The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in shaping successful educational leadership practices (SELP) among educators in secondary schools in the UAE. It investigates their perceptions about using EI in the contexts of interactions with students, colleagues, and other stakeholders as well as the relationship between EI dimensions and SELP. The study adds to the investigation of the demographic aspects of gender, experience, and educational background, concerning SELP. The study found that there is a strong positive relationship between dimensions of EI and SELP and it is quite clear that higher levels of EI lead to improved leadership effectiveness. It was found that there were also significant differences in SELP according to demographic differences. This proves to be important in terms of enhancing leadership effectiveness in education.