The Zayed Sustainability Prize is a pioneering global award from the UAE, established in 2008 to recognize excellence in sustainability. Inspired by the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, the prize aims to advance sustainable development and humanitarian action. It achieves this by empowering organizations and high schools that deliver impactful, innovative, and inspiring sustainable solutions across several key categories.
Prize Categories and Funding
The prize has a total fund of US$3.6 million, distributed across six distinct categories:
• Health: US$600,000
• Food: US$600,000
• Energy: US$600,000
• Water: US$600,000
• Climate Action: US$600,000
• Global High Schools: US$600,000, awarded as US$100,000 to each of six schools.
Eligibility Criteria
The prize is open to global applicants who are implementing innovative and impactful sustainable solutions.
• Health, Food, Energy, and Water Categories: Eligible entrants include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), non-profit organisations (NPOs), and other organizations with a proven solution.
• Global High Schools Category: High schools are invited to submit proposals for student-led projects that aim to solve sustainability challenges.
Application and Nomination Details
The application process is conducted online through the official Zayed Sustainability Prize website.
• Submission Process: Applicants must register an account, complete the designated form, and provide all required supporting documentation.
• Application Period: The submission window typically runs from January to June each year. Specific dates are announced on the prize’s official channels.
• Nominations: It is possible to nominate an eligible organisation or high school for the prize. The nominated entity will then be invited to complete the full application.
Judging Criteria and Selection Process
All submissions are evaluated based on three core pillars and a multi-stage selection process.
• Core Judging Criteria: Impact, which measures the positive effect on people's quality of life; Innovation, which assesses the solution's uniqueness, scalability, and replicability; and Inspiration, which evaluates the solution's ability to motivate others towards sustainable practices.
• Selection Stages: The process includes an initial due diligence review, a technical evaluation by experts, shortlisting by a Selection Committee of international experts, and final winner selection by an esteemed international Jury. Winners are announced at an annual awards ceremony during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
To stay informed about the latest news, announcements, and application deadlines for the Zayed Sustainability Prize, interested parties are encouraged to subscribe to the official newsletter, follow the prize's social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and regularly visit the official website.