- What
- Non-dilutive prize: US$1M per category winner, US$100K per finalist.
- Who
- Nonprofits and SMEs in health, food, energy, water, climate.
- From abroad
- Not stated on the programme’s site (checked September 2026) All programmes open to founders from abroad →
- Latest
- Last cycle Sep 2026 — 2027 finalists unveiled after record 10,233 submissionsNewest dated item on its own site · checked Oct 2026
- Timeline
- Annual cycle: submissions January–June, finalists September, awards ceremony January (12 January 2027) ↗As published by the programme itself
Checked · October 2026 · zayedsustainabilityprize.com · How we check ↗
In detail
Zayed Sustainability Prize is a prize — non-dilutive cash award in the UAE. The UAE's global sustainability award, run across six categories. Its own How to apply page states that nonprofit organisations (NPOs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to apply, and sets one cycle a year: submissions open in January and close in June, finalists are announced in September and the awards are presented the following January.
- Amount
- US$1 million per organisational category winner · US$100,000 per organisational finalist
- Terms
- No equity — prize money
- Eligibility
- Nonprofit organisations (NPOs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with impact on the ground — the FAQ states the prize does not award early-stage start-ups or prototypes
- Sectors
- Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action
- Status
- Closed — on 13 July 2026 the prize announced that submissions for its 2027 cycle have closed; its published timeline runs submissions from January to June
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what Zayed Sustainability Prize publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“Winners in this category receive US $1,000,000.”
“Finalists in this category receive US $100,000.”
“Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 13 July 2026 – The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering award for innovative solutions to global challenges, has officially closed submissions for its 2027 awards cycle”
“Submissions Open January 2026 Submissions Close June 2026 Shortlist Submissions August 2026 Present Announce Finalists September 2026 Awards Ceremony January 2027”
“Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 13 July 2026 – The Zayed Sustainability Prize ... has officially closed submissions for its 2027 awards cycle”
“Nonprofit organisations (NPOs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to apply. Explore the eligibility requirements for the six categories to find the most suitable one for your application.”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare grants & prizes in the UAE
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Zayed Sustainability PrizeNon-dilutive prize: US$1M per category winner, US$100K per finalist. | US$1M | No equity | Closed |
| Create AI Agents Championship (Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy)USD 150,000 grant for each of four category winners of Dubai's AI Agents championship. | USD 150,000 | No equity | Open |
| Expo City Dubai Foundation — Changemakers AcademyGrants up to AED 50,000 plus incubation for idea-stage impact founders. | up to AED 50,000 | Grant | Closed |
| TiE Women MENAPitch competition with US$50,000 in equity-free cash prizes. | US$50,000 | No equity | Active |
| Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Competition (Dubai Culture)Cash prizes of AED 80,000 / 50,000 / 30,000 for the top three (2025 edition). | AED 80,000 | No equity | Closed |
| FoodTech Challenge (UAE)Global food-tech competition; the third edition offered $2m in cash, winners selected. | $2m | No equity | Closed |
| MBZUAI Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC)AI startup incubator at MBZUAI; competitive grants of up to AED 200k for its founders. | up to AED 200k | Grant | Active |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
More programmes that take no equity →
Questions founders ask
What does Zayed Sustainability Prize offer?
Non-dilutive prize: US$1M per category winner, US$100K per finalist.
Does Zayed Sustainability Prize take equity?
No equity — prize money.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Not stated on the programme’s site (checked September 2026).
Is it open now?
No — it is currently closed. The status on this page follows the programme’s own site.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · zayedsustainabilityprize.com · Checked October 2026