The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, overseen by the UAE’s Saqia Foundation under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, aims to reinforce Dubai‘s position as a worldwide hub for water innovation and humanitarian efforts. The award draws attention to innovative solutions in water production, purification, and desalination using renewable energy sources, thus supporting global initiatives to combat water scarcity.
Significance of the Fifth Edition
The fifth edition of the award holds increasing significance amidst escalating global challenges related to water security. The urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions to improve access to safe water is paramount, particularly in enhancing community resilience against water scarcity and climate change impacts.
A Total Prize of One Million Dollars
With a total value of one million dollars, the award is distributed across four main categories: the “Innovative Projects Award,” “Innovation in Research and Development Award,” “Individual Innovations Award,” and “Innovative Solutions for Crises Award.”
Open Call for Participation
The award is accepting participation applications for its fifth edition until 30 September 2026. This provides an opportunity for universities, research centres, institutions, companies, innovators, and individuals worldwide to submit innovative projects and solutions that contribute to addressing water scarcity challenges and improving water security, thereby enhancing quality of life.
Commitment to Sustainable Water Solutions
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and Chairman of the Saqia Foundation, stated, “Providing safe water goes beyond direct humanitarian projects; it requires an integrated system that combines innovation, scientific research, partnerships, and advanced technologies to achieve sustainable developmental outcomes. Accordingly, the Saqia Foundation continues to support initiatives and projects that provide scalable, practical solutions to improve the quality of life for the most needy communities globally.”
Focus on Digital Transformation
The fifth edition of the award places a specific emphasis on digital transformation. It encourages the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop solutions for water production, purification, and desalination. Additionally, the award promotes research and development efforts aimed at creating sustainable solutions for the global water crisis, leveraging renewable energy sources to enhance operational efficiency, improve proactive monitoring capabilities, and develop innovative solutions with tangible humanitarian impacts.