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
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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The specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')
Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Key facilities
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
