The Zayed Sustainability Prize – which recognises and rewards people, organisations and high schools that have demonstrated exceptional efforts in promoting sustainability – is officially welcoming new submissions.
The 2025 cycle will be accepting entries until June 23 through the prize’s online portal.
Small to medium enterprises, non-profit organisations and high schools with sustainable solutions are invited to submit applications.
There are six categories: heath, food, energy, water, climate action and global high schools. The prize for each category is $1 million.
This represents a big increase, with the prize increasing its fund from $3.6 million to $5.9 million for its latest edition.
The global high schools category has been split into six world regions, with a prize of $150,000 available for each. The regions are: the Americas, Europe and Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia and Pacific.
Submissions will be accepted in several languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese.
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President Sheikh Mohamed with Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stand for the national anthem during the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action, during COP28. All pictures, UAE Presidential Court unless stated. -
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Chairman of the Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs at the Presidential Court during the national anthem during the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action. -
The Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action was held at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai during Cop28. -
President Sheikh Mohamed presents the Zayed Sustainability Prize to a winner -
President Sheikh Mohamed and several high-level guests attended Expo City Dubai to see 11 winners announced across six categories. -
President Sheikh Mohamed presents the Zayed Sustainability Prize to Victor Sanchez Gutierrez, the winner of the Zayed Sustainability Global High Schools - The Americas category. -
In the energy category, the winner was Ignite Power from Rwanda, which specialises in delivering solar-powered pay-as-you-go solutions to electrify last-mile communities. -
Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology delivers the welcome speech during the Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony. -
Over the past 15 years, the prize has been a powerful force for positive change, transforming the lives of more than 378 million people across 151 countries. -
The annual prize was launched in 2008, named in honour of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, recognises and rewards people, organisations and high schools that have demonstrated exceptional efforts in promoting sustainability across various sectors. -
President Sheikh Mohamed presents an award to Caroline Slootweg from Kelp Blue. -
President Sheikh Mohamed handed out prizes to 11 winners. Judges for the award were elected in September by a panel. -
The prize this year had a Climate Change category – introduced this year in celebration of the UAE's Year of Sustainability and Cop28 -
The Global High School winners were Colegio De Alto Rendimiento La Libertad (Peru), Gwani Ibrahim Dan Hajja Academy (Nigeria), International School (Morocco), Northfleet Technology College (UK), Kort Education Complex (Pakistan) and Beijing No 35 High School (China). -
President Sheikh Mohamed greets a participant during the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action. -
The awards ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza coincided with the UAE's hosting of the Cop28 climate conference and was attended by global leaders. -
The winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, stand for a photograph during a ceremony, at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai. -
President Sheikh Mohamed handed out the prizes to the winners. -
President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia during the Zayed Sustainability Prize. -
Eleven winners announced across six categories will share a total prize fund of $3.6 million. -
President Sheikh Mohamed and Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia at Al Wasl Plaza, at Expo City Dubai. -
Expo City Dubai during the Zayed Sustainability Prize. -
President Sheikh Mohamed hugs a winner of the award. -
President Sheikh Mohamed smiles for a photograph with a winner. -
A ceremony took place to mark the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action. -
President Sheikh Mohamed shakes hands with prize winner, Victor Sanchez Gutierrez. -
President Sheikh Mohamed and Cop28 President and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr Sultan Al Jaber stand for a photograph with the Zayed Sustainability Prize winners during Cop28 at Expo City Dubai. -
President Sheikh Mohamed and several high-level guests attended Expo City Dubai to see 11 winners announced across six categories. -
Ahmed Sourani from Gaza Urban & Peri-Urban Agricultural Platform winner of Zayed Sustainability Food category. Launched in 2013, the non-profit organisation helps small-scale, female urban producers in Gaza to achieve food security in their communities by bringing together those involved in developing the Palestinian agricultural sector. -
Angela Homsi from Ignite Power, the winner of Zayed Sustainability Energy Category award after the presentation ceremony at the Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Caroline Slootweg from Kelp Blue winner of Zayed Sustainability Climate Action category award. Kelp Blue contributes to the restoration of natural ocean wilderness and the mitigation of excess CO2 by establishing large-scale kelp forests in deep waters. Pawan Singh / The National -
Angela Homsi from Ignite Power winner of Zayed Sustainability Energy Category. Ignite Power specialises in delivering solar-powered pay-as-you-go solutions to electrify last-mile communities. Pawan Singh / The National -
Zayed Sustainability prize winners after the presentation ceremony. Pawan Singh / The National -
From left, Victor Sanchez Gutierrez and Xiomara Calderon Avila from Colegio De Alto Rendimiento De La Libertad, the winner of Zayed Sustainability Global High Schools The Americas category. Pawan Singh / The National
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President, said: “Since 2008, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has honoured the legacy of Sheikh Zayed by fostering inclusive sustainable and humanitarian development around the world.
“In this decisive decade for climate change, these values are more important than ever.
“I am optimistic that the prize will contribute to global climate action in line with the UAE Consensus, which will pave the way towards an effective response to the global stocktake decision.”
The most recent winners were recognised at Cop28 in Dubai’s Expo City, while the 2025 contingent will be announced during the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The annual prize was launched in 2008, named in honour of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
