Sharjah,TNM: Thirteen-year-old Fatima Abdul Azeez from Kozhikode has made her hometown proud by winning the prestigious Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence. Fatima, a Grade 8 student at Delhi Private School in Sharjah, received the award from Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, at a ceremony held at University City Hall, Sharjah.
The award includes a trophy and a cash prize of AED 30,000, which is approximately ₹7 lakh. The current edition marked the 30th year of the award organized by the Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence (SAEE). Fatima is the daughter of Abdul Azeez and Sajira Sultana, originally from Kozhikode, and the elder sister to three younger siblings—Minz, Hawwa, and Aysha.
About the Award
The Sharjah Award for Excellence in Education recognizes students who excel in both academics and extracurricular activities. It was instituted in 1994 by Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, to promote and reward holistic educational excellence among students and teachers across the UAE. This year, 1,460 students from various schools were nominated, out of which 51 were selected as winners. Students from Grades 3 to 12 are eligible to apply. The selection criteria include consistent performance over three academic years, with a minimum of 90% academic score, along with achievements in volunteering, community service, technology, communication skills, leadership, and hobbies.
Fatima’s Achievements
Fatima applied for the award while she was in Grade 7. Candidates were shortlisted based on a 1,000-point evaluation system, and only those scoring above 800 were invited for interviews. Fatima was called for the final round in January, and she was declared a winner on April 7, 2025.
Alongside her academic excellence, Fatima is also actively involved in various social and community service initiatives. Under her leadership, her school collaborated with the UAE Red Crescent to collect clothes for refugees in Turkey and Syria. She also worked with Hope Foundation to aid people affected in Gaza and participated in food distribution drives at labor camps across Dubai and Sharjah.
Fatima took part in the “Friends of Arthritis” marathon in Dubai, representing her school in support of arthritis patients. During the UAE floods, she collected plastic bottles from multiple buildings for recycling and raised awareness among students. Through her efforts, Delhi Private School contributed 440 kg of plastic waste, with Fatima alone collecting 100 kg.
She has conducted awareness classes for senior citizens on digital safety and for students on cyberbullying. Reading and dancing are among her hobbies, and she is also a badminton player. Remarkably, Fatima has already published two English books.
Dreaming Big: IAS Aspirant Inspired by Divya S. Iyer
Fatima’s mother Sajira says that her daughter is not one to sit and study all day, but is instead self-driven and passionate about learning. The support from the school has also been significant. Her parents emphasize that they wish only to guide her according to her interests.
Fatima dreams of becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and cites Divya S. Iyer as her role model. However, when asked who her real-life inspiration is, she points to her mother. “Parental love and support are my strength,” says Fatima, who is deeply thankful to her teachers and everyone who has supported her journey.
When asked what she plans to do with her prize money, the 13-year-old humbly replied, “It’s a big amount for someone my age, so I’ve just saved it for now.”
