Zayed Sustainability Prize Opens Submissions for 2025 Cycle

The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering global sustainability and humanitarian award, has officially announced that the 2025 cycle is now open for submissions. 

Submissions will be accepted until 23 June 2024 through the Prize’s online portal. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs), nonprofit organisations (NPOs) and high schools with sustainable solutions are invited to submit an entry for consideration in one of the six categories of Heath, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action and Global High Schools. 

Commenting on the launch of the 2025 submissions cycle, H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, and COP28 President, said: “Since 2008, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has honoured the legacy of Sheikh Zayed by fostering inclusive sustainable and humanitarian development around the world. In this decisive decade for climate change, these values are more important than ever. I am optimistic that the Prize will contribute to global climate action in line with the UAE Consensus, which will pave the way toward an effective response to the Global Stocktake decision.”  

In response to the pressing climate crisis, and to further support the UAE’s efforts to accelerate practical solutions needed to drive climate action and uplift vulnerable communities around the world, the Prize has increased its funds from US $3.6 million to US $5.9 million. The Prize will reward US $1 million to each winner in the organisational categories of Health, Food, Energy, Water and Climate Action. Within the Global High Schools category, which is split into six world regions, each school can claim up to US $150,000 to start or further expand their project. The six world regions of the Global High Schools category are The Americas, Europe & Central Asia, Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia & Pacific.  The most recent Zayed Sustainability Prize winners were recognised at an Awards Ceremony held during COP28 UAE. 

To encourage a broader range of organisations and high schools to participate, the Prize will be accepting submissions in multiple languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese. This will ensure that innovative solutions from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds can be recognised. 

For the Health, Food, Energy, Water and Climate Action categories, organisations should prove that they are improving access to essential products or services in their targeted communities and are able to implement a long-term vision for better living and working conditions. For the Global High Schools category, projects should be led by students, and must demonstrate innovative approaches to address sustainability challenges. 

The evaluation of each submission to the Prize consists of a rigorous, three-stage process. First, due diligence is conducted on all submissions to ensure that they meet the Prize’s evaluation criteria of Impact, Innovation, and Inspiration. This identifies the qualified entries and results in the selection of eligible candidates. Following this, evaluations are undertaken by a Selection Committee consisting of category-specific panels of independent international experts. From this shortlist of candidates, the finalists are chosen and then sent to the Prize Jury who unanimously elect the winners across all six categories.   

Winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize will be announced at an Awards Ceremony during the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW). 

SHEIKH ZAYED BIN SULTAN AL NAHYAN

On 2nd November 2004, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, passed away. For Emiratis and residents of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed was not merely a national leader, he was a man of great vision and someone who transcended national borders and cultures as a true statesman, widely respected the world over.

In a journey he began over forty years ago, Sheikh Zayed came to embody the values of tolerance, unity and the spirit of a nation – a legacy now infused and represented by the responsibility, camaraderie and collaboration seen among all Emiratis and residents of the UAE.

Sheikh Zayed’s vision was driven by a passionate belief in leading by example and this was a key essence behind his progressive socio-economic, sustainable development and humanitarian vision.

Drawing on the valuable lessons of the past, while embracing progress, Sheik Zayed was a passionate believer in the importance of pursuing development in line with both the needs of present and future generations.

What are the categories of the Prize?

The Zayed Sustainability Prize awards 5 categories:

• Health
• Food
• Energy
• Water
• Global High Schools (1 award for each of the below regions)
  • The Americas
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Middle East & North Africa
  • Europe & Central Asia
  • South Asia
  • East Asia & Pacific

LEGACY

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid out a vision that would ensure the sustainable development of the UAE.

During his lifetime, Sheikh Zayed placed great emphasis on education and empowerment, including the welfare of the less fortunate – in the UAE and around the world. He was also a tireless advocate of protecting the heritage of the land we live in and implemented a series of measures to protect both the natural world and its resources.

Some key examples of Sheikh Zayed’s action in these areas include his creation of official institutions such as the UAE’s Federal Environment Agency and Abu Dhabi's Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency. Acknowledging the responsibility that governments must assume in conserving the natural world, he also called upon individuals to play their role in ensuring sustainable development.

With all of these attributes considered, it is no surprise that Sheikh Zayed’s vision – and now legacy – is an enduring reminder the wise leadership that continues to shape the sustainable development agenda, here in the UAE and around the world, for many future generations to come.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize is honoured and proud to have been formed as an organisation that acts as a custodian of this legacy. We are inspired by it every day as we carry forward and share this vision for global sustainability to an ever-increasing number of people around the world.