Zayed Sustainability Prize 2026 in the UAE for SMEs, NPOs, and Global High Schools
Country: United Arab Emirates
Organization: Zayed Sustainability Prize
Category: Sustainability Prize
Funding: US $7.2 million total fund
Deadline: June 2026
Eligibility: SMEs, NPOs, and Global High Schools
The Zayed Sustainability Prize is described on the official page as the UAE’s pioneering global award. It recognises and rewards small to medium sized enterprises, nonprofit organisations, and global high schools with impactful, innovative, and inspiring sustainable solutions.
About the Prize
According to the source, the Prize honours the humanitarian and sustainability legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The page also states that the Prize was established in 2008 in his honour to continue his legacy of promoting sustainability, inclusivity, and global development.
The official description says the Prize recognises and rewards pioneers who create solutions that benefit communities around the world. It also notes that, to date, 139 winners have been awarded and that, through them, the lives of over 400 million people have been transformed.
Funding
The page states that the Zayed Sustainability Prize has a total fund of US $7.2 million. Winners in each of the five organisational categories receive US $1 million. Global High Schools winners receive US $150,000 to implement or expand student-led projects in their communities. Organisational finalists receive US $100,000, while Global High Schools finalists receive US $25,000.
Eligibility
The official page explicitly states that the Prize recognises and rewards three applicant groups: small to medium sized enterprises, nonprofit organisations, and global high schools.
Prize Scope
The source says the Prize is focused on sustainable solutions that are impactful, innovative, and inspiring. It also states that the global impact of the Prize includes 17 million people reached with nutritious food, 54.1 million homes powered by renewable energy, 11.4 million people able to access clean and affordable drinking water, 159 billion litres of water saved, more than 1.2 million people gaining access to affordable healthcare, and 580,000 women and newborns receiving safe maternal healthcare.
Awards Cycle
The current Prize cycle shown on the page states that submissions open in January 2026 and close in June 2026. Shortlist submissions are scheduled for August 2026, finalists are announced in September 2026, and the awards ceremony takes place in January 2027.
Application
The page includes an “Apply Now” option and shows that submissions are part of the current Prize cycle. It does not provide further application instructions on the source page itself beyond the timing of the cycle.
