Call for Applications: 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize in The UAE
The Zayed Sustainability Prize is the UAE’s pioneering global award that recognises and rewards small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), nonprofit organisations (NPOs), and global high schools with impactful, innovative, and inspiring sustainable solutions.
The Purpose of this program is to recognize the efforts and honor the Leaders for their innovative, inspiring, and groundbreaking contributions to a sustainable future.
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 128 winners and through them we have transformed the lives of over 400 million people.
Program Categories
- Health: Improving Healthcare Access
- Food: Combatting Food Insecurity
- Energy: Powering Communities
- Water: Supply of Safe Drinking Water
- Climate Action: Advancing Climate Migration and Adaption
- Global High Schools: Inspiring Youth Leadership
Overview of the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize
- Type: Award
- Value: $1,000,000
- Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Organized by: Zayed Sustainability Prize, UAE
- Eligible Countries: Check below 👇
- Benefits: Airfare Tickets, Accommodation, Ground Transport, No application fee
- Deadline: 23rd June, 2025
Candidates from the following regions can apply:
- The Americas
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Middle East & North Africa
- Europe & Central Asia
- South Asia
- East Asia & Pacific
General Eligibility Requirements for 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize
- Innovation (40%):
- Solution must be novel or significantly improve existing solutions.
- Demonstrate a unique value proposition.
- Exhibit technical and commercial viability.
- Show evidence of potential or actual market adoption.
- Impact (30%):
- Demonstrate a clear positive impact on quality of life.
- Address significant social, economic, technological, or environmental challenges.
- Exhibit organizational resilience to potential challenges.
- Demonstrate good governance and skilled personnel.
- Implement fair policies.
- Provide a detailed plan for effective use of prize funds.
- Inspiration (30%):
- Embody core values of sustainability and human development.
- Reflect the legacy of Sheikh Zayed.
- Inspire further sustainable and human development actions.
- Influence community adoption of sustainable behaviors.
The Program Covers:
- Airfare Tickets
- Accommodation
- Ground Transport
- No Application Fees
Prize Value
- Health: US $1,000,000
- Food: US $1,000,000
- Energy: US $1,000,000
- Water: US $1,000,000
- Climate Action: US $1,000,000
- Global High Schools: US $900,000, with up to US $150,000 awarded to one school from each of the six global regions.
Deadline: 23rd June, 2025
