Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the Emirates Years Award has been launched as a national platform to celebrate outstanding individuals and institutions whose contributions make a tangible impact and inspire sustainable collective action. This initiative is part of the broader Emirates Years initiative, reinforcing the legacy of its annual themes.
Leadership and Oversight
The Emirates Years initiative is supervised by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, along with Her Highness Sheikha Maryam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs for National Projects. Together, they ensure the programme achieves its vital goals.
Call for Nominations
The award is now open for nominations as part of its inaugural round. Families are invited to submit their inspiring stories, while institutions can nominate their impactful initiatives via the Emirates Years official website at www.uaeyearof.ae. The nomination window will remain open until 10 September 2026.
Core Principles of the Award
The Emirates Years Award is structured around three main pillars: sustainability, impact, and inspiration. It aims to transform annual themes into a lasting national legacy, honouring initiatives and stories that have a significant impact and celebrating role models that reinforce a culture of community contribution. This reinforces the effect of each annual theme year after year.
A National Framework for Recognition
This award represents a permanent national framework that ensures the enduring impact of every annual theme. It will be supported by a unified evaluation system and will feature annual recognitions during the UAE’s annual government meetings.
Diverse Categories of Contribution
The award comprises five categories that reflect a variety of contributions: the main category, collective contribution, government support, private sector support, and community support. This categorisation recognises positive initiatives and practices that align with the annual themes of the Emirates Years initiative.
Collaboration with the Ministry of Family
The inaugural round of the award will be conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Family, emphasising its role in supporting the goals of this year’s theme.
Promoting Collective Action through Storytelling
The Emirates Years initiative aims to nurture the spirit of teamwork for all those who consider the UAE their homeland. It seeks to unify efforts around shared national priorities each year, engaging government entities, the private sector, and the community as a whole.