Global call launched for SMEs, nonprofits, high schools to win Zayed Sustainability Prize

Small and medium-sized enterprises, nonprofit organizations and high schools worldwide are invited to submit entries for the Zayed Sustainability Prize by June 23.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the United Arab Emirates’ global sustainability and humanitarian award, has officially announced that the 2025 cycle is now open for applications on its web portal. They will be accepted until June 23 next year.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), nonprofit organizations and high schools with sustainable solutions are invited to submit entries for consideration in the categories of health, food, energy, water, climate action and global high schools. The Zayed Sustainability Prize is a tribute to the legacy of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late founder of the UAE. It aims to drive sustainable development and humanitarian action by rewarding innovative sustainable solutions.

Global climate action in line with UAE Consensus

“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,” Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said.

Funds for the next round were almost doubled to USD 5.9 million

He is also the president of COP28 for this year, minister of industry and advanced technology of the UAE, managing director and group chief executive officer of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) and the chairman of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. – Masdar.

In response to the pressing climate crisis, and to further support the country’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 USD 3.6 million to USD 5.9 million, the organizers pointed out. Winners in the categories of health, food, energy, water and climate action are set to get USD 1 million each.

Every high school that wins prize is entitled to as much as USD 150,000

Within the global high schools category, split into six world regions, every laureate can claim up to USD 150,000 to start or further expand their project. The regions are the Americas, Europe and Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia and the Pacific.

The most recent Zayed Sustainability Prize winners were recognized at an awards ceremony held during the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai. The event is also known as the 28th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

To encourage a broader range of participants, entries are now accepted in multiple languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Main criterion is to improve access to essential products or services

For health, food, energy, water and climate action, the candidates should prove they are improving access to essential products or services in their targeted communities and that they 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, demonstrating innovative approaches to address sustainability challenges.

The evaluation consists of three stages. First, due diligence is conducted on all submissions to ensure that they meet the evaluation criteria of impact, innovation and inspiration. Next, evaluations are undertaken by a selection committee of category-specific panels of independent international experts. The list of finalists will be sent to the jury for a unanimous selection of the winners. They are scheduled to be announced at an awards ceremony during the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).

For over 15 years, through its 117 winners, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has positively impacted the lives of 384 million people worldwide, according to the organizers.