Applications for the 2025–2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize are now being accepted. Changemakers have a fantastic opportunity to present their creative sustainability solutions with this international prize. The Zayed Sustainability Prize has honoured innovators and visionaries whose accomplishments have contributed to the global proliferation of creative and inspiring sustainability solutions by identifying cutting-edge technology and solutions that have the potential to transform the world. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), nonprofit organisations (NPOs), and international high schools are recognised and given incentives for their inventive, creative, and sustainable solutions through the UAE’s Zayed Prize.
Overview of Zayed Sustainability Prize
Furthermore, since the inaugural awards ceremony in 2009, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has benefited millions of people who have been influenced either directly or indirectly by the sustainability solutions and educational projects of the Prize recipients. The Abu Dhabi government provides the prize fund in remembrance of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, and to carry on his humanitarian and sustainable legacy. Thus, this esteemed award honours the heritage of sustainability and humanitarianism left by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father. 400 million people’s lives have been profoundly impacted by the 128 winners of the Prize over the years. This UAE program provides an amazing chance to get financing and go to the Awards Ceremony, where money will be provided for airfare and lodging.
In a similar vein, the Zayed Sustainability Prize is developed year-round by a committed team. Numerous categories, such as health, food, energy, water, climate action, and global high schools, are included in this international prize. The Zayed Sustainability Award has a $5.9 million total prize fund that is split across all categories. All competitors also receive considerable financing and privileges from the Zayed Award. The UAE’s commitment to sustainability has been greatly impacted by Sheikh Zayed’s passion for protecting the environment and conserving wildlife. Many of his environmental conservation efforts remain in effect today. Since 2008, the Prize has honoured and rewarded sustainability pioneers in his honour.
See More: https://opportunitiesnest.com/fully-funded-2025-erasmus-mundus-quarmen-scholarship/
The Zayed Sustainability Prize 2025–2026 categories are:
- Global High Schools, Health, Food, Water, Energy, and Climate Action
- Nation: United Arab Emirates
- Coverage of finances: Completely funded
Qualifications for the Zayed Sustainability Prize 2025–2026:
HEALTH
Organisations that have shown creative, significant, and motivating sustainability solutions in the fields of health are recognised in this category, including but not restricted to:
- Assure access to necessary and reasonably priced medical treatment.
- Ensure access to healthcare for expectant mothers and newborns
- Stop the spread of diseases like AIDS, malaria, TB, etc.
- Treatment and prevention of diseases spread by water, both communicable and non-communicable
- Reduce the number of illnesses brought on by pollutants, hazardous substances, and pollution.
- In order to further implement their solution, boost its influence, and encourage others to follow suit and support sustainable and human growth, organisations must also exhibit a clear vision and long-term plan.
- Organisations must be non-profit (NPO) or small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) in order to qualify for this category.
FOOD:
This category honours businesses that have shown creative, significant, and motivating approaches to sustainability in the food sector, such as but not exclusive to:
- Cut down on malnutrition and hunger
- Boost productivity in agriculture or other food processes
- Encouragement of sustainable food production
- In order to further implement their solution, boost its influence, and encourage others to follow suit and support sustainable and human growth, organisations must also exhibit a clear vision and long-term plan.
- Organisations must be non-profit (NPO) or small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) in order to qualify for this category.
POWER:
This category honours companies who have shown creative, significant, and motivating energy-related sustainability solutions, such as but not restricted to:
- Provide dependable and reasonably priced clean energy.
- Boost the production of clean energy
- Increasing the effectiveness of energy
- introduction of other technology advancements or new renewable energy sources.
- In order to further implement their solution, boost its influence, and encourage others to follow suit and support sustainable and human growth, organisations must also exhibit a clear vision and long-term plan.
- Organisations must be non-profit (NPO) or small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) in order to qualify for this category.
Water:
This category honours companies that can provide creative, significant, and motivating water-related sustainability solutions, such as but not restricted to:
- Make sure everyone has access to reasonably priced, safe drinking water.
- Providing access to hygienic conditions and sanitation
- Boost water use efficiency
- Enhancing the quality of water
- In order to further implement their solution, boost its influence, and encourage others to follow suit and support sustainable and human growth, organisations must also exhibit a clear vision and long-term plan.
- Organisations must be small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or non-profit organisations (NPOs) in order to qualify for this category.
International High Schools
High schools or high schools from six worldwide geographic regions that propose creative, significant, and motivating sustainability projects in the fields of food, energy, water, and/or health are recognised under the global high school category.
- One area, like water, or a mix of areas, like energy, water, food, and health, could be the focus of the proposed initiative.
- The award is not meant for school administration initiatives or pedagogical improvements, but rather to inspire students to create and carry out own sustainability ideas.
- Students from winning high schools will be able to execute sustainability initiatives in their own schools with the award in this category, which is not given for prior accomplishments. These student-led initiatives must encourage students to get involved in sustainable development by showcasing creative solutions to sustainability issues.
The Zayed Sustainability award offers the following benefits:
The entire USD $5.9 million award budget is allocated as follows:
- USD $1,000,000 for health
- $1,000,000 for food
- Energy: $1,000,000 USD
- USD $1,000,000 for water USD $1,000,000 for climate action USD $1,000,000 USD $900,000 for global high schools (awarded up to USD $150,000 to each of the six schools)
Deadline for the Zayed Sustainability Prize:
Applications for the Zayed Sustainability Prize must be submitted by June 2025.
Apply Here: https://zayedsustainabilityprize.com/en/how-to-apply
