Business magnate Sir Richard Branson appointed to judge for Zayed Sustainability Prize
Record Breaking Submissions for the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize
The 17th edition of the Zayed Sustainability Prize has seen a significant surge in entries, with a total of 7,761 applications from 173 countries. This marks a 30% increase on the previous awards cycle, according to Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and director general of the Zayed Sustainability Prize.
The prize, which honors the legacy of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, aims to empower small to medium-sized enterprises, non-profit organizations, and high schools to deliver high-impact, sustainable solutions. The focus this year has been on technology-driven and community-led innovations to solve sustainability challenges.
Notable increases in technology-focused projects such as AI and FinTech tools were observed in the submissions for the 2026 cycle. This demonstrates the harnessing of innovation for inclusive, community-led progress. High schools participating in the prize will be awarded $150,000 each to implement or expand their sustainability projects.
The jury for the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize includes notable figures such as Sir Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Group), Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi (Minister of State for Foreign Trade), Shamma Al Mazrui (Minister of Community Development), Mariam Almheiri (Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court), Ahmed Al Sayegh (Minister of State), Dr. Nawal Al Hosany (UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency), Olafur Ragnar Grimsson (former president of Iceland), Dr. Andreas Jacobs (chairman of Insead), Wang Chuanfu (chairman and CEO of BYD), Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (president of the Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad), and Christian Bruch (president and CEO of Siemens Energy).
The six categories for entries in the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize are: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools. The Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony is scheduled for January 13, 2026, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
India, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Indonesia are among the top contributing nations in the 2026 cycle. Analysis of the submissions shows that 85% of them came from developing or emerging economies. This underscores the prize's commitment to supporting sustainable development in these regions.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber stated that the record number of submissions to this year's prize cycle reflects a growing global commitment to practical, scalable solutions that deliver long-term impact. The increased use of AI and other advanced technologies is prevalent across all categories in the 2026 cycle, demonstrating the harnessing of innovation for sustainable progress.
- The 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize, an annual awards event in the UAE, has received a record-breaking 7,761 applications from 173 countries.
- The prize aims to empower small enterprises, non-profits, and high schools to deliver sustainable solutions, with a focus on technology-driven and community-led innovations that address sustainability challenges.
- Notable increases in technology-focused projects such as AI and FinTech tools were observed in the submissions for the 2026 cycle, demonstrating the harnessing of innovation for inclusive, community-led progress.
- The six categories for entries in the prize include Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools, with the awards ceremony scheduled for January 13, 2026, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
- Analysis of the submissions shows that 85% of them came from developing or emerging economies, underscoring the prize's commitment to supporting sustainable development in these regions.
- The increased use of AI and other advanced technologies is prevalent across all categories in the 2026 cycle, as reflected by Dr Sultan Al Jaber's statement about the growing global commitment to practical, scalable solutions that deliver long-term impact, utilizing innovation for sustainable progress.
