Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa

Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa was born in 1883 in Muharraq, the son of Ruler Shaikh Isa bin Ali. In 1919, he traveled to London and Paris as Bahrain's official diplomatic envoy to celebrate the Allied victory in World War I, meeting King George V and European leaders.

Upon his return, Shaikh Abdullah dedicated his life to education. He spearheaded the founding of Bahrain's first modern school, Al-Hidaya Al-Khalifia in Muharraq in 1919, personally chairing the board of education. In 1928, defying fierce conservative opposition, he championed the opening of the first public school for girls in Bahrain, making Bahrain the pioneer of female education across the Arabian Peninsula.