emirates7 - The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s leading award for innovative global solutions, has announced the finalists for this year following the Jury's deliberations. The winners will be revealed during the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony on 14th January 2025, as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Out of 5,980 submissions across six categories – Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools – 33 finalists were selected, representing a 15% increase in entries compared to last year.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President, and Director-General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, emphasized the exceptional innovation and impact of the finalists. He noted that the Prize honors the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, whose visionary leadership in sustainability and humanitarianism guides the UAE's efforts to uplift livelihoods worldwide. This year’s record submissions highlighted three key global trends: the rise of the Global South, the accelerating energy transition, and the growth of AI. The finalists are addressing urgent environmental challenges while also driving economic progress through technologies like AI, carbon capture, tidal energy, precision agriculture, and biomimicry.
To date, the Prize has benefited millions worldwide, providing 11.35 million people with access to safe drinking water, bringing reliable energy to 54 million homes, delivering nutritious food to 3.6 million people, and enabling affordable healthcare for over 744,600 individuals.
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chair of the Jury, praised this year’s finalists for their creativity and determination in tackling global needs, from boosting biodiversity and food security to providing critical energy and healthcare solutions.
The Health category finalists include Periwinkle Technologies (India), Rology (Egypt), and Telemedan (Chad), who are developing AI-assisted healthcare solutions for underserved communities. Food category finalists like ABALOBI (South Africa), Nafarm Foods (Nigeria), and Xinjiang Shawan Oasis Institute (China) are promoting sustainable agriculture and food preservation. Energy finalists, including D-Olivette Global Enterprise (Nigeria), Palki Motors Limited (Bangladesh), and Turbulent (Belgium), focus on improving clean energy access and efficiency.
In the Water category, finalists such as Elman Teknoloji Ltd (Türkiye), High Atlas Foundation (Morocco), and SkyJuice Foundation Inc. (Australia) are working to optimize water use and provide clean drinking water. Climate Action finalists, including Distant Imagery (UAE), Hyera Inc. (USA), and OpenMap Development Tanzania, are advancing carbon capture, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience.
The Global High Schools finalists presented student-led sustainability projects from six regions, with schools from countries such as Mexico, Kenya, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Maldives, and China making the list. Winners in the Health, Food, Energy, Water, and Climate Action categories will each receive US$1 million, while winning Global High Schools will receive up to US$150,000.
Out of 5,980 submissions across six categories – Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools – 33 finalists were selected, representing a 15% increase in entries compared to last year.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President, and Director-General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, emphasized the exceptional innovation and impact of the finalists. He noted that the Prize honors the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, whose visionary leadership in sustainability and humanitarianism guides the UAE's efforts to uplift livelihoods worldwide. This year’s record submissions highlighted three key global trends: the rise of the Global South, the accelerating energy transition, and the growth of AI. The finalists are addressing urgent environmental challenges while also driving economic progress through technologies like AI, carbon capture, tidal energy, precision agriculture, and biomimicry.
To date, the Prize has benefited millions worldwide, providing 11.35 million people with access to safe drinking water, bringing reliable energy to 54 million homes, delivering nutritious food to 3.6 million people, and enabling affordable healthcare for over 744,600 individuals.
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chair of the Jury, praised this year’s finalists for their creativity and determination in tackling global needs, from boosting biodiversity and food security to providing critical energy and healthcare solutions.
The Health category finalists include Periwinkle Technologies (India), Rology (Egypt), and Telemedan (Chad), who are developing AI-assisted healthcare solutions for underserved communities. Food category finalists like ABALOBI (South Africa), Nafarm Foods (Nigeria), and Xinjiang Shawan Oasis Institute (China) are promoting sustainable agriculture and food preservation. Energy finalists, including D-Olivette Global Enterprise (Nigeria), Palki Motors Limited (Bangladesh), and Turbulent (Belgium), focus on improving clean energy access and efficiency.
In the Water category, finalists such as Elman Teknoloji Ltd (Türkiye), High Atlas Foundation (Morocco), and SkyJuice Foundation Inc. (Australia) are working to optimize water use and provide clean drinking water. Climate Action finalists, including Distant Imagery (UAE), Hyera Inc. (USA), and OpenMap Development Tanzania, are advancing carbon capture, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience.
The Global High Schools finalists presented student-led sustainability projects from six regions, with schools from countries such as Mexico, Kenya, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Maldives, and China making the list. Winners in the Health, Food, Energy, Water, and Climate Action categories will each receive US$1 million, while winning Global High Schools will receive up to US$150,000.