Over the weekend, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has paid tribute to a pioneering Dubai educator after her passing.

Mariamma Varkey, who moved to the UAE in 1959, died aged 89 last week.

Sharing a picture of the late Varkey, Sheikh Mohammed praised the passion she showcased for education in his tribute.

“Mariamma Varkey moved to Dubai with her husband in 1959,” he said. ‘Driven by an enduring passion for education, she started tens of schools with thousands of students inside and outside the UAE.

“Mariamma recently passed away, leaving behind a legacy of education in UAE and beyond.”

She was the mother of GEMS group founder and chairman, Sunny Varkey, and the grandmother of the incumbent chief executive officer, Dino Varkey.

– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram

Images: Sheikh Mohammed Twitter