Al Dhabi Al Muhairi leads 13,000 children in a global environmental initiative

Al Dhabi Al Muhairi, a 12-year-old Emirati girl, leads a global environmental initiative that includes more than 13,000 children in more than 10 countries, in an experiment that started from an idea inside a classroom, before it turned into a movement led by the children themselves, in a model that establishes that influence begins with passion, not age.

In an exclusive interview with Emirates Today, Al-Dhabi reviewed the beginning of her journey, when she wondered about the role of children in protecting the environment. She decided to turn this question into a practical initiative by establishing “Eco Club AE”, which is based on involving students in applying the concepts of sustainability, not just receiving them in theory, and through activities such as recycling, reducing waste, and preserving resources, children have become a direct part of daily practice within their schools.

She explained that the initiative relies on applied learning, where students participate in environmental teams and implement awareness projects and initiatives that are documented via a digital platform, in addition to participating in interactive workshops that enhance their understanding of environmental issues. A number of them also lead their teams under the name “Environmental Club Ambassadors,” by spreading sustainability practices among their colleagues and encouraging them to produce creative content, such as environmental stories that address the preservation of wildlife and natural resources.

She stressed that giving children a leadership role was one of the most important factors for success, noting that confidence in their abilities resulted in initiatives led by the children themselves, and contributed to spreading awareness within their school communities. As interaction increased, the initiative exceeded its local borders to reach an international scope, driven by the participants’ desire to transfer the experience to their environments.

She pointed to a new direction that the initiative is working on, which is water sustainability, with the aim of establishing early awareness of the importance of this vital resource, by linking it to simple daily behaviors, such as rationalizing consumption and promoting individual responsibility.

Regarding her achievements, Al Dhabi stressed that the awards represent a motivation to continue, without being the goal, pointing out that winning the Princess Diana Award for the year 2025 is a turning point and a global recognition of the role of children in community work, in addition to achieving four Guinness World Records, winning first place in the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Award (Environmental Supporters category) 2026, and being selected on the “Future 50” list of the Ministry of Economy.

Al-Dhabi also founded the first artificial intelligence academy for children, and launched other educational initiatives, including the “Environmental Club” and “Books from Children to Children,” in addition to representing the UAE on issues of sustainability and children’s rights, where she holds the role of “Net Zero Hero” ambassador to “UNICEF,” and a member of the Principles of Women’s Empowerment and the United Nations Publishers Charter.

She stressed that her international participations strengthened her sense of responsibility towards conveying the voice of children and highlighting their ability to contribute effectively in facing challenges. She concluded by saying: “My message is based on a simple idea: will is the basis, and that any idea, no matter how small, can be transformed into a real impact when you find someone who believes in it and works on it.”