No matter how many buildings, foundations, schools, and hospitals we raise, all these are material entities. The real spirit behind the progress is the human spirit.Sheikh ZayedHumanitarian and Sustainability PioneerThe UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyanwas known for being a visionary leader whose contributions changed the course of history for the UAE, the Gulf region, and the wider world.
He looked beyond the borders of the UAE, providing support to those who needed it most, regardless of geography, race, gender or religion.
The UAE's deep-rooted sustainability values are due largely to Sheikh Zayed’s commitment to conservation and protection, and many of the programmes that he initiated to preserve the environment are still in place today.
Paying tribute to his legacy, the Prize has been recognising and rewarding sustainability pioneers since 2008.
WHAT IS THE PRIZE?
The Zayed Sustainability Prize is the UAE’s pioneering global award that recognises and rewards small and medium enterprises (SMEs), nonprofit organisations (NPOs), and global high schools with impactful, innovative, and inspiring sustainable solutions.
The Prize honours the humanitarian and sustainability legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. To date, we have awarded 117 winners and through them we have transformed the lives of 384 million people.
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NEWS
09 October 2024
Zayed Sustainability Prize Announces 2025 Finalists Pioneering Global Solutions
33 finalists selected from 5,980 submissions across 156 countries
Focused on impact, the finalists are leveraging AI and cutting-edge technologies to capture and remove carbon emissions, promote environmental sustainability and ensure essential access to clean energy, water, food, and healthcare
9 October 2024: Abu Dhabi, UAE: The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering award for innovative solutions to global challenges, has announced this year's finalists following a deliberation by its esteemed Jury.
The winners will be announced at the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony on 14 January 2025 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The Zayed Sustainability Prize’s Jury elected the 33 finalists from 5,980 entries received across six categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action and Global High Schools – a 15% increase in submissions over last year.
H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, and COP28 President, highlighted that the finalists demonstrate exceptional innovation and impact.
“The Zayed Sustainability Prize continues to honour the enduring legacy of Sheikh Zayed, whose visionary leadership in sustainability and humanitarianism guides the UAE’s mission to uplift livelihoods worldwide by fostering development in some of the most vulnerable regions.
This cycle, we received an unprecedented number of submissions, with notable participation from the Global South and youth. In fact, this year's submissions reflect the three megatrends shaping our future, namely the rise of the Global South, the pace of the energy transition and the growth of AI.
These changemakers are tackling urgent environmental challenges head-on, while simultaneously advancing economic progress through innovative solutions. By leveraging emerging technologies, such as AI, carbon capture and removal, tidal energy, precision agriculture, biomimicry, and climate analytics, they are addressing the needs of the moment while inspiring the next generation to innovate and drive sustainability in impactful ways.”
Through the Prize’s 117 winners to date, 11.35 million people have gained access to safe drinking water, 54 million homes have gained access to reliable energy, 3.6 million people have gained access to more nutritious food, and over 744,600 people have gained access to affordable healthcare.
H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chair of the Prize Jury, said: “This year’s Prize finalists showcase the remarkable steps being taken around the world to address urgent needs with creativity and determination – offering a vision of a more sustainable future. From enhancing biodiversity and food security through innovative technology, to providing critical energy and healthcare solutions for underserved populations, these pioneers are reshaping our world.”
This year's Health finalists focused on delivering quality healthcare services to underserved and remote communities.
The Health finalists are:
Periwinkle Technologies, an SME from India that deploys a portable, AI enabled cervical cancer screening device that provides results in 30 seconds.
Rology, an SME from Egypt that has created a 24/7 AI-assisted teleradiology platform that integrates with hospital systems to ensure prompt and accurate diagnoses.
Telemedan, an SME from Chad that deploys solar powered, internet-connected medical kiosks that provide affordable healthcare to people in remote communities.
Food finalists focused on empowering small-scale producers, promoting sustainable food preservation, and transforming arid land into productive farms.
The Food finalists are:
ABALOBI, an NPO from South Africa that created a mobile app and marketplace that empowers small-scale fishers to log catches and sell directly to consumers.
Nafarm Foods, an SME from Nigeria that develops scalable hybrid solar food dryers that preserve food and reduce CO2 emissions.
Xinjiang Shawan Oasis Sustainable Development Institute, an NPO from China that specialises in solar powered smart greenhouses that transform desert land into farms.
Energy finalists are delivering solutions that improve energy efficiency and enhance access to clean energy and transportation.
The Energy finalists are:
D-Olivette Global Enterprise, an SME from Nigeria that develops an IoT and AI assisted smart waste management solution that improves collection efficiency by 40%.
Palki Motors Limited, an SME from Bangladesh that manufactures local, low-cost electric cars with solar powered battery swap stations.
Turbulent, an SME from Belgium that develops cost-effective, eco-friendly vortex hydropower turbines with 60% efficiency.
Water finalists are implementing solutions that optimise water use and improve access to clean drinking water.
The Water finalists are:
Elman Teknoloji Ltd, an SME from Türkiye that employs sensors to optimise water use in irrigation and agriculture, cutting labour costs by 80%.
High Atlas Foundation, an NPO from Morocco that provides a solar powered water pumping system to optimise groundwater extraction.
SkyJuice Foundation Inc., an NPO from Australia that develops low-cost, easy to deploy water filters that provide clean drinking water without the need for chemicals, pumps, or external energy sources.
Climate Action finalists focused on advancing carbon capture, ecosystem restoration, and building climate resilience.
The Climate Action finalists are:
Distant Imagery, an SME from the UAE that specialises in the development of AI-powered drones for environmental monitoring, seed planting and habitat restoration.
Hyera Inc., an SME from the USA that has developed a carbon capture process for removing pollutants from water by converting agricultural and forest waste into activated carbon.
OpenMap Development Tanzania, an NPO from Tanzania that deploys a flood management solution that combines indigenous knowledge with geospatial data.
The Global High Schools’ finalists presented project-based, student-led sustainability solutions, with finalists divided into six regions. The regional finalists include:
The Americas: Centro de Estudios Tecnológicos del Mar 07, Mexico; Institución Educativa San Nicolás de Tolentino, Colombia; and Mulgrave School, Canada
Sub-Saharan Africa: Mpesa Foundation Academy, Kenya; Sakafia Islamic Senior High School, Ghana; and St Kizito High School Namugongo, Uganda
Middle East & North Africa: Benlahrech Said High School, Algeria; Merryland International School Abu Dhabi, UAE; and Obour STEM School, Egypt
Europe & Central Asia: Baku Modern Educational Complex, Azerbaijan; Gebze Bahçeehr Science & Technology High School, Türkiye; and Presidential School in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
South Asia: Faafu Atoll Education Centre, Maldives; Girls Higher Secondary School Khaplu, Pakistan; and Janamaitri Multiple Campus, Nepal
East Asia & the Pacific: Beijing World Youth Academy, China; Te Pā o Rākaihautū, New Zealand; and Votualevu College, Fiji
In the Health, Food, Energy, Water and Climate Action categories, each winner receives US $1 million. Each of the six winning Global High Schools receives up to US $150,000.
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15 July 2024
Zayed Sustainability Prize Demonstrates Global Reach and Impact with over 5,900 Submissions
US $5.9 million Prize attracts submissions from 156 countries
High number of entries leverage advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain to address pressing sustainability challenges
Since 2008, the Prize has transformed the lives of over 384 million people
15 July 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE: The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE's pioneering global award for sustainability and humanitarianism, has officially closed entries for its 2025 awards cycle. A total of 5,980 applications were received across the six Prize categories of Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action and Global High Schools, from 156 countries.
The Zayed Sustainability Prize winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony, which will be held on 14 January 2025 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
This year’s Prize has seen a notable 15% increase in submissions over the previous year from small and medium enterprises (SMEs), nonprofit organisations, and high schools. Close analysis of the submissions reveals a prevailing trend across all categories: a significant number of solutions are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, blockchain, 3D printing, and biotechnology applications, revealing the importance of technological innovation in driving progress towards sustainability.
H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, and COP28 President, said “For the last 16 years, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has supported innovative solutions that address pressing global challenges and deliver tangible impact to communities around the world. Inspired by Sheikh Zayed’s commitment to humanitarianism and people focused, inclusive sustainable development, the Prize has transformed the lives of over 384 million people.”
“We are deeply encouraged by the record number of applications we have received from every continent. This overwhelming response, particularly from young people and organisations in the Global South, reinforces our belief that innovations harnessing cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, coupled with community-driven approaches, are key to effectively addressing climate change and driving social and environmental progress,” he added.
This year’s submissions were more varied than ever, highlighting the universal impact of climate change on nations across all continents. Most of the submissions came from emerging markets, revealing that rapidly developing countries are at the forefront of catalysing local, innovative solutions to address the sustainability gap.
The top submitting countries included Brazil, India, Kenya, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. This year, the Prize accepted submissions in multiple languages, including Arabic, English, French, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, promoting inclusivity, ensuring broader participation, and allowing diverse perspectives from different regions and cultures to be represented.
The Food (1,255) and Climate Action (1,532) categories attracted the greatest number of submissions, followed by Health (997), Global High Schools (906), Energy (669) and Water (621).
In the Food category, which received twice as many submissions compared to last year, the entries respond to challenges related to sustainable food production through innovations like agricultural technology (Agtech) for food system resilience.
Submissions addressing deforestation and rising carbon emissions dominated the Climate Action category, with organisations leading efforts in soil restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and sustainable resource use, fostering environmental sustainability.
SMEs and NPOs in the Health category predominantly focus on enhancing access to healthcare and disease prevention through solutions that leverage innovative technologies, community-driven programmes, and partnerships to bridge gaps in medical services, especially in underserved regions.
In the Energy category, the Prize received numerous entries from organisations dedicated to expanding sustainable energy access in vulnerable communities. While submissions featuring emerging technologies like hydrogen fuel systems, energy storage solutions and electric mobility, all critical for the global energy transition, also increased significantly.
Finally, in the Water category, many entries concentrate on enhancing water accessibility through innovative solutions that emphasise water conservation, advanced recycling techniques, filtration processes, and comprehensive treatment systems to ensure clean water resources for all.
The number of submissions from high schools has more than doubled compared to the previous year, signalling a significant increase in youth involvement and dedication to sustainable practices. In the Global High Schools category, the proposals included sustainable food production methods such as hydroponics and aquaponics, effective recycling and waste management strategies, the use of bioenergy, and the creation of bioproducts.
Following the close of submissions, the Prize now enters the evaluation stage. All entries will be shortlisted by an independent research and analysis consultancy. A Selection Committee comprised of globally renowned industry experts will then assess the qualified entries and shortlist the candidates. The third and final tier of the evaluation process is the Jury, which will convene in October to unanimously elect the winners in each category.
Since its launch in 2008, the US $5.9 million Prize has transformed the lives of over 384 million people around the world. Its global impact continues to grow, as it accelerates sustainable development and humanitarian progress. Each winner in the Health, Food, Energy, Water and Climate Action categories receive US $1 million to expand the scope and scale of their sustainability solution(s), while the Global High Schools category has six winners, representing six world regions, with each winner receiving up to US $150,000.
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24 June 2024
From Polar Explorer to Environmental Advocate: A Young Australian's Journey to Motivate Climate Action
By Jade Hameister OAM
As the cold, crisp Antarctic air pierced my lungs and the pristine white unexplored landscape stretched infinitely in all directions, I felt a deep sense of both awe and responsibility, that remains with me to this day.
At 16 years old, I was privileged to become the youngest person to ski from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole, unsupported and unassisted – and only the second woman in history to set a new route to the Pole. It was also the completion for me of the Polar Hat-Trick, which included the 550km crossing of the Greenland ice sheet (aged 15) and skiing to the North Pole (aged 14).
These incredible journeys not only tested my physical and mental endurance, but also forever shaped my perspective on the world's most pressing issue – global warming.
My name is Jade Hameister, and my story is one of adventure, exploration and transformation from a polar explorer to a dedicated environmental advocate. But this is not about me; it's a call to action – a rallying cry for the youth of today to become the changemakers of tomorrow.
My first-hand experiences in Earth’s polar regions have fixed the beauty and fragility of our planet deep into my heart.
With each expedition, I couldn't help but notice the profound changes unfolding in these once-pristine and untouched landscapes. The ice is receding, glaciers are retreating, and the very essence of the Arctic and Antarctic is under threat.
This stark transformation was accompanied by a sobering realization: climate change was no longer an abstract concept but a blunt, undeniable reality for me. It was a certainty evidenced in the landscape and underscored by unsettling statistics. The Arctic Sea ice, a symbol of resilience, has dwindled by 40% since the 1970s. The Greenland ice sheet, a titan of frozen history, is shedding an astonishing 270 billion tonnes each year. Meanwhile, the Antarctic ice sheet, a continent of majestic significance, is losing a staggering 150 billion tonnes annually.
…and all of Earth’s natural systems – on which we as a species rely on for our very survival – are linked and interdependent with our polar regions.
These staggering facts drove me to advocate for action. My expeditions now had a new purpose: to shed light on the urgent need for climate action and empower young people to join the fight.
I didn't need to be a scientist or even an adult to have an impact, and neither do you.
Many young people hesitate to get involved, fearing their inexperience doesn’t justify them speaking up or believing in the power of their voice. This couldn't be further from the truth. The energy, creativity, and determination of youth are powerful assets in tackling climate change. Fresh perspectives and untamed spirits lead to innovative solutions.
Every day offers the chance for young people to inspire change and call for global unity, recognising the urgency of the climate crisis and our individual power to make a difference. The Zayed Sustainability Prize, which I deeply admire, will soon announce its latest cohort of winners, including six student-led projects from high schools across the globe. By recognising and rewarding innovative solutions, the Prize inspires countless young individuals to become agents of change.
Now more than ever, the world needs the unwavering spirit of young people, their drive for change, and their commitment to a sustainable future. My journey has taught me that taking action, no matter how small, can have a profound impact. All we need is the courage to take the first step.
The challenge remains significant, and time is running out. The call to action is clear: the youth of today must be the torchbearers of climate action, the driving force behind the change we so urgently need. Let us not shy away from our responsibility; instead, let's seize the day with courage and resilience to ensure that the beauty and wonder of our planet's polar regions remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.
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01 March 2024
From Insight to Action: My Transformative Experience at the World Environmental Education Congress
Imagine stepping into a realm where every conversation, every session, ignites a spark within you. This was my reality at the World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), it is the world’s largest gathering of environmental educators, leaders, advocates, and even students to forge a sustainable future through the power of education.
“Connecting People, Creating Tomorrow” was not just a theme, it was an invitation to embark on a life-long journey of sustainability. It challenged us to make a collaborative effort on finding ways to achieve a more sustainable world. We can learn from one another. We may have different approaches to solve the problem, but what matters most is that we’re solving it together for the better.
Among the mosaic of sessions, the keynote speech captivated me. The speaker, Razan Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, empowered the minds of the youth to foster a culture of sustainability. Powerfully, she emphasised that knowledge alone is not enough to solve environmental problems but also the dedication and willingness to protect the environment.
The speech painted a vision where education transcends knowledge dissemination to become a catalyst for empathy, action, and innovation. This wasn't just a speech; it was a call to action for the next generation, which has not only the knowledge but also the heart to protect our planet.
But what made WEEC truly unforgettable were the connections forged in the spaces between. Over steaming cups of coffee, we shared stories, empowering youth with our journey to winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize. In our sessions, we united in the conviction that together, we can overcome environmental challenges worldwide.
Leaving the congress, I felt hopeful and determined. The Congress marked a pivotal moment for me, transforming my perspective on our environment. It made me realise that those of us who care about the planet need to lead by example, showing both knowledge and compassion in our efforts.
I owe a debt of gratitude to the Zayed Sustainability Prize for this life-changing journey. I am keen to share the valuable insights acquired at WEEC, just as I have done here. Let's apply these lessons in our communities and classrooms to drive meaningful change. Together, we can forge a future of collective action, living in harmony with nature.
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TIMELINE
Stay updated on the current Prize cycle.
Submissions OpenDecemberSubmissions CloseJunePresentShortlist SubmissionsSeptemberAnnounce FinalistsOctoberAnnounce Winners At Awards CeremonyJanuary
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