The Zayed Sustainability Prize – which recognises and rewards people, organisations and high schools that have demonstrated exceptional efforts in promoting sustainability – is officially welcoming new submissions.
The 2025 cycle will be accepting entries until June 23 through the prize’s online portal.
Small to medium enterprises, non-profit organisations and high schools with sustainable solutions are invited to submit applications.
There are six categories: heath, food, energy, water, climate action and global high schools. The prize for each category is $1 million.
This represents a big increase, with the prize increasing its fund from $3.6 million to $5.9 million for its latest edition.
The global high schools category has been split into six world regions, with a prize of $150,000 available for each. The regions are: the Americas, Europe and Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia and Pacific.
Submissions will be accepted in several languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese.
-

President Sheikh Mohamed with Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stand for the national anthem during the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action, during COP28. All pictures, UAE Presidential Court unless stated. -

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Chairman of the Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs at the Presidential Court during the national anthem during the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action. -

The Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action was held at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai during Cop28. -

President Sheikh Mohamed presents the Zayed Sustainability Prize to a winner -

President Sheikh Mohamed and several high-level guests attended Expo City Dubai to see 11 winners announced across six categories. -

President Sheikh Mohamed presents the Zayed Sustainability Prize to Victor Sanchez Gutierrez, the winner of the Zayed Sustainability Global High Schools - The Americas category. -

In the energy category, the winner was Ignite Power from Rwanda, which specialises in delivering solar-powered pay-as-you-go solutions to electrify last-mile communities. -

Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology delivers the welcome speech during the Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony. -

Over the past 15 years, the prize has been a powerful force for positive change, transforming the lives of more than 378 million people across 151 countries. -

The annual prize was launched in 2008, named in honour of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, recognises and rewards people, organisations and high schools that have demonstrated exceptional efforts in promoting sustainability across various sectors. -

President Sheikh Mohamed presents an award to Caroline Slootweg from Kelp Blue. -

President Sheikh Mohamed handed out prizes to 11 winners. Judges for the award were elected in September by a panel. -

The prize this year had a Climate Change category – introduced this year in celebration of the UAE's Year of Sustainability and Cop28 -

The Global High School winners were Colegio De Alto Rendimiento La Libertad (Peru), Gwani Ibrahim Dan Hajja Academy (Nigeria), International School (Morocco), Northfleet Technology College (UK), Kort Education Complex (Pakistan) and Beijing No 35 High School (China). -

President Sheikh Mohamed greets a participant during the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action. -

The awards ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza coincided with the UAE's hosting of the Cop28 climate conference and was attended by global leaders. -

The winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, stand for a photograph during a ceremony, at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai. -

President Sheikh Mohamed handed out the prizes to the winners. -

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia during the Zayed Sustainability Prize. -

Eleven winners announced across six categories will share a total prize fund of $3.6 million. -

President Sheikh Mohamed and Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia at Al Wasl Plaza, at Expo City Dubai. -

Expo City Dubai during the Zayed Sustainability Prize. -

President Sheikh Mohamed hugs a winner of the award. -

President Sheikh Mohamed smiles for a photograph with a winner. -

A ceremony took place to mark the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action. -

President Sheikh Mohamed shakes hands with prize winner, Victor Sanchez Gutierrez. -

President Sheikh Mohamed and Cop28 President and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr Sultan Al Jaber stand for a photograph with the Zayed Sustainability Prize winners during Cop28 at Expo City Dubai. -

President Sheikh Mohamed and several high-level guests attended Expo City Dubai to see 11 winners announced across six categories. -

Ahmed Sourani from Gaza Urban & Peri-Urban Agricultural Platform winner of Zayed Sustainability Food category. Launched in 2013, the non-profit organisation helps small-scale, female urban producers in Gaza to achieve food security in their communities by bringing together those involved in developing the Palestinian agricultural sector. -

Angela Homsi from Ignite Power, the winner of Zayed Sustainability Energy Category award after the presentation ceremony at the Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -

Caroline Slootweg from Kelp Blue winner of Zayed Sustainability Climate Action category award. Kelp Blue contributes to the restoration of natural ocean wilderness and the mitigation of excess CO2 by establishing large-scale kelp forests in deep waters. Pawan Singh / The National -

Angela Homsi from Ignite Power winner of Zayed Sustainability Energy Category. Ignite Power specialises in delivering solar-powered pay-as-you-go solutions to electrify last-mile communities. Pawan Singh / The National -

Zayed Sustainability prize winners after the presentation ceremony. Pawan Singh / The National -

From left, Victor Sanchez Gutierrez and Xiomara Calderon Avila from Colegio De Alto Rendimiento De La Libertad, the winner of Zayed Sustainability Global High Schools The Americas category. Pawan Singh / The National
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President, said: “Since 2008, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has honoured the legacy of Sheikh Zayed by fostering inclusive sustainable and humanitarian development around the world.
“In this decisive decade for climate change, these values are more important than ever.
“I am optimistic that the prize will contribute to global climate action in line with the UAE Consensus, which will pave the way towards an effective response to the global stocktake decision.”
The most recent winners were recognised at Cop28 in Dubai’s Expo City, while the 2025 contingent will be announced during the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The annual prize was launched in 2008, named in honour of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The%20specs
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
Towering concerns
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
England's lowest Test innings
- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887
- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994
- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009
- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948
- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888
- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
While you're here
Thomas Harding: Johnson and Biden on collision course over Northern Ireland
Thomas Harding: Biden victory will rejuvenate America's relations with Europe
Gavin Esler: Can the world continue to trust Britain after move to break law?
Company%20profile
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 6 (McTominay 2', 3'; Fernandes 20', 70' pen; Lindelof 37'; James 65')
Leeds United 2 (Cooper 41'; Dallas 73')
Man of the match: Scott McTominay (Manchester United)
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
'Cheb%20Khaled'
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

