Launching during the UAE Year of the Family, the Early Learning Summit is a dedicated B2B forum for the early childhood education and family wellbeing ecosystem.
Hosted as part of Baby & Kids Expo, the summit convenes educators, operators, experts, innovators, solution-providers and industry leaders to explore how learning, care and early environments can better support children and families from the very beginning.
Setting the scene for the future of early learning in the UAE and the role of the industry in shaping outcomes.
Discover how the UAE is shaping a national vision for the aspirational child, recognising the earliest years, from pregnancy to age eight, as vital for wellbeing, learning, and growth. This keynote address will also highlight policies, partnerships and initiatives – including the Early Childhood Development Week and the Wellbeing in Education movement – that are creating stronger support for children and families, giving every child the best possible start in life.
Education in early childhood is being redefined in the UAE: through Dubai’s Quality Framework early learning is recognised as not only a social but also an economic priority. Hear how the focus on wellbeing and human development is helping set global benchmarks while nurturing a generation rooted in care, curiosity and community.
Education experts unpack what “excellence” truly means in early years education, and how to put it into practice. Building on insights from leading regulators as well as latest research, the panel will examine how quality can be defined, measured, and embedded across diverse settings to ensure every child thrives in their earliest years.
The earliest years of life set the foundation for a child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. Hear from our experts how coordinated support systems combining informed parents, skilled caregivers and evidence-based practices can nurture these crucial first stages and support every child to reach their full potential.
AI has the power to close the digital divide when used thoughtfully and responsibly. Join Mazen Abdallah, Head of Education – MENA, Google, to discover what roles educators, parents, and children need to play in responsible AI adoption, and why empowering teachers and educating families are key to ensuring that no learner is left behind.
This session explores the power of play-rich environments in supporting children’s development, wellbeing, creativity, and inquiry. It will consider how a range of curricular approaches honour cultural diversity, foster curiosity and thoughtfully integrate emerging technologies while exploring how creativity, agency and a love of learning can be nurtured from the early years through to secondary education.
How can we create early years settings where great educators choose to stay and grow? In this engaging conversation, experts will share practical strategies for recruitment, career development and positive workplace culture, while showing how strong safeguarding practice builds staff confidence, professionalism and retention.
Running a successful early years setting requires more than a passion for education; it requires leaders who can turn vision into action, establish effective systems and make informed decisions that balance educational quality with long-term sustainability. Designed as a practical and focused session for early years leaders, this workshop explores three essential areas of successful nursery leadership:
Within the context of the UAE early years sector and with reference to KHDA’s Early Childhood Quality Framework, participants will explore practical strategies they can apply within their own settings. The session will encourage leaders to reflect on current practice, identify priorities for improvement and leave with simple, actionable approaches to strengthen leadership, operational effectiveness and overall nursery quality.
Accreditation: This session is delivered by PrepMe Learning Centre L.L.C., a KHDA-permitted training institute in Dubai, as part of its professional development offering for the early years sector. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance upon completion of the session.
This session will explore best practices in inclusive education, focusing on how early years settings can effectively support neurodiverse learners. Key topics will include inclusive classroom strategies, the importance of early identification and intervention, and the role of partnerships with specialists and families.
Community engagement lies at the heart of raising confident, resilient, and happy children. Rooted in the diverse cultural fabric of the GCC, this session highlights practical approaches for building inclusive, nurturing, and trusting learning environments and examines how safeguarding, cultural understanding, and strong home-school partnerships can foster collective responsibility and help every child thrive.
Launching during the UAE Year of the Family, the Early Learning Summit is a dedicated B2B forum for the early childhood education and family wellbeing ecosystem.
Hosted as part of Baby & Kids Expo, the summit convenes educators, operators, experts, innovators, solution-providers and industry leaders to explore how learning, care and early environments can better support children and families from the very beginning.
Grounded in evidence, innovation and real-world practice, the Early Learning Summit will deliver engaging sessions and meaningful conversations that tackle both the opportunities and challenges of early education: preparing children for tomorrow’s work, meeting diverse learning needs, building strong parent-educator relationships, and creating spaces where every child thrives.
Be part of a forward-looking conversation shaping the future of early childhood education in the UAE and beyond.
Massimiliano Spalazzi is the CEO of Mumzworld, the Middle East’s leading e-commerce platform for Mum, Baby, and Child. With over a decade of experience in building and scaling e-commerce platforms, he was part of the founding team of Jumia and later served as Executive Vice President of Marketplace, leading its growth across several African markets.
Now based in Dubai, Massimiliano is focused on driving Mumzworld’s next phase of expansion. Originally from Italy, he is a father of two and passionate about creating meaningful, tech-driven solutions that make parenting easier and more rewarding for families across the region.
Harsha Prakash, Director at the Global Strategy Group (GSG), brings over 15 years of experience in strategy consulting. He specializes in strategy advisory within a deal context, supporting strategic investors, private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds in evaluating opportunities across greenfield and operating ventures. His work spans commercial due diligence, growth strategy, market assessments and financial feasibility studies, all geared toward helping investors make confident, well-informed decisions. Harsha plays a vital role in shaping value creation strategies that drive sustainable growth. His diverse experience covers financial services, real estate, manufacturing, digital business models, food and agriculture across the GCC region and India.
