The Arbor School, Dubai, has recently been crowned the winner of the World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action 2025, a prestigious accolade that highlights its outstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental education. Outshining 10 shortlisted schools from around the globe and thousands of entries, this achievement marks a historic milestone as The Arbor School becomes the first UAE school to ever secure a World’s Best School title. This remarkable win not only celebrates the school’s innovative approach but also places it at the forefront of ecoliteracy and sustainability in education, both nationally and globally.
Nestled in the vibrant community of Al Furjan, The Arbor School offers an education that uniquely blends the British National Curriculum with a pioneering ecoliteracy programme. This curriculum equips students—from Foundation Stage through to Secondary—with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become proactive changemakers in today’s rapidly evolving world. Central to this educational experience is the school’s “living campus,” featuring biodomes, regenerative gardens, and native habitat areas. These immersive environments provide hands-on learning opportunities, allowing students to engage directly with nature and sustainability concepts in meaningful ways.
At the heart of The Arbor School’s environmental education is the Centre for Abundance, a specialised department dedicated to environmental and ecological education. Here, students collaborate with experts in sustainability, science, and systems thinking to address pressing real-world challenges. This approach emphasizes student-led action, with eco-committees, community conservation projects, and the integration of environmental justice across all subjects ensuring that ecoliteracy is deeply embedded in the daily life of every learner. As a result, students gain a comprehensive understanding of critical issues such as food systems, climate adaptation, and ecological resilience, positioning the school as a beacon of sustainability leadership in the UAE and beyond.
The recognition of The Arbor School’s efforts aligns perfectly with the UAE’s ambitious national sustainability vision. Building on initiatives like the Year of Sustainability and the momentum generated by hosting COP28, the country is actively fostering innovation and education that prepare future generations to lead in global environmental stewardship. The Arbor School’s award exemplifies how schools in the UAE are at the cutting edge of this movement, shaping learners who are ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow with the skills and values required for meaningful change.
Winners of the World’s Best School Prizes, including those from the USA, Mexico, Brazil, and Malaysia, will be invited to participate in the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for November 15-16. This global event offers a platform for schools to share their innovative practices and unique expertise with policymakers and educational leaders, further amplifying the impact of their work on a worldwide stage.
Gemma Thornley, Principal of The Arbor School, expressed her pride in the recognition, emphasizing the school’s core belief that education must actively address ecological and social challenges. She highlighted how the award honors the collective dedication of the entire school community to embedding sustainability into everyday practice, embodying the vision that young people can be leaders in building a just and sustainable future. Thornley’s reflection captures the essence of the school’s mission and its role as an ecosystem of change.
Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, praised The Arbor School’s accomplishment, noting the critical need for leaders equipped to tackle complex 21st-century challenges—from climate change to technological advancements and social divides. He affirmed that schools like The Arbor provide essential answers through quality education, inspiring educators and policymakers globally with their trailblazing work in environmental action.
For families interested in exploring The Arbor School’s unique approach, the school is hosting an Open Morning on Wednesday, 8 October, from 8 am to 11:30 am. This event offers an excellent opportunity to tour the innovative campus, observe classes in action, and meet the students, teachers, and leadership team. Interested parties can book their place through the school’s website at www.thearborschool.ae.
The Arbor School is a trailblazer in ecological education within Dubai, offering a high-quality British education from the Foundation Stage through Secondary levels. With a mission to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and compassion, the school places sustainability, ecoliteracy, and environmental justice at the heart of its curriculum. Its living campus, ecolabs, biodomes, and Centre for Abundance empower students to become future-ready leaders capable of shaping a better, more sustainable world.
The World’s Best School Prizes are organised by T4 Education, a global community dedicated to improving education worldwide. T4 Education supports educators through its digital media platform, fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and amplifying teachers’ voices to drive positive change in learning and school culture across the globe.
These accolades and initiatives underline a powerful global movement towards embedding sustainability deeply within educational systems, with The Arbor School leading the way as a shining example of what’s possible when commitment, innovation, and community converge.
