part of the World Teachers’ Day programme.
Emirati Day for Education (28 February)
The UAE has a second date that honours teachers. In September 2024, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan named 28 February as the Emirati Day for Education. The date goes back to 28 February 1982, when the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan attended the graduation of the first group of teachers from UAE University.
The first Emirati Day for Education was marked in February 2025. While 5 October is the global teacher’s day, 28 February is a national day that celebrates the whole education sector, including teachers, students, parents and schools.
FAQ
While the UAE celebrates this day, it is not a national holiday.
Yes, the whole world celebrates this International Teachers Day, including many schools and educational institutions.
Every school and educational institution is hosting its own celebrations and festivities. You may also find some appreciation messages spread across media and billboards.
World Teachers’ Day falls on Monday, 5 October 2026.
Simple, personal gifts work best, such as a handwritten card, flowers, a desk plant or a personalised mug. Many parents also choose one shared gift from the whole class.
Emirati Children’s Day is on 15 March every year. World Children’s Day, which many schools in the UAE also celebrate, is on 20 November.
In conclusion, Teachers Day in the UAE celebrations is to recognise and show thankfulness to those educators. There are many great and simple gift ideas that children can get for their teachers as they can join in the happy and creative festivities at their schools. Moreover, make sure to explore Property Finder’s blog for more guides. Such as the comparison between British and American curriculums and more.
