An annual UAE environmental award offering support to organisations leading the fight against climate change has issued a global call for submissions for its 2026 prize.
The Zayed Sustainability Prize, named after UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, honours the critical work of small and medium enterprises, non-profit organisations and high schools seeking to transform lives around the world.
The $5.9 million prize pool is shared between the winners in six categories – health, food, energy, water, climate action and global high schools. Winners of five themed categories stand to win $1 million, while those in the global high schools category, which is divided into six world regions, can claim up to $150,000 to boost their projects.
To encourage a wider variety of organisations and high schools to participate, submissions will be accepted in several languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese.
To date, the prize, operated under Erth Zayed Philanthropies, has affected 400 million people worldwide.
“The Zayed Sustainability Prize honours Sheikh Zayed’s vision of advancing inclusive sustainable and humanitarian development. By supporting projects that harness new technologies to improve lives and drive prosperity in local communities, the Prize places people at the heart of progress, and demonstrates the role of the Nexus of Next in accelerating socio-economic growth worldwide," said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and director general of the Zayed Sustainability Prize.
Applications can be made on the prize's website.
2025 winners
The most recent prize winners were recognised at an awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi in the presence of President Sheikh Mohamed, as well as 11 heads of state and several ministers and business leaders.
India’s Periwinkle Technologies won the health category for its portable, AI-enabled cervical cancer screening device. It operates without electricity and provides results within 30 seconds.
In the food category, Nigeria’s NaFarm Foods won for its hybrid solar food dryers that prevent post-harvest losses. Australia's SkyJuice Foundation, meanwhile, picked up the award in the water category for its gravity-powered water treatment system, which uses low-pressure membrane filters to provide clean drinking water without the need for chemicals, pumps or external energy sources.
In the climate action category, OpenMap Development Tanzania won for its innovative mapping, which merges community-driven data collection with advanced technology including drones, geographic information systems and remote sensing.
Zayed Sustainability Awards 2025 - in pictures
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President Sheikh Mohamed is joined by senior government figures, visiting dignitaries and Zayed Sustainability Prize winners during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on January 14. Present are Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand; Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia; Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda; Wavel Ramkalawan, President of Seychelles; William Ruto, President of Kenya; Kassym Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan; Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan; Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria; Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan and Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed speaks to a representative of Merryland International School (UAE) during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed with, from right, Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan, Kenyan President William Ruto and Kassym Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan. Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court -
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc and vhairman of Masdar, delivers a speech during the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Mohamed Al Hammadi / UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed waves at young performers during the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Mohamed Al Hammadi / UAE Presidential Court -
Performers participate during the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on January 14. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court -
Rhett Butler, representing SkyJuice Foundation of Australia celebrates winning the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize for Water during an award ceremony at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court -
Winners of 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. From left: Veena Moktali representing Periwinkle Technologies of India; Abullateef Olaosebikan representing NaFarm Foods of Nigeria; Mustafa Momin representing Palki Motors of Bangladesh; Rhett Butler representing SkyJuice Foundation of Australia; Innocent Maholi representing OpenMap Development of Tanzania; a representative from Centro de Estudios Tecnologicos del Mar 07 of Mexico; a representative of Sakafia Islamic Senior High School in Ghana; a representative from Merryland International School in the UAE; a representative of Presidential School in Tashkent in Uzbekistan; representatives from Janamaitri Multiple Campus in Nepal and Te Pa o Rakaihautu in New Zealand Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed honoured Zayed Sustainability Prize winners at the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. All photos: Victor Besa / The National -
Sheikh Mohamed awards Monica Akkineni of Abu Dhabi's Merryland International School the regional winner in the global schools category of the Zayed Sustainability Prize -
Sheikh Mohamed presents Mustafa Al Momin of Palki Motors, Bangladesh, with the energy award -
Sheikh Mohamed presents Rhett Butler of SkyJuice Foundation, Australia, with the water award -
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, speaks at the opening ceremony -
The event, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), was also attended by heads of government and their representatives, experts and specialists in sustainability, as well as distinguished guests from around the globe
