H.H. Sheikh Hamdan congratulates Dubai's first Student Council

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, has congratulated the Emirate's first 16-member Student Council, calling them the "voice of Dubai".

The members of the Dubai Students Council (DSC) for the 2025-2026 academic year are from 16 schools of six different curricula and nine nationalities.

They will represent nearly 400,000 students across Dubai’s private education system.

"You will carry their ambitions, express their ideas, and contribute to developing our education system. Your responsibility is significant, but our expectations are even greater," Sheikh Hamdan said.

The council’s first meeting was held in the presence of Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary-General of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Aisha Miran, Director-General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

During the meeting, the Council members were handed a copy of the book ‘Lessons from Life’ by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, along with an inspiring message from the Crown Prince.

The decision to form the Dubai Student Council was first unveiled in June by Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) as part of the Leaders of Tomorrow game changer initiative under the Education 33 strategy. 

At the time, KHDA said the student body will "help shape the education journey" and "nurture leaders of tomorrow".

ويضم المجلس في عضويته 16 طالباً وطالبة، من طلبة الصف التاسع حتى الصف الثاني عشر أو ما يعادلهما في مختلف المناهج التعليمية المعتمدة في دبي، كما يشهد المجلس تمثيلاً حقيقياً لاهتمامات ما يقارب 400 ألف طالب وطالبة ضمن منظومة التعليم الخاص. pic.twitter.com/7FVYvqXxzO

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 24, 2025

The student leaders were selected from Grade 9/Year 10 to Grade 12/Year 13, based on nominations and an intense review process.

This year, 90 private schools from 10 different curricula submitted nominations for the Council. Out of these, 40 students were shortlisted based on specific criteria for excellence.

Final members of the council were selected through a rigorous and transparent process that included individual interviews and group activities, conducted in collaboration with PwC Consulting, to assess candidates’ leadership and interpersonal skills.

Each student will serve a one-year term, with the option to reapply for a second term, subject to eligibility and their performance within the team.