Zayed Sustainability Prize

The Zayed Sustainability Prize is a global award established by the United Arab Emirates in memory of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the nation's founder and a noted advocate for environmental conservation. It provides recognition and financial support to scalable, high-impact innovations addressing pressing worldwide challenges. The prize operates across five categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, and Global High Schools.

Each year, winning organisations receive up to USD 1 million per category, with recipients announced during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. There is no application fee, and submissions are accepted worldwide, including from Indian startups, SMEs, and NGOs. Eligible applicants include SMEs and startups with proven, scalable solutions; nonprofits working in sustainability; and high schools through the dedicated Global High Schools category. Candidates must present an operational, tested solution—not an early-stage concept—along with measurable positive impact and potential for wider adoption.

The prize has supported hundreds of organisations across more than 150 countries, benefiting over 421 million people, with Indian entities among past winners. It is well-suited for Indian startups, SMEs, and NGOs that have deployed validated solutions in health, food, energy, or water, particularly those serving underserved communities or operating at scale. For social enterprises and impact-driven organisations, the prize offers global visibility and non-dilutive funding.