Khalifa Foundation & McGill Launch $12.8 Million Education Partnership

Khalifa Foundation has entered a five-year, US$12.8 million partnership with McGill University to advance education and human capacity development on an international scale. The collaboration, announced on November 4, 2026, combines the Foundation’s experience in humanitarian and development work with McGill’s academic and research strengths.

The partnership will focus on developing educational leaders, supporting teachers and educators, strengthening education systems, and building human and institutional capacity in priority sectors. It also emphasizes knowledge exchange and locally driven approaches that help institutions respond to community needs and sustain progress over time.

The Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation operates as part of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, an Abu Dhabi-based philanthropic institution whose network of affiliates works worldwide. Erth Zayed Philanthropies was established in October 2024 by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. It carries forward the philanthropic legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the Emirati philosophy of Al Khair, rooted in generosity, compassion, stewardship, and service to humanity.

H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Secretary-General of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, stated: “This partnership builds on the UAE’s longstanding commitment to investing in people, guided by the legacy of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who placed human development and empowerment at the heart of his vision. Through our collaboration with McGill University, we aim to draw on academic knowledge and expertise to develop educational leaders and strengthen the ability of institutions to respond to the needs and development priorities of their communities, creating benefits that endure for future generations.”

H.E. Mubarak Rashed Ali Al Nuaimi, Director General of Khalifa Foundation, added: “The strength of this partnership lies in what it can leave behind: stronger educational institutions, capable local leaders, and expertise that continues to benefit communities long after individual programs have ended. Working with McGill University, we aim to turn academic knowledge into practical capabilities that respond to each country’s development priorities. Our focus is not simply on delivering programs, but on building the foundations for lasting progress.”

Professor Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University, said: “This partnership demonstrates the role universities can play in supporting national development by translating knowledge into institutional capacity and skilled leadership. By bringing together McGill University’s academic expertise and Khalifa Foundation’s development vision, we aim to support beneficiary countries in building stronger education systems that respond to national priorities and deliver lasting impact for their communities.”

Khalifa Foundation supports philanthropic and development initiatives in the UAE and internationally, with a focus on education, economic empowerment, and community development. As an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, it contributes to a broader network that strengthens collaboration, shares expertise, and advances sustainable development.

Erth Zayed Philanthropies works across health, education, agriculture and food, economic empowerment, nature, and culture and community engagement. It partners with governments, businesses, civil society, and international organizations to strengthen systems, build local capacity, catalyze partnerships, and scale sustainable solutions.

Its network includes the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), Zayed for Good Foundation, Khalifa Foundation, Emirates Foundation, Zayed Sustainability Prize, Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, Khalifa Award for Education, Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher, Sandooq Al Watan, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, International Fund for Houbara Conservation, Clean Rivers, and Ekthar.

The new agreement prioritizes practical outcomes that endure beyond individual projects. By combining McGill’s research and teaching expertise with the Foundation’s on-the-ground development experience, the partners aim to equip educators and institutions with tools that match national priorities and local realities. Knowledge exchange is expected to flow in both directions, allowing academic insights to inform program design while field experience shapes future research and training approaches.

The five-year timeframe provides space for sustained engagement rather than short-term interventions. Activities will support the preparation of educational leaders, continuous professional development for teachers, and the strengthening of education systems so they can better serve their communities. Emphasis on locally driven solutions is intended to ensure that programs remain relevant and that capacity remains within the institutions and countries involved after the formal partnership period ends.

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McGill University, based in Montreal, Quebec, brings established strengths in education research, leadership development, and international collaboration. The partnership positions the university as a contributor to national development efforts by translating academic knowledge into institutional capacity and skilled leadership.

Together, the organizations frame the collaboration as an investment in people and systems that can generate benefits for future generations. The focus remains on education as a foundation for broader human and institutional development, aligned with the UAE’s longstanding emphasis on human empowerment and the practical priorities of partner countries.