18 July 2026 — Lebanese educator and AI-in-education specialist Maha Shhadeh has received recognition at both global and regional levels, being named among the Top 200 EdTech voices worldwide on LinkedIn while also ranking #5 in Education & EdTech in the United Arab Emirates in Favikon’s 2026 ranking.
Shhadeh serves as Director of AI Education & Learning Innovation at The Verificat, where her work focuses on AI education, teacher development, learning innovation, professional training, and the responsible integration of emerging technologies into education.
The two distinctions reflect different dimensions of her professional presence: international visibility within the global EdTech community and a top-five position within the UAE’s Education & EdTech landscape.
According to Favikon data documented at the time of the ranking, Shhadeh recorded a LinkedIn Score of 76.8/100 and approximately 11.3K followers.
Global Recognition in EdTech
Shhadeh’s inclusion among the Top 200 EdTech voices worldwide on LinkedIn reflects her growing presence in conversations surrounding artificial intelligence, education, technology, and the future of learning.
Her professional focus sits at the intersection of AI in education, EdTech, teacher professional development, AI literacy, and learning innovation.
Rather than approaching artificial intelligence simply as a collection of new tools, her work emphasizes how educators and institutions can evaluate emerging technologies, understand their limitations, and integrate them according to clear pedagogical objectives.
The underlying principle is straightforward: technology does not become educational innovation simply because it enters the classroom. Its value depends on whether it improves learning, strengthens educators’ capabilities, and supports meaningful educational outcomes.
Ranked #5 in Education & EdTech in the UAE
At the regional level, Shhadeh ranked #5 among Favikon’s Top 200 Education & EdTech influencers on LinkedIn in the United Arab Emirates.
The published ranking placed Zaineb Mahdi first, followed by Aya Sayed, Dr. Mansoor Alawar, and Abhilasha Singh, with Maha Shhadeh completing the top five.
Her Favikon profile recorded a 76.8/100 LinkedIn Score, alongside approximately 11.3K followers at the time the results were documented.
The ranking provides an external indicator of Shhadeh’s digital visibility within a defined professional category. It also adds a regional dimension to her broader presence in education and technology.
From Digital Visibility to Educational Practice
Shhadeh’s work extends beyond digital presence and professional rankings.
As Director of AI Education & Learning Innovation at The Verificat, she works across AI education, teacher capacity-building, professional training, and the practical integration of technology into teaching and learning.
As generative AI becomes increasingly embedded in education, her work addresses a shift in the questions educators need to ask.
The conversation is no longer simply:
“Which AI tools can teachers use?”
It increasingly becomes:
When should AI be used? What educational problem does it solve? How should its outputs be evaluated? And how can technology support learning without weakening critical thinking, teacher judgment, or human connection?
This approach places educators at the center of AI transformation and emphasizes the connection between technology, pedagogy, responsible use, and measurable learning value.
From Lebanon to the International Education Stage
As a Lebanese educator, Shhadeh’s professional engagement spans a broader international education landscape.
Her recognition in global and UAE EdTech rankings accompanies her participation in educational initiatives, teacher development programs, and international discussions about artificial intelligence and the future of learning.
This includes her participation as a panelist at the Global Education Summit 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where she contributed to a discussion on whether technology can enhance human potential without replacing human connection.
Across these areas of work, a consistent theme remains: how can education benefit from increasingly capable AI while keeping educators, learners, critical thinking, and human judgment at its core?
About Maha Shhadeh
Maha Shhadeh is a Lebanese educator, trainer, and specialist in artificial intelligence and educational technology. She serves as Director of AI Education & Learning Innovation at The Verificat.
Her work focuses on AI in education, EdTech, teacher professional development, AI literacy, learning innovation, and the responsible use of emerging technologies, with an emphasis on translating rapidly evolving AI capabilities into practical educational applications.
On 18 July 2026, Shhadeh was recognized among the Top 200 EdTech voices worldwide on LinkedIn, alongside her #5 ranking in Education & EdTech in the UAE in Favikon’s 2026 ranking.
Her broader professional work encompasses teacher development, AI education, learning innovation, and participation in international conversations shaping the future of education.