School kitchen to $1 million UAE teacher award: Saudi educator hopes to build institute for orphans
Through his unwavering dedication and innovative approach, Mansour bin Abdullah Al-Mansour has transformed his school into one of the country's top 10 learning environments for gifted orphans.
His impact, however, goes far beyond the classroom. Mansour has also tutored prison inmates, helping them gain literacy skills that led to their reduced sentences.
A teacher at Prince Saud bin Jalawi School in Al-Ahsa, KSA, he has dedicated over 3,000 volunteer hours to uplifting disadvantaged students and orphans. His remarkable contributions have earned him the prestigious $1 million award in the ninth edition of the prize, the largest of its kind.
Selected from over 5,000 nominations and applications across 89 countries, Mansour was announced as the winner at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Thursday.
He said: 'Thank you to GEMS Education, the Varkey Foundation, and UNESCO for this incredible honour. It is humbling to be recognised among such remarkable educators from all around the world. Through this powerful new platform, I hope to uplift the lives of many more children in Saudi Arabia and beyond. 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.'
Financial literacy initiatives, training teachers
Since 2001, Mansour has worked in low-income neighborhoods, supporting students with learning disabilities and academic struggles. He has connected students with top talent centers, introduced mentorship programmes with King Faisal University professors, and set up an innovation incubator to nurture entrepreneurial ideas, leading his students to win global accolades.
He has also played a key role in financial literacy initiatives. Through the Riyali Financial Awareness Initiative, he has helped low-income students launch small businesses, providing them with interest-free loans of 500 SAR. Many students now earn between 1,300-2,500 SAR per month, with one successfully running a profitable small business.
Beyond students, he has co-founded multiple charitable and educational organisations, including the Qabas Educational Association, which has provided literacy programmes for over 3,250 learners.
Positively impacting prisoners' lives
Outside of his official duties, Mansour runs a programme for prison inmates, helping them learn to read and write, offering them a second chance in life. His tutoring has led to reduced sentences for several prisoners.
The Saudi national also plays a vital role in supporting fellow educators. He has authored over 21 books on education, covering topics such as innovative teaching methods and professional ethics, and has delivered more than 300 training hours to teachers across the Gulf region.
His impactful contributions earned him the role of international ambassador for the Hamdan Bin Rashid Foundation in Dubai, allowing him to travel across the Gulf, sharing his expertise and training educators.
How will he use the prize money?
Mansour now plans to use the $1 million Global Teacher Prize to build a school for gifted orphans, ensuring they receive the best education under one roof.
His dedication to education has also earned him the role of international ambassador for the Hamdan Bin Rashid Foundation in Dubai, where he continues to train and inspire educators across the Gulf.
What is the Global Teacher Prize?
The Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognise one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society.
Since its launch, the Global Teacher Prize has received over 100,000 applications and nominations from around the globe.
Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Global Teacher Prize and GEMS Education, and Chairman of the Varkey Foundation, said, 'Congratulations to Mansour on winning the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2025. Your inspiring journey is a true reflection of your passion, dedication, and the life-changing power of education.'
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