Al Mawakeb Schools reflect a 47-year strategic vision of educational excellence. In this exclusive interview for the Khalifa Juma Al Nabooda Group website, Mrs. Alissar Nasr, Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of Al Mawakeb Schools and AMSI, explores the balance between authentic values and future challenges. She highlights AI integration strategies, the secret behind generational family loyalty, and how advanced curricula prepare tomorrow’s leaders to secure placements in top global universities.
- Al Mawakeb Schools were established in Dubai in 1979. How have the schools kept pace with Dubai and the UAE’s rapid development, and how have you maintained your unique identity amidst this continuous change?
Perhaps what distinguishes Al Mawakeb is that it is a school with a mission and a message rooted in education, learning, and a vision shaped by loyalty to the country in which it was founded. Driven by a commitment to building a generation equipped with modern skills and deeply rooted in a heritage they take pride in, this advanced educational vision was adopted by the school’s Board of Directors and championed by the late former president of the school, Mr. Nabil Nasr. He worked to translate it from a theoretical framework into practical, everyday practices within the school environment—for students, parents, and teachers alike. Today, we remain committed to it under the frameworks and visions of our Board of Directors and the CEO of our schools.
Since continuous evolution is a characteristic of life, those who hold a vision are usually best positioned to maximise the benefits of progress and use it to serve their vision and mission. Therefore, Al Mawakeb has always been keen to keep pace with developments and interact with them, adopting what serves its mission while seamlessly aligning with the values of the UAE and Dubai.
- Behind every successful institution stand pioneers who have left their unique mark. Who are those pioneers, and how has their vision influenced the school’s journey?
Every institution built on a clear vision, guided by ethical and moral foundations, succeeds, endures, and develops a unique approach that distinguishes it from others and shapes its identity.
As I mentioned earlier, Al Mawakeb is, first and foremost, an educational institution founded by educators who believe that education and learning are a core mission and the only path to development and change. For a true educator, ethical values and traits such as honesty, perseverance, commitment, and loyalty are essential characteristics. Fortunately, the vision of these educators converged and integrated with the vision of an elite group of loyal men of Dubai, who realized that Dubai’s new renaissance in finance and business must be accompanied by a parallel renaissance in education and learning.
Because the ethical foundations and values were shared between the late Mr. Nabil Nasr and all members of the Board of Directors—H.E. Khalifa Juma Al Nabooda, H.E. Hamad Bin Souqat, and Major General Sharafuddin Sharaf—Al Mawakeb was built on a wonderfully integrated management relationship. This exemplary relationship with the founding fathers was established 47 years ago and has continued strongly with my brother, Mr Adonis Nasr, Board Member and CEO of AMSI, and me. This harmony will continue as long as our shared, clear vision and Arab-Islamic values govern our members’ relationships.
This is the success story of Al Mawakeb and the narrative of its board management, a journey whose vision we draw upon today to keep pace with the continuous transformations witnessed in the world of education.
- Graduation ceremonies at Al Mawakeb are another story, especially when looking at photos featuring Their Highnesses the Sheikhs. What are the most prominent graduation ceremonies that have left a mark in your memory?
Graduation ceremonies at Al Mawakeb are always a special moment we anticipate, as they mark the end of a learning journey our students have lived through over fourteen years. This journey has helped shape their social, academic, value-based, and leadership personalities.
I cannot say that one ceremony is more beautiful than another, because we always strive to ensure that all our graduates are the stars of those ceremonies and the promise of the desired change.
Naturally, Al Mawakeb’s graduation ceremonies have always been distinguished by the presence of prominent guests and patrons. Among them is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, who patronized the 2005 graduation ceremony. We also proudly remember the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who consistently patronized dozens of graduation ceremonies, followed by his son, His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has patronized more than five ceremonies. Furthermore, we must not forget His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who attended the graduation of our 43rd cohort.
Perhaps what caught my attention the most regarding these patronages and attendances—aside from the profound moral support they represent—is the humility of these leaders and the role models they embody. This reflects how deeply the UAE believes in its youth, providing them with every possible means of support and encouragement.
- It is remarkable today to see alumni returning to enroll their children in “Al Mawakeb.” What makes these families stay connected to one school, generation after generation?
For any relationship destined to endure, trust is the secret password that weaves you into its fabric and reveals the secrets of its longevity. Families return to Al Mawakeb generation after generation because the bond built between us and our alumni was never a fleeting connection that ends with receiving a diploma; rather, it is an enduring relationship founded on trust.
This trust makes graduates feel that the school remains a part of their lives, and that we continue to accompany them on their journey as long as they wish us to stay close. Our alumni have experienced firsthand our approach and witnessed how the school helped shape their personalities. Consequently, a deep sense of belonging grew within them, leading them to want their children to have the same experience.
Today, when they enroll their children in Al Mawakeb, they are reassured that they are entering a safe environment, steadfast in its values for 47 years—an environment that resembles them and reflects what they were raised upon. This deeply rooted culture and continuous educational legacy is what we call the “Mawakeb Citizenship” or the “Mawakeb DNA,” which makes the school a second home to which families return with trust and love across generations.
As we discuss the school’s relationship with its alumni, I cannot overlook the “AMSI Voices” initiative. This pioneering initiative has turned graduates into a pillar of support for upcoming graduating students. Our alumni actively share their personal experiences with 11th and 12th-grade students, whether during the annual conference held for this purpose or through the series of preliminary meetings. This helps students feel they belong to a family that supports them through different stages of life.
- It is clear that Al Mawakeb Schools pay special attention to language education in general, with a particular focus on Arabic. What are the benefits that your students reap from this focus?
At Al Mawakeb, we firmly believe that when we teach a student more than one language from a young age, we equip them with a treasure for the future. Language is the most important library of human civilizations and cultures. A student who masters a language, converses with its native speakers, and reads and writes it becomes much better able to understand its culture—far better than learning about it through translated books.
Based on this belief, we aspire to expand language education for our students beyond the three mandatory languages we currently teach: Arabic, English, and French. Consequently, we urge parents to encourage their children to learn multiple languages. By doing so, they open doors to culture, knowledge, and effective global communication. This is especially critical in an era that compels today’s students to add new, parallel languages to their repertoire of living languages—namely, the languages of technology.
Why English? Naturally, because it is the language of global communication in our modern era. As for French, aside from its widespread global use and rich intellectual, cultural, and literary reservoir, it has accompanied the inception of Al Mawakeb since our arrival from Lebanon, where French holds significant influence. Furthermore, French offers a unique approach to pronunciation and articulation, helping learners more easily acquire other widely spoken, related languages such as Spanish and Italian.
Regarding Arabic at Al Mawakeb, our dedication to teaching it and ensuring our students master it is a deeply rooted approach in our educational journey that we will never compromise. We insist that Arabic remains a living language for our students because of the deep connections it represents to their heritage, identity, history, present, and future.
- It is evident that Al Mawakeb pays special attention to extracurricular activities. Why is there such a strong focus, and how does it impact students?
Al Mawakeb has never been, nor will it ever be, merely a place for teaching academic subjects. The school believes every student has potential and must be given diverse opportunities and avenues to channel their energy—not necessarily only through academic excellence, but also through extracurricular activities. Hence our immense interest in these activities, as they open wide doors for students to act and innovate in whatever they do.
The activities Al Mawakeb offers its students are numerous and diverse. They range from the Mawakeb Federal National Council (MFNC) model, where Emirati students experience consultation (Shura) and leadership by studying issues relevant to Emirati youth and brainstorming solutions, to the Model United Nations (MUN and AMSI MUN), which fosters global citizenship and awareness of contemporary world issues. The MUN develops their research and analytical skills, encouraging them to adopt and present opinions boldly, while debating with diverse evidence gathered through prior research. Activities also include Al Mawakeb Scouts, where students experience teamwork in a spirit of unity, order, and discipline, thereby reinforcing their sense of helpfulness, empathy, and environmental awareness through interaction with nature. This is in addition to the AMSI Voices initiative, which allows alumni to share the essence of their experiences with graduating students. Furthermore, events like the “Al Mawakeb Innovates” exhibitions and the “Science Fair” allow students to showcase scientific, environmental, medical, and marketing projects, which are judged by a specialized committee from the Dubai Government. The Art Exhibition similarly provides talented students with a platform to hone and display their artwork, whether at school, in local professional galleries, or even in Europe and the USA.
Additionally, the Al Mawakeb Research Centre develops students’ scientific research and authorship skills, keeping them in constant touch with sources, libraries, and academic institutions locally and abroad. Our students have published their research in 37 books to date, displayed in public libraries such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, the American University in Dubai library, and the LA County Library in the USA. We must also remember the various sports activities, which are an integral part of the student experience at Al Mawakeb. They not only build physical fitness but also teach life values such as cooperation, discipline, and team spirit. Through tournaments and competitions, students experience the meaning of positive challenge and develop leadership skills and self-confidence, making sports a fundamental contributor in building their character and refining their abilities.
Among our newest purposeful extracurricular initiatives is the establishment of a Podcast studio at Al Mawakeb Al Barsha. It aims to deliver audio content dedicated to awareness and tracking the UAE’s achievements in education. Its scope also encompasses interviews with academics and educators, transferring valuable experiences from teachers, alumni, and students, alongside educational discussions with parents.
This is merely a drop in the ocean of extracurricular activities that form a second, parallel school within Al Mawakeb—a school closely linked to real life. It plays a prominent role in developing the personalities of hundreds of students, drawing them out of introversion, boosting their self-confidence, and preparing them for professional life. These are activities students choose for themselves, not ones we impose on them; activities where talented individuals find space to launch and innovate, far from academic judgment.
- Al Mawakeb has always shown leadership in keeping up with the times. How do you prepare your students inside the classrooms for the jobs of the future and to support the UAE’s vision for a knowledge-based economy?
We are always open to new ideas; however, applying them in our schools is guided by how well they serve our students’ best interests, develop their skills, and do not contradict our deeply rooted values. This is our golden rule for handling consecutive developments in the digital world.
For instance, regarding Artificial Intelligence, our teachers are now trained to use and deploy its technologies to support effective learning. Our students are highly advanced in this field and sometimes surpass their teachers. Therefore, we must grant them full trust and encourage them to experiment with new tools, once we teach them how to harness these technologies to develop their knowledge, refine their skills, and serve society—without ever compromising their authentic values.
In reality, we listen to them as they talk about tomorrow, and we reflect on their visions for it. Often, we see them taking the initiative to invent remarkable things for the future.
We prepare them for future jobs by building a classroom environment that mirrors modern workplaces. We integrate advanced technologies and artificial intelligence into daily learning and give students practical opportunities to apply programming skills. At the same time, we focus on nurturing the human skills technology cannot replace, such as creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication.
Through research projects, laboratories, and innovation exhibitions, we encourage students to produce knowledge, not merely consume it. This aligns with the UAE’s vision of building an economy based on knowledge and innovation, ensuring that Al Mawakeb graduates can compete in a rapidly changing job market that is charging toward the future.
- The language of numbers and results is important to parents. How do the American curriculum and Advanced Placement (AP) programs secure seats for your students in major global universities?
Naturally, we adopt the American curriculum for English, Science, and Mathematics, but we are not restricted to it for other subjects. For Arabic language, Islamic Education, and Social Studies, for example, we follow the UAE Ministry of Education’s curriculum and enrich its courses with multiple supplementary resources. Furthermore, alongside the Advanced Placement (AP) courses required by the American curriculum, we offer students the opportunity to choose from a variety of other scientific, literary, artistic, and digital electives, such as Creative Writing, Public Speaking, Drawing, Acting, Nutrition, Computer Science, and Robotics. This provides an enjoyable, rich learning experience that benefits students in their real lives and in the job market.
Regarding Al Mawakeb students’ AP exam results, their high scores consistently help them enter prestigious global universities and navigate their educational journeys smoothly and seamlessly. We also maintain solid relationships and collaborative partnerships with many local and international universities. In this context, I would like to point out that Al Mawakeb Schools enjoy international academic accreditation and possess a stellar track record in this area since the very beginning of the international accreditation mandate for schools offering the American curriculum in the UAE.
- In just a few days, the new academic year 2026-2027 begins. How are you preparing to welcome students across your campuses, and what is your final word to them and to new parents?
I say to them: We are waiting for you with love and eagerness. Come to your Mawakeb so we can grow in it together and reach new peaks that we are worthy of. Come with open hearts. Come with minds prepared for the joy of challenge and the adventure of discovery. Come to the school where you are its pulse, its life, its colors, and its meaning. We love you, we miss seeing you in your grand Mawakeb home, and how beautiful this home is with you!