The Zayed Sustainability Prize, a prestigious award established by the UAE to honor innovative solutions to global challenges, has announced its finalists for 2026 after a thorough evaluation by the award’s judging panel. The winners will be revealed during the annual award ceremony scheduled for January 13, 2026, as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
This year, the judging committee selected 33 finalists from a pool of 7,761 submissions spanning 173 countries, across its six categories, which include health, food, energy, water, climate action, and global high schools. This marks a 30% increase in submissions compared to last year.
Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, remarked, “This year’s finalists embody the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may he rest in peace, whose vision for sustainable development and humanitarian efforts serves as a guiding light for the UAE in enhancing the quality of life in communities.
The contributions of the nominees present an inspiring model of impact and demonstrate that sustainability and growth can jointly pave the way toward a future where prosperity flourishes for all populations.”
Furthermore, he added, “The finalists’ projects feature practical innovations in critical areas such as AI-enhanced health diagnostics, circular food systems, disaster response, and climate adaptation.
They uniquely leverage technological capabilities, financing, and community entrepreneurship to devise effective and affordable solutions that are reliable and resilient, delivering tangible social and economic benefits to the communities they serve.
Through the prize’s continuous support for sustainability innovations, we affirm that empowering youth, entrepreneurs, and communities contributes to turning aspirations into comprehensive and impactful achievements on a global scale.”
The prize has helped 128 previous winners develop solutions that have enabled over 11.4 million people to access safe drinking water, provided reliable energy to 54.1 million homes, ensured healthier food for 17 million individuals, and delivered affordable healthcare to more than 1.2 million people.
Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Chair of the judging panel, stated, “This year’s finalists confirm that sustainability is no longer an elusive ambition but a reality shaped by the efforts of communities, youth, and innovators worldwide.
Their solutions reflect an increasing awareness of the rapidly changing social, economic, and environmental challenges that must be addressed. The prize continues to serve as a beacon of hope, paving the way for bold ideas and providing the necessary support to enhance lives and protect our planet.”
In the health category, finalists presented solutions that improve access to basic health services in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities, including AI diagnostics, solar-powered vaccine refrigeration, and interactive knowledge tools.
Within the energy category, finalists introduced comprehensive and scalable concepts for sustainable energy, addressing accessibility and efficiency challenges. Their solutions encompassed energy provision to remote communities, clean cooling technologies, and battery recycling using water.
In the water category, finalists offered innovative solutions that enhance access to clean drinking water, improve water project infrastructure, and optimize its management. Their innovations included solar-powered purification systems, plastic pollution prevention measures, and AI-based leak detection.