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In March 1998, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Industry & Finance in the UAE, issued a decree establishing the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance in Dubai. The award aimed to support and promote best practices in education. In 1999, H.H. expanded the award to encompass all Emirates, enhancing its significance. In November 2000, Government Decree No. 25 formalized the establishment of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance as an independent entity empowered to utilize all available resources to achieve its objectives.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1948–2022), the UAE's second president and ruler of Abu Dhabi from November 2004 to May 2022, was the eldest son of the UAE's first president, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He took on a significant role in the late 1990s due to his father's health issues and officially became Abu Dhabi's leader in 2004. His tenure saw cultural and academic growth, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways. Under his leadership, the UAE became a major economic power. Known for his pro-Western stance, he strengthened ties with the US and Israel.