At a ceremony attended by heads of state and business leaders, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed presented awards to organizations recognized for their contributions to global development in six key categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools.
Innovation and solutions with real impact Since its inception in 2008, the Zayed Sustainability Award has recognized 128 winners who have improved the lives of over 400 million people in 153 countries.
The 2026 winners include Mamawi Atosketan Native School from Canada, Kyanja High School from Uganda, Al Rajaa School for the Deaf from Jordan, Bodrum Anatolian High School from Türkiye, Faafu Atoll Education Center from the Maldives, and Ruamrudee International School from Thailand.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that this award continues to foster practical solutions that elevate communities under the legacy of Sheikh Zayed.
The Zayed Sustainability Award awards $5.9M to global innovators
After 18 years, the UAE's award celebrates solutions that have positively impacted the lives of over 400 million people. Meanwhile, Build up Nepal received the award in Climate Action for producing 3.3 million earthquake-resistant eco-bricks, preventing the emission of 110,000 tons of CO2 and creating nearly 2,000 green jobs.
Empowering future leaders
The award also recognized six institutions in the Global High Schools category, granting up to $150,000 to each for student-led projects. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber also noted that the winners demonstrate how real-world solutions transform lives, from food systems to access to clean water and energy.
In the Health category, UAE-based SME Jade was recognized for its AI-powered diagnostic platform. In Food, Singapore's N&E Innovations was awarded for its antimicrobial packaging. In Energy, Switzerland's BASE Foundation was recognized for its 'Cooling as a Service' model that saves 130 GWh of electricity annually. In Water, Brazilian SME Stattus4 was awarded for its leak detection technology that saves 5.56 billion liters of water daily.
