Indian teacher wins $1 million prize in Dubai
DUBAI – Indian educator and art-based learning pioneer Rouble Nagi has won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize 2026 at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
The award was presented by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, alongside GEMS Education founder Sunny Varkey.
Nagi was recognised for her long-running work delivering education to children in slums and rural communities through her initiatives Misaal India and the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation.
Over the past two decades, she has helped establish more than 800 learning centres and mobilised around 600 volunteers and teachers, using creative, low-cost models to reach underserved populations. Her programmes have impacted more than one million children through art-led education, skills training and dropout reduction efforts. Her “Living Walls of Learning” concept turns public walls and neighbourhood spaces into permanent visual classrooms.
The Global Teacher Prize, run by the Varkey Foundation with UNESCO support, has received over 100,000 nominations worldwide and honours educators whose work creates measurable social impact beyond traditional classrooms.