Zayed Sustainability Prize Honours Global Pioneers Advancing Progress
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan honoured the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize winners during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to inclusive development. The awards recognised organisations and schools whose solutions improve health, food security, energy access, water management, climate resilience and youth engagement, underlining how sustainability is increasingly linked with long-term economic and social stability worldwide.
The ceremony was attended by sheikhs, heads of state, ministers, officials and invited guests, reflecting high-level interest in sustainability as a driver of growth. His Highness stressed that supporting projects which improve people’s wellbeing and reinforce stability remains a central UAE priority, and that the Prize continues to channel innovation toward practical benefits for communities across different regions.
His Highness noted that the Zayed Sustainability Prize encourages real-world solutions that raise living standards and widen access to opportunity through innovation and cooperation. He emphasised that the initiative keeps alive the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, whose focus on compassion, unity and shared prosperity still guides policies aimed at building a more secure and sustainable future for all people.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director-General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, underlined how the 2026 laureates are shifting ideas into measurable outcomes. Dr. Al Jaber said, "This year’s winners demonstrate how practical, real-world solutions can transform lives – from strengthening health and food systems to expanding access to clean energy and water. The UAE has long believed in connecting capability with need, and in building bridges across sectors and regions to deliver lasting, measurable impact. It is a conviction rooted in inclusive progress, and through the Zayed Sustainability Prize, this vision is translated into action by supporting innovations that put people first and open new pathways for growth."
Established in 2008, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has developed into a key platform for impact, rewarding small and medium-sized enterprises, nonprofit organisations and high schools across six categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action and Global High Schools. Over 18 years, 128 winners have been recognised, with projects collectively improving more than 411 million lives across multiple continents.
The latest cycle saw the highest level of interest so far, with 7,761 submissions from 173 countries. Entries went through a strict multi-stage evaluation involving technical experts, the Selection Committee and a Jury chaired by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former President of Iceland. This process aimed to identify scalable, responsible solutions able to work in diverse local conditions while supporting sustainable development goals.
Zayed Sustainability Prize innovation and practical solutions
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson said, "The 2026 winners reflect a growing maturity in sustainability innovation – where technology, local knowledge, and execution come together. These solutions are designed to work in real-world conditions and to grow responsibly over time. They offer clear examples of how practical ingenuity, informed by experience, can strengthen access to essential services and improve everyday lives. As these approaches continue to expand, they point the way toward a more inclusive and effective path for sustainable development in the years ahead."
In remarks during the awards, His Highness highlighted that initiatives supported through the Zayed Sustainability Prize strengthen the foundations of progress by advancing access to basic services. By prioritising projects that deliver measurable benefits, the UAE seeks to align technological advances with social needs, so that innovation supports stability, employment and resilience in both advanced and emerging economies.
Zayed Sustainability Prize category winners and global projects
Across the thematic categories, the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize winners reflected varied approaches to similar global challenges. Their work ranged from AI tools in healthcare and water systems to new financing models for cooling, eco-friendly packaging and low-carbon construction materials. Combined, these initiatives demonstrated how targeted interventions can support broader climate and development targets while helping local communities manage everyday pressures.
In the Energy category, Switzerland’s BASE Foundation was recognised for reshaping access to sustainable cooling through its Cooling-as-a-Service model. By removing upfront capital costs, the approach makes efficient, low-carbon cooling more affordable. Operating in 68 countries, BASE has created 2,500 jobs and its model saves 130 GWh of electricity annually while avoiding 81,000 tonnes of CO₂, showing how market mechanisms can scale environmental impact.
Jade, an SME from the UAE, received the Health category award for transforming neurodevelopmental screening using AI and gamified learning. Its platform blends cognitive tests, eye-tracking and personalised learning tools. More than 450 institutions across 179 countries now use the system. By cutting diagnostic delays and improving engagement, Jade has supported over 180,000 children so far and is shaping more inclusive early intervention practices.
For Food, the Prize went to N&E Innovations from Singapore, which developed biodegradable antimicrobial packaging and coatings that extend shelf life and cut waste at the source. Using upcycled food waste and plant-based inputs, the firm’s patented material delivers 99.9 percent antimicrobial performance, with bacterial counts 4.5 times lower than conventional options. Over 400,000 sustainable packs have been distributed, contributing to more circular food supply chains.
The Water category recognised Brazilian SME Stattus4, whose AI and IoT-based solution helps utilities detect and repair leaks with high accuracy. The company monitors more than 5,000 kilometres of distribution networks and has identified over 22,000 potential leak points. Its technology currently saves about 5.56 billion litres of water per day, improving water security for more than four million people and raising efficiency in urban water operations.
In the Climate Action category, nonprofit organisation Build up Nepal was honoured for using brickmaking as a tool for resilience and income generation. The group has produced over 3.3 million earthquake-resistant eco-bricks and supported more than 12,000 resilient homes. These activities have created nearly 2,000 green jobs, provided housing for 58,000 people and avoided 110,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, linking climate benefits with social gains.
The Global High Schools category of the Zayed Sustainability Prize continued to support youth-led solutions. Each year, six schools, one from each major world region, receive up to USD 150,000 to implement projects that tackle local challenges. To date, 56 Global High Schools winners have carried out initiatives that improved the lives of more than 56,599 students and 480,660 people, building capacity among the next generation of sustainability practitioners.
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The 2026 Global High Schools winners were Mamawi Atosketan Native School in Canada for The Americas; Kyanja High School in Uganda for Sub-Saharan Africa; Al Rajaa School for the Deaf in Jordan for the Middle East & North Africa; Bodrum Anatolian High School in Türkiye for Europe & Central Asia; Faafu Atoll Education Center in Maldives for South Asia; and Ruamrudee International School in Thailand for East Asia & Pacific, reflecting the Prize’s broad geographic scope.
As countries increase efforts to meet sustainable development objectives, the Zayed Sustainability Prize highlights the UAE’s integrated view of progress that links technology, social inclusion and long-term economic growth. The initiative reflects the belief that leadership includes enabling others to lead, by encouraging collaboration among governments, businesses, civil society and young people to support more resilient, prosperous and fair societies worldwide.
With inputs from WAM
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