Dubai, UAE – The Zayed Sustainability Prize announced the closing of applications for participation in the 2027 session. With record participation levels of 10,233 applications, from 177 countries across its six categories. Which includes health, food, energy, water, climate action, and global high schools.
In its 18th year, the award continues to attract an increasing number of small and medium-sized companies, non-profit organizations, and high schools. Which provides innovative solutions that contribute to improving the quality of life, especially in the communities most in need.
The current session recorded a 32% increase in the number of applications for participation compared to the previous session. Reflecting the growing global momentum towards adopting widely applicable innovations based on community participation.
More than two-thirds of the applications came from countries with developing and emerging economies. Foremost among them are Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Kenya, in addition to the UAE.
Climate Action Category
The climate action category accounted for the largest share of participation requests, with a total of (2,505 requests). It was followed by the food category (2,261 applications), then health (1,807 applications), and global secondary schools (1,710 applications). Energy (994 applications), water (956 applications).
The award will announce the winners during the awards ceremony, on January 12, 2027.
Award
As for the categories designated for institutions, the winner of each category receives $1 million, while each finalist receives $150,000. Six winning high schools, each representing a different global region, will also receive $150,000 each. To implement or expand its projects, while each finalist receives $25,000.
Since its launch, the award has contributed to making a positive impact on the lives of more than 411 million people around the world. Through the solutions of the previous 139 winners.
