Zayed Sustainability Prize Unveils 2026 Finalists Showcasing Innovative Solutions For Global Impact

The Zayed Sustainability Prize has shortlisted this year's finalists, chosen from 7,761 entries across six categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools. This marks a 30% rise in submissions compared to the previous year. Winners will be announced on 13th January 2026 during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

This year's Health finalists are making significant strides in providing essential healthcare services to underserved communities. Their innovations include AI diagnostics, solar-powered vaccine refrigeration, and gamified cognitive tools. Drop Access from Kenya offers solar-powered medical refrigeration through Vaccibox, aiding over one million people by safely transporting vaccines and medicines.

In the Food category, finalists are advancing sustainable agriculture and nutrition. E Green Global from South Korea uses microtuber technology to produce disease-free seed potatoes indoors, benefiting 15 million people annually. INMED South Africa integrates fish farming with hydroponic vegetable production for schools and households, impacting over 158,000 individuals.

The Energy finalists focus on inclusive approaches to sustainable energy. BASE Foundation from Switzerland promotes a cooling-as-a-service model that makes clean cooling technologies accessible through a pay-per-use approach. This initiative benefits 160,000 people across 68 countries while creating jobs and reducing CO₂ emissions.

Water finalists are delivering innovative solutions for clean drinking water access and management. IRIBA Water Group from Rwanda provides solar-powered smart water ATMs with purification systems, benefiting over 517,000 people through mobile payments and digital monitoring. Stattus4 from Brazil uses AI-powered IoT solutions to detect leaks in water networks.

Climate Action Initiatives

Climate Action finalists lead efforts in resilience and circular innovation. Build Up Nepal develops earthquake-resilient eco-bricks for sustainable construction, empowering entrepreneurs and reducing CO₂ emissions significantly. CLIC RECYCLE from Spain converts human hair waste into biodegradable mulch and marine filters.

Global High Schools' Contributions

The Global High Schools category showcases student-led sustainability projects across six regions. Finalists include Centro de Ensino Médio 111 - Recanto das Emas (Brazil) in the Americas region and Likuni Boys Secondary School (Malawi) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each winning school receives up to US $150,000 for their initiatives.

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chair of the Prize Jury, stated: "This year’s finalists reveal a powerful truth: sustainability is no longer a distant ambition; it is a lived reality shaped by communities, young people, and innovators across the globe." His words underscore the importance of these initiatives in addressing global challenges.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize has impacted millions worldwide through its winners' efforts. Over 11 million people have gained access to safe drinking water; more than 54 million homes now have reliable energy; nutritious food reaches 17 million individuals; affordable healthcare is available to over 1 million people.

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber highlighted the transformative potential of this year's finalists: "This year’s finalists show that sustainability and prosperity are no longer separate goals but two sides of the same path forward." His remarks reflect Sheikh Zayed's vision of sustainable development inspiring UAE's commitment to progress.

With inputs from WAM