Zayed Sustainability Prize to fund every finalist in 2027

The Zayed Sustainability Prize will award funding to every finalist in its 2027 cycle, organisers announced, extending a model introduced this year that moves the prize from recognition to direct, sustained support. Under the new arrangement, organisations designated as finalists will receive grants of $100,000 each, while student teams will be awarded $25,000 to advance and scale their solutions across sectors including health, food, energy, water and climate action. Applications for the 2027 cycle are open, with submissions closing on June 22 and winners due to be announced in Abu Dhabi early next year.

"The approach is designed to ensure promising solutions are not overlooked, particularly those with the potential to deliver measurable impact in local communities," officials said, underlining a shift to broader post-finalist support after a recent round that expanded funding beyond prizewinners.

Context and recent results

The move builds on the prize's most recent cycle, which selected 33 finalists and also channelled funding to 22 non-winning projects so they could continue their work. That cycle drew 7,761 submissions from 173 countries — a 30 per cent increase on the previous round — signalling rising global participation in the programme, organisers said.

• Grant amounts: $100,000 for organisations, $25,000 for student teams.
• Most recent finalists: 33 selected; 22 additional non-winning projects funded.
• Submissions: 7,761 entries from 173 countries (30% increase over previous cycle).
• Population reach since launch: projects supported have reached more than 400 million people worldwide.

Officials cited recent examples of supported projects to illustrate the prize’s practical impact. One agricultural initiative in South Korea produces disease-free potato seeds using indoor farming technology, while a student-led team in Lebanon developed a water purification system that combines solar power with artificial intelligence. Since its launch, the initiative says it has backed projects delivering improvements in access to clean water, healthcare, food and energy, reaching more than 400 million people worldwide.

Outlook for 2027 and beyond

By committing to fund every finalist in 2027, the Zayed Sustainability Prize is aiming to reduce the risk that high-potential solutions stall for lack of follow-on support. Applications for the 2027 cycle remain open until June 22, with winners set to be announced in Abu Dhabi early next year, organisers said. The expanded model—credited by organisers in a WAM release and reported by ARN News Centre—signals an emphasis on scaling implementable projects as well as celebrating innovation.

As the prize broadens its financial backing, stakeholders and applicants will watch whether the increased support translates into accelerated deployment of technologies and services in target communities across health, food, energy, water and climate action.