The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering award for innovative and inclusive solutions to global challenges, has announced its 33 finalists for 2026.

Selected from an unprecedented 7,761 submissions across 173 countries—a 30% increase from last year—the finalists represent transformative projects in Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools.

The winners will be revealed at the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony on 13 January 2026, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Transformative Impact on Communities

Since its inception, the Prize has touched over 400 million lives worldwide, with winners delivering tangible solutions that expand access to clean energy, safe water, nutritious food, quality healthcare, and climate resilience.

H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, emphasized:

“This year’s finalists show that sustainability and prosperity are no longer separate goals, but two sides of the same path forward. They are harnessing technology, finance, and community leadership to deliver affordable, scalable solutions with real socioeconomic value.”

Finalists in Health

Healthcare innovators this year focus on expanding access in underserved communities with AI tools, solar-powered solutions, and gamified platforms.

• Drop Access (Kenya) – Solar-powered medical refrigeration (Vaccibox), safeguarding 2.5 million+ vaccines, medicines, and blood bags.

• Healthy Learners (Zambia) – Turns schools into frontline health hubs, training teachers as healthcare providers for 1M+ children.

• Jade Autism (UAE) – AI-driven gamified cognitive tools supporting neurodiverse children in 450+ institutions across 179 countries.

Finalists in Food

Pioneering sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and circular food systems.

• E Green Global (South Korea) – Microtuber tech to produce disease-free seed potatoes, benefiting 15M people annually.

• INMED South Africa (South Africa) – Aquaponics systems for schools and households, benefiting 158,000+ people.

• N&E Innovations (Singapore) – Upcycled antimicrobial sprays and packaging extending food shelf life, reaching 80,000 people in 7 countries.

Finalists in Energy

Innovations driving affordable, inclusive, and efficient energy access.

• BASE Foundation (Switzerland) – Cooling-as-a-service model, benefiting 160,000+ people, creating 2,500 jobs across 68 countries.

• GRST (China – Hong Kong) – PFAS-free lithium battery binders enabling water-based recycling and reducing emissions by 40%.

• Poder y Luz Maya (Guatemala) – Solar power and digital tools for indigenous schools, benefiting 49,000+ people.

Finalists in Water

Breakthroughs in water purification, leak detection, and pollution prevention.

• IRIBA Water Group (Rwanda) – Solar-powered smart water ATMs, serving 517,000+ people.

• Stattus4 (Brazil) – AI-powered leak detection saving 540M litres daily across 250 municipalities.

• The Great Bubble Barrier (Netherlands) – Innovative air bubble curtain preventing plastic pollution, removing 180 tonnes of waste.

Finalists in Climate Action

Practical solutions for resilience, disaster preparedness, and waste-to-value.

• Build Up Nepal (Nepal) – Earthquake-resilient eco-bricks, benefiting 58,000+ people and abating 110,000 tonnes of CO₂.

• CLIC RECYCLE (Spain) – Converts human hair waste into mulch and marine filters, improving soil water retention by 40%.

• GREE Energy (China – Hong Kong) – Modular biogas systems generating 9.3 GWh of clean energy and abating 140,000 tonnes of CO₂.

Global High Schools Finalists

Six regions, 18 schools, all championing youth-led sustainability initiatives:

• The Americas: Brazil, Mexico, Canada

• Sub-Saharan Africa: Malawi, Ethiopia, Uganda

• Middle East & North Africa: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon

• Europe & Central Asia: Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan

• South Asia: Pakistan, Maldives, India

• East Asia & Pacific: Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand

Each winning school will receive up to US $150,000, while winners in the other five categories will each receive US $1 million.

A Legacy of Sheikh Zayed’s Vision

H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chair of the Prize Jury, highlighted:

“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.”

The Zayed Sustainability Prize—an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies—continues to honor the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by inspiring bold, scalable, and inclusive solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.