Zaineb Mahdi

Director of Technology & Innovation at GEMS School of Research and Innovation

Speaker

Zaineb Mahdi is the Director of Technology and Innovation at GEMS School of Research and Innovation, where she leads the strategic integration of emerging technologies to enhance teaching, learning and student outcomes.

With over 15 years of experience across outstanding British schools in both the UK and the UAE, Zaineb has held senior leadership positions including Deputy Principal at GEMS Royal Dubai School and Cluster Lead for Innovation and Digital Technology. Widely recognised across the region for driving innovation in education, she has established strategic partnerships with leading organisations to help schools prepare young people for an increasingly digital world.

As an Excellence Fellow for Innovation, Zaineb leads Digital Technology and AI across the GEMS Premium and British Schools cluster in the UAE and Qatar, supporting school leaders to implement emerging technologies responsibly while equipping students with the knowledge, skills and mindsets needed to thrive in an AI-enabled future. Her work focuses on the thoughtful integration of technology, digital wellbeing, responsible AI and future-ready learning, ensuring innovation remains firmly centred on improving educational outcomes.