Environment

The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s flagship award recognising innovative solutions to global challenges, has announced its 2026 winners, marking 18 years of supporting community-driven innovation and inclusive development worldwide.

A total of US$5.9 million was awarded to 11 organisations and high schools from the UAE, Brazil, Canada, Nepal, Switzerland, Uganda, and other countries, spanning six sustainability categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools. This year’s cohort highlights locally adapted innovations, ranging from AI-enabled health diagnostics to Cooling-as-a-Service models, with solutions designed to deliver measurable impact at scale.

The awards ceremony took place during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and was attended by heads of state, ministers, and business leaders. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, presented the awards, underscoring the nation’s continued commitment to improving quality of life and advancing global stability through innovation and cooperation.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said the Prize reflects the UAE’s dedication to practical solutions that uplift communities and expand opportunity, while honouring the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his vision of compassion, unity, and shared prosperity.

H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, said the 2026 winners demonstrate how real-world, scalable solutions can strengthen health systems, enhance food security, expand access to clean energy and water, and deliver tangible social and environmental benefits. He added that the Prize continues to connect capability with need, translating inclusive progress into action.

Since its launch in 2008, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has supported 128 winners whose solutions have reached more than 411 million people worldwide. The 2026 cycle attracted a record 7,761 submissions from 173 countries, assessed through a multi-stage evaluation process involving technical experts, a Selection Committee, and a Jury chaired by former Icelandic President H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.

Grímsson noted that this year’s winners reflect a growing maturity in sustainability innovation, combining technology, local knowledge, and practical execution to deliver solutions that work under real-world conditions and can scale responsibly over time.

Among the category winners, UAE-based SME Jade was recognised in Health for its AI-powered, gamified neurodevelopmental screening platform, now used in hundreds of institutions globally. Singapore’s N&E Innovations won in Food for its biodegradable antimicrobial packaging that reduces waste and extends shelf life. Switzerland’s BASE Foundation was awarded in Energy for its Cooling-as-a-Service model, which provides affordable, low-carbon cooling while cutting emissions and electricity use.

Brazilian SME Stattus4 received the Water award for its AI- and IoT-enabled leak detection technology, which strengthens urban water efficiency and security. In Climate Action, Nepal-based nonprofit Build up Nepal was recognised for producing earthquake-resistant eco-bricks that support resilient housing, green jobs, and emissions reduction.

The Global High Schools category continued to empower youth-led innovation, awarding funding to six schools across different world regions to implement student-driven sustainability projects. Since the category’s inception, participating schools have positively impacted hundreds of thousands of people globally.

As global efforts to achieve sustainable development accelerate, the Zayed Sustainability Prize continues to position the UAE as a catalyst for innovation-led progress, fostering collaboration across governments, businesses, civil society, and youth to build a more equitable and prosperous future.

• Tags
• #Business
• #Magazine
• #Lifestyle