An electric vehicle manufacturer based in Bangladesh was among the winners announced at the Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
President Sheikh Mohamed and several high-level guests attended the event at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) to recognise 11 pioneering organisations and high schools from around the world.
Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering sustainable development and empowering communities around the world through innovation.
Palki Motors took home the prize for energy, three years after electrical engineer Mustafa Al Momin launched the company. He told The National that he started with just $4,000 in his pocket to buy spare parts and, with prize money of US$1 million in the bank, the company will now be able to scale up production from 10 vehicles a month to 100 vehicles.
Mr Al Momin was inspired to build electric cars to combat Dhaka's pollution and improve the livelihoods of commercial drivers. He designed the first prototype in his uncle’s garage.
“This recognition motivates us to push even harder,” he said. “We believe in the power of technology and innovation to uplift entire communities, and this victory will give us the confidence to expand globally, bringing hope and opportunity to drivers everywhere.”
Palki Motors has helped commercial drivers and companies save up to 90 per cent on fuel costs and 50 per cent on maintenance expenses in Bangladesh. The company's cars incorporate features such as battery-swapping, which enables drivers to trade drained batteries for fully charged ones in just two minutes.
The company has benefitted 23,000 people to date and aims to reduce 260,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually by 2027, through the sale of 20,000 electric cars and 20,000 electric lorries.
What is the Zayed Sustainability Prize?
The prize aims to spotlight solutions addressing the climate crisis. This year's fund was Dh21 million ($5.9 million) in total, an increase of Dh13 million from last year.
The prize awarded Dh3.6 million (US$1 million) to each winner in the categories of health, food, energy, water and climate action.
Within the global high schools category, which is divided into six regions, each school could claim up to Dh550,000 (US$150,000) to start or expand their project. The regions were the Americas, Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia and Pacific.
The winners
India’s Periwinkle Technologies won the health category for its portable, AI-enabled cervical cancer screening device. It operates without electricity and provides results at the point of care 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 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 such as drones, geographic information systems and remote sensing.
School effort
Monica Akkineni and Muskan Maheshwari, both 15, spent the summer developing sponge bricks made from green algae to improve air quality in classrooms and other settings. Their efforts were recognised when Merryland International School in Abu Dhabi was among winners in the global high schools category.
Their innovation aims to benefit around 3,000 students and staff at the school, creating better air quality, improved health and increased productivity. The school aims to inspire wider adoption of sustainable practices, fostering environmental awareness in the local community.
Ms Akkineni and Ms Maheshwari, both Indian nationals who live in Abu Dhabi, developed the bricks using coconut husks and industrial cement. A wall of 20 algae bricks is now on show at their school.
“It took us around four or five months to get the final working prototype,” Ms Akkineni told The National as she beamed with pride after receiving the award from Sheikh Mohamed. The pair hope the $150,000 prize money can be used by the school to expand their project.
The other winners in this category were Mexico's Centro de Estudios Tecnologicos del Mar07, representing the Americas, Ghana's Sakafia Islamic Senior High School, representing sub-Saharan Africa, Uzbekistan's Presidential School in Tashkent, representing Europe and Central Asia, Nepal's Janamaitri Multiple Campus, representing South Asia, and New Zealand's Te Pa o Rakaihautu, representing East Asia and the Pacific.
“Today, we recognise a remarkable group of organisations and high schools that are driving tangible progress toward a more prosperous future,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and director general of the Zayed Sustainability Prize. “This year’s prize winners showcase solutions that leverage advanced technologies including AI, enhance local resilience and deliver transformative, scalable impact worldwide. In doing so, they embody the power of progress in accelerating sustainable development and inclusive socioeconomic growth.”
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
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match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
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Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
