Zayed Sustainability Prize 2026 | Win up to $1M for Impact-Driven Solutions

Are you working on a transformative solution that addresses sustainability challenges in your community or beyond? The Zayed Sustainability Prize one of the world’s leading awards for impact-driven initiatives is now accepting applications for its 2025 cycle.

For the 2026 cycle, applicants in the Health, Food, Energy, Water and Climate Action categories must prove that their solution is improving access to essential services in their communities, and that they can 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. 

Benefits

• $1 million for each winning organization across the five main categories.
• $150,000 for each regional winner under the Global High Schools category (Africa, the Americas, Europe & Central Asia, MENA, South Asia, East Asia & the Pacific).
• Global recognition and visibility

Eligibility

• Open to nonprofits, small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), and startups with demonstrable impact.
• For the Global High Schools category, schools submit student-led project proposals with implementation plans.

Launched in 2008 by the UAE government, the Prize honors the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan by rewarding innovative, inclusive, and scalable solutions across five categories: health, water, food, energy, climate action and Global high schools. 

The Zayed Prize has previously recognized African startups, schools, and health initiatives that are now scaling across borders. Whether you're piloting an irrigation tech in Ethiopia or running a solar health clinic in rural Uganda, this is your moment.