17 Emirati environmental awards for a clean world

Over the past years, the UAE has launched many local and international environmental awards to instill a culture of sustainability and environmental preservation and to spread awareness about the importance of adopting behaviors that protect the planet, in addition to stimulating institutional and individual efforts to develop innovative solutions that contribute to facing the repercussions of climate change.

The launch of these awards coincides with the UAE's hosting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) during the period from November 30 to December 12 of this year in Dubai Expo City.

Zayed Sustainability Prize

The Zayed Sustainability Prize was launched as a global award that celebrates excellence in the field of sustainability. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, announced the launch of the award under the name “Zayed Prize for Future Energy” during the World Future Energy Summit in 2008, in honor of the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The award is one of the most prominent annual awards presented in the field of renewable energy and sustainability in the world. Since the organization of the first award ceremony in 2009, 106 winners from around the world have been honored, whose solutions and sustainable projects have contributed to making a positive impact on the lives of more than 378 million people around the world.

The award gives $600,000 to each winner in the categories of health, food, energy, water, and climate action, while the Global High Schools category award is shared by the six winning schools for the six regions around the world so that each winning school gets up to $100,000 to be able to start a new project or expand an existing project.

Zayed International Prize for the Environment

The Zayed International Prize for the Environment, which was established and sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is one of the most important contributions of the UAE in the field of environmental protection. The prize has a prestigious reputation on the international environmental scene.

Humaid bin Rashid International Award for Sustainability

The Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid International Award for Sustainability was launched at the Fifth Ajman International Environment Conference (AIEC) in March 2018 under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman.

The award aims to encourage applied research in the field of sustainability and encourage educational institutions and individuals to be creative and innovative in the areas of sustainability and green technology. It also honors individuals who contribute to protecting the environment and natural resources, applying the concept of sustainability, and spreading environmental awareness and the culture of sustainable development.

Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award

The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) launched the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award in May 2023 to encourage and motivate environmental initiatives, enhance interest in ecological work, achieve positive change, and raise public awareness about the importance of protecting the environment and achieving sustainable development goals.

The award targets scientific institutions, researchers, private institutions, industrial facilities, and members of society, and it is a source of encouragement for initiative and leadership in the field of the environment, pushing positive change in environmental compliance to protect and preserve all elements of the environment, in addition to stimulating and enhancing interest in environmental work.

Emirates Energy Award

The Emirates Energy Award (EEA) was launched in 2012 to introduce a wide variety of best practices in the field of energy and the management of its sources. The EEA takes place every two years with the aim of encouraging the best use of energy resources.

The award aims to contribute to energy conservation, raise awareness about its importance, and promote the best energy conservation practices that have been applied in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Child Environment Award

In 2020, the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment and the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood launched the “Environment Award for Children”, coinciding with UAE Children's Day, under the slogan “Preserving Biological Diversity”, with the aim of promoting the concept of environmental work among children.

Energy Management Leadership Awards (ISO 50001)

The Emirates Energy Management Award (ISO 50001) is a local version of the Global Energy Management Leadership Awards, one of the initiatives of the International Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), which is a global platform for promoting and developing clean energy and energy efficiency policies.

Emirates Appreciation Awards for the Environment

The Emirates Appreciation Award for the Environment was launched in 2011 with the aim of supporting and encouraging environmental action and distinguished national, individual, and collective initiatives that contribute to achieving the sustainability of natural resources and energy.
 

Research and Innovation Award

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure launched the Research and Innovation Award in 2022 to honor contributors in providing tangible, pioneering, and innovative solutions to challenges in all sectors of energy, water, infrastructure, transportation, and housing.

Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Awards

The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Awards were launched for the first time in 2015, with the support of the EAD, as an award and recognition project designed to celebrate best sustainability practices and raise awareness of the benefits of managing sustainability practices for organizations.

Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport

The Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport, launched by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority in 2008, is one of the leading awards for encouraging initiatives that contribute to environmental sustainability.

The award targets initiatives and practices that have been applied and achieved positive results. The main categories of the award include mobility management, safety in transportation, preserving the environment, initiatives related to people of determination, and the pioneering city in sustainable transportation.

Sharjah Environment Awareness Award (SEAA)

The Sharjah Environment Awareness Award, launched in 2010, seeks to promote environmental education among students of all categories to acquire the values, knowledge, and skills that lead to a behavioral change that supports the school and the environment in a positive way and provides a sustainable environment for future generations.

Sharjah Sustainability Award (SSA)

The Sharjah Sustainability Award is presented annually by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah. It is awarded to creative and innovative individuals and school and university students for their contributions to distinguished projects that provide sustainable environmental solutions to current environmental challenges.

Future Pioneers Awards

The Future Pioneers Award, launched by BEEAH for Education, a subsidiary of BEEAH Group, is a global initiative aimed at appreciating and rewarding innovative ideas and projects that have great potential to contribute to building a bright and sustainable future.

Sharjah Government Communication Award

The Sharjah Government Communication Award launched the Best Environmental Policies and Practices category in 2022, which is allocated to programs that rely on government communication methods and means in confronting climate change and its effects.

Soft Control for a Sustainable Environment Award

In 2018, the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah launched the Soft Control for a Sustainable Environment Award, which was included in the gold category of the British Ideas Foundation for the year 2018 as a world-leading and unprecedented idea and initiative in the field of environmental action.

Environmental Sustainability Award

The Environmental Sustainability Award, launched by the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah in 2019, seeks to consolidate the principles of sustainable development and disseminate the concept of environmental culture among the various sectors of society.