Saudi Arabian teacher Mansour bin Abdullah Al-Mansour, who has volunteered over 3,000 hours helping his community, including transforming the lives of hundreds of gifted orphans, has been named the winner of the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize, a Varkey Foundation initiative organized in collaboration with UNESCO. Now in its ninth year, the $1 million award is the largest prize of its kind.
Mansour bin Abdullah Al-Mansour, a teacher at Prince Saud bin Jalawi School in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, was selected from over 5,000 nominations and applications from 89 countries worldwide. He was announced as the winner during a ceremony at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
The Global Teacher Prize was established to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession and to highlight the crucial role teachers play in society. Since its launch, the Global Teacher Prize has received over 100,000 applications and nominations from around the globe.
Upon winning the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize, Mansour bin Abdullah Al-Mansour said: “Thank you to GEMS Education, the Varkey Foundation, and UNESCO for this incredible honor. It is humbling to be recognized 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 toward breaking barriers so that no young person is left behind.”
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.”
Since 2001, Mansour bin Abdullah Al-Mansour has been teaching in low-income neighborhoods, supporting students facing academic challenges, including those with disabilities, learning difficulties, and children from illiterate families. Initially teaching in a small, rented school building—essentially from the school kitchen—Mansour transformed the institution into one of the top 10 learning environments in Saudi Arabia for gifted education.
To achieve this, he provided his students with training at the Kingdom’s top talent and creativity centers, connected them with renowned professors at King Faisal University through a mentorship program, established an innovation incubator to nurture their ideas, and worked to enhance their economic conditions. As a result, his students have earned prestigious accolades on global stages.
Mansour also helped his students participate in the ‘Riyali Financial Awareness Initiative,’ aimed at empowering low-income students by equipping them with entrepreneurship skills and financial literacy training to become financially independent. In collaboration with charitable organizations, Mansour provided interest-free loans of 500 SAR per student to establish small businesses (kiosks), with students earning between 1,300-1,500 SAR within two months. One student now owns a small business, generating a stable income of 1,500-2,500 SAR monthly.
Mansour has also donated over 3,000 hours of voluntary service. This includes teaching close to 250 gifted orphans and equipping them with key life skills. These orphans are scattered across different schools, and Mansour plans to use the $1 million Global Teacher Prize money to build a dedicated school for talented orphans.
Beyond his school efforts, Mansour leads a program for prison inmates, helping them learn to read and write, giving them a second chance at life. As a result of Mansour’s tutoring, several prisoners have had their sentences reduced. He has also co-founded several charitable, educational, and humanitarian associations, including the Qabas Educational Association, which provides literacy programs to 3,250 learners.
Mansour also extends his support to fellow educators. He has authored more than 21 books on education, covering topics such as innovative teaching and professional ethics, and has provided over 300 training hours to educators across the Gulf region. His contributions have been so impactful that he was appointed an international ambassador for the Hamdan Bin Rashid Foundation in Dubai, where he travels across the Gulf countries, sharing his expertise and training teachers.
The top 10 finalists for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize were:
- Brett Dascombe from Australia
- Céline Haller from France
- Erick Hueck from the U.S.
- Karina Sarro from Argentina
- Mohammad Imran Khan Mewati from India
- Muhammad Nazmi from Malaysia
- Ramón Majé Floriano from Colombia
- Subash Chandar K from New Zealand
- Tionge Mtambo from Malawi
