Abu Dhabi – The Zayed Sustainability Prize awarded 11 outstanding organizations and high schools for their innovative solutions to global challenges at the 2025 ceremony held in Abu Dhabi. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented the awards during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, in the presence of heads of state, ministers, and business leaders. The ceremony celebrated the transformative impact of the winners in fields like health, food, energy, water, climate action, and global education.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reiterated the UAE’s commitment to advancing scalable, sustainable solutions that empower communities worldwide. He praised the winners for their contributions and noted that the Zayed Sustainability Prize was inspired by the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed, aiming to address pressing social and environmental issues. The prize encourages the development of solutions that improve quality of life and create a more sustainable future.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, also addressed the ceremony, highlighting the importance of innovative technologies in tackling the world’s challenges. He commended the winners for their ability to drive progress and sustainable development, noting that their solutions were making a tangible difference in local communities.
This year’s winners were selected by a distinguished panel of jurors and awarded in six categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools. Former Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, chair of the jury, praised the winners for their extraordinary innovation and their potential to tackle global challenges like climate change, resource management, and healthcare access.
India’s Periwinkle Technologies won the Health category for its portable, AI-powered cervical cancer screening device. The device, which operates without electricity, provides results in 30 seconds and has screened over 300,000 women in underserved regions, improving health outcomes.
NaFarm Foods from Nigeria took the Food category award for its hybrid solar food dryers, which help reduce post-harvest losses and lower carbon emissions. The dryers have benefited over 65,000 farmers across six Nigerian states and empowered thousands of women and youth through upskilling programs.
NaFarm Foods, a Nigerian enterprise, based in Kaduna State has been honored with the prestigious ZAYED Sustainability Prize during the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The award was presented at the event's Opening and Sustainability Prize Award Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/YhDqk1zNbm
— Daddy D.O🇳🇬 (@DOlusegun) January 14, 2025In the Energy category, Palki Motors from Bangladesh was awarded for its affordable, locally manufactured electric vehicles designed for commercial drivers. The vehicles are priced at USD 4,990 and are supported by a network of solar-powered battery swap stations, benefiting over 23,000 people.
The SkyJuice Foundation from Australia won in the Water category for its gravity-powered water treatment solution. The SkyHydrant model provides clean, chemical-free drinking water to communities, with over 9,000 installations benefiting more than three million people worldwide.
OpenMap Development Tanzania received the award in the Climate Action category for its mapping solutions that combine community-driven data with advanced technologies such as drones and geographic information systems. The initiative has engaged over 140,000 people and created jobs in the region.
In addition to the organizational awards, the prize also recognizes the efforts of young people through the Global High Schools category. This year’s winners, from countries including Mexico, Ghana, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Nepal, and New Zealand, are working on sustainability projects that positively impact communities worldwide.
