Sunny Varkey

A Dubai-based education entrepreneur and philanthropist, Varkey leads the world’s largest operator of private K–12 schools, which currently operates over 66 schools and serves more than 119,000 students worldwide. In 2025, GEMS Education welcomed over 1,700 new teachers in Dubai, marking a significant milestone that he described as a “turning point” in educational innovation.

That same year, GEMS Premier Music Academy became the first All-Steinway Institution in the Middle East. Varkey also oversaw the launch of the GEMS Global Education AI Hub, an ambitious initiative aimed at transforming the educational experience through artificial intelligence.

Further cementing his influence on global education, Varkey, through the Varkey Foundation and in collaboration with UNESCO, launched the $1m Global Schools Prize.