The Zayed Sustainability Prize, based in Abu Dhabi, is a prestigious global award recognizing innovative and impactful sustainability solutions across various sectors. Established in 2008 in honor of the environmental and humanitarian legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, the prize aims to celebrate and promote sustainable development worldwide.
The Zayed Sustainability Prize is unique in its holistic approach to sustainability, encompassing five distinct categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, and Global High Schools. Each category is designed to honor organizations and individuals who have demonstrated a tangible impact in their respective fields through innovative and sustainable solutions. The Health category, for instance, awards projects that provide access to essential healthcare services, while the Food category recognizes efforts to improve food security and sustainable agricultural practices.
One of the hallmark features of the Zayed Sustainability Prize is its emphasis on scalability and replicability. Winning projects are selected not only for their current impact but also for their potential to be scaled up and adapted to different contexts, thereby maximizing their global reach and effectiveness. This focus ensures that the prize fosters innovations that can address pressing global challenges and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The prize also places significant importance on empowering the next generation through its Global High Schools category. This category encourages high schools from around the world to propose and implement sustainable projects within their communities. By supporting youth-led initiatives, the Zayed Sustainability Prize fosters a culture of sustainability and innovation among young people, preparing them to be future leaders in sustainable development.
Over the years, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has gained international acclaim, with a diverse range of laureates from different regions and sectors. The award ceremony, held annually during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, attracts global leaders, innovators, and policymakers, serving as a platform to showcase and celebrate groundbreaking sustainability solutions.

Each year, the Abu Dhabi Government offers the Zayed Future Energy Prize, the total Prize fund of US $3 million for Entrepreneurs to celebrates achievements that reflect impact, innovation, long-term vision and leadership in renewable energy and sustainability.
The Prize fund comes from the Abu Dhabi Government as a way to honour and continue the legacy of the late founding father of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, manages the Zayed Future Energy Prize. A dedicated team works on the Prize all year round.
This annual award celebrates achievements that reflect impact, innovation, long-term vision and leadership in renewable energy and sustainability. You are invited to be a part of this vision and commitment to finding solutions that will meet the challenges of climate change, energy security and the environment.
Benefits
The total Prize fund is US $3 million, distributed as such:
- Health – US$ 600,000 (Six hundred thousand dollars)
- Food – US$ 600,000 (Six hundred thousand dollars)
- Energy – US$ 600,000 (Six hundred thousand dollars)
- Water – US$ 600,000 (Six hundred thousand dollars)
- Climate Action – US$ 600,000 (Six hundred thousand dollars)
- Global High Schools – US$ 600,000 – Total value (Six hundred thousand dollars)
- Divided amongst 6 Global High Schools in 6 different regions, awarding each up to US$100,000 (One hundred thousand dollars)
- The Americas
- Europe & Central Asia
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- East Asia & Pacific
- South Asia
- MENA
Requirements For The Worldwide Abu Dhabi Zayed Sustainability Prize
The Zayed Future Energy Prize is open to all entrants other than (a) board members and employees of Masdar; and (b) anyone who has been involved in organizing, promoting, or judging the Prize.
Selection Process
The Prize criteria for all categories are: Innovation, Impact, Leadership, and Long-Term Vision.
Method of Application
In order to start your entry, please register an account with the Prize. An email will be sent to you to verify your email address. After the verification, you can start your entry by logging into the system. For your convenience, you will be able to save and return to your submission form for editing at a later time. However, you will not be able to edit your entry after you have submitted it.
Application Deadline: June 23, 2024.
For More Information,