Open Call for Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award recognizes individuals, organizations, research centers, and innovators developing renewable-energy-powered solutions for producing, purifying, storing, distributing, and monitoring clean water. A total of US$1 million is awarded across multiple categories to solutions that demonstrate innovation, sustainability, scalability, and potential to improve access to safe drinking water in communities affected by water scarcity.

About the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award supports innovative solutions to the growing global challenge of water scarcity. The award encourages researchers, innovators, companies, institutions, and other organizations to develop technologies that can produce or improve access to clean water using renewable energy. The initiative places particular importance on solutions that can benefit communities experiencing water shortages, including communities affected by poverty and disasters. What Does the Award Support? The award recognizes technologies and solutions that use renewable energy to address different stages of the water supply and management process.

Eligible innovations can focus on:

- Water production. - Water distribution. - Water storage. - Water monitoring. - Desalination. - Water purification. - Other technologies that improve access to clean and safe water. Solutions should use renewable energy as a core component of their operation. Renewable Energy Sources Supported Eligible technologies can be powered by a range of renewable energy sources, including: - Solar energy. - Wind energy. - Biomass. - Ocean energy. - Gradient salinity energy. - Geothermal energy. The focus on renewable energy is intended to promote water solutions that can be environmentally sustainable and adaptable to locations where conventional energy infrastructure may be limited. Award Categories The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award includes several categories designed to recognize different types of innovators and water solutions. Innovative Projects Award This category recognizes innovative projects that demonstrate practical solutions to water scarcity and have potential for meaningful environmental and social impact. Innovative Individual Award This category recognizes individuals who have developed or contributed to innovative renewable-energy-powered water solutions. Innovative Research & Development Award This category focuses on research and development efforts that advance technologies for producing, treating, managing, or improving access to clean water. Innovative Crisis Solutions Award This category recognizes innovative solutions designed to address water challenges in crisis situations, including areas affected by disasters or severe humanitarian conditions. Who Can Be Recognized? The award is designed to recognize a broad range of contributors to water innovation.

Potential participants include:

- Corporations. - Research centers. - Academic or research institutions. - Individual innovators. - Youth. - Organizations developing innovative water technologies. - Researchers and technology developers. Applicants or nominees should demonstrate a clear connection between their innovation and the goal of improving access to clean water through renewable energy. Award Funding A total of US$1 million is available across the award categories. The award recognizes solutions based on their innovation and potential impact rather than focusing only on the development of a new technology. Projects and technologies should demonstrate characteristics such as: - Sustainability. - Scalability. - Practical application. - Innovation. - Potential for wider adoption. - Ability to benefit communities facing water scarcity. Focus on Water-Scarce Communities The award addresses water scarcity as a global challenge, with particular attention to communities that lack reliable access to safe drinking water. Innovations that can operate in difficult environments or support communities affected by poverty, disasters, or limited infrastructure can contribute to the broader objective of improving water security. What Makes a Solution Competitive? A strong water innovation should demonstrate more than technical novelty.

Important characteristics include:

- Clear environmental benefits. - Reliable renewable energy integration. - Ability to address a specific water challenge. - Practical and scalable technology. - Potential to reduce barriers to clean-water access. - Evidence of real-world application or development potential. - Benefits for communities facing water shortages. Applicants should clearly explain how their solution works, what problem it addresses, and how it can be expanded or adopted in other locations. What Technologies Can Be Developed? The award supports innovation across different parts of the water cycle. Potential areas of technological development include: - Renewable-powered desalination systems. - Water purification technologies. - Clean-water production systems. - Renewable-powered water distribution. - Water storage solutions. - Smart water monitoring technologies. - Technologies improving water efficiency and management. The central requirement is that the proposed solution is connected to renewable energy and contributes to addressing water scarcity. Excluded Energy Technologies Not every energy technology qualifies under the award. Nuclear energy is explicitly excluded from eligibility. Carbon capture and storage systems are also excluded. Eligible solutions must instead rely on the renewable energy sources specified by the award. Why Is the Award Important? Water scarcity affects communities, ecosystems, agriculture, public health, and economic development. Renewable-energy-powered water technologies can provide alternative approaches to producing and managing clean water while reducing dependence on conventional ener