Dubai Supreme Council of Energy launches 6th edition of $1m ‘Emirates Energy Award’

 The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy launched the 6th Emirates Energy Award (EEA) 2026–2028 held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, under the theme “Innovating for Sustainable and Resilient Energy.”

This announcement was made by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Chairman of Emirates Energy Award, during the activities of the 12th edition of the World Green Economy Summit at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Al Tayer, said: “I am pleased to announce the launch of the sixth cycle of Emirates Energy Award 2026–2028, organised by Dubai Supreme Council of Energy under the theme “Innovating for Sustainable and Resilient Energy.” This new theme aligns with the vision of the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position the United Arab Emirates as a global hub for innovation in sustainable and resilient energy sector. The theme also reflects the Award’s direction to enhance the sustainability and resilience of energy systems, while strengthening their capacity to address climate change, thereby supporting sustainable development and strengthening global energy security.”

Al Tayer added: “Emirates Energy Award is aligned with the objectives of the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. It also reflects our belief that innovation is a fundamental pillar in building an energy sector that is more efficient, resilient and better equipped to adapt to future changes. Through the forward-looking vision and sound directives of the wise leadership, Dubai is a leading global model in the transition towards clean and sustainable energy, and in consolidating innovation and resilience in the energy sector.The sixth cycle of the Award will continue to serve as a leading platform for recognising outstanding initiatives, projects and practices that deliver practical and innovative solutions, contribute to the advancement of the energy sector, enhance its sustainability and resilience, and support efforts to build a secure and sustainable energy system capable of keeping pace with global transformations.”

He said: “Emirates Energy Award 2026-2028 carries a total award value of USD 1 million across ten categories, reflecting the breadth of the Award’s priorities, from advancing energy efficiency across the public and private sectors and supporting energy projects of different scales, to promoting the circular economy and the wider adoption of distributed solar energy solutions. The categories also highlight the importance of education and capacity building, research and development, innovation, and empowering young talent to contribute to the energy solutions of the future.”

Al Tayer added: “We take this opportunity to invite institutions, organisations and individuals involved in the energy sector to participate in the sixth cycle of Emirates Energy Award and to present their experiences, solutions and outstanding projects that embody the spirit of innovation and respond to the requirements of the next phase. Moreover, we aspire for this cycle to serve as a catalyst for the development of more efficient, capable and resilient practices, while accelerating the adoption of solutions that enhance the reliability of the energy sector, strengthen its readiness for the future, and open new horizons for sustainable development. In conclusion, we hope that the sixth cycle of the Award will contribute to advancing the transition towards a clean and sustainable energy system, while safeguarding our planet’s resources and preserving them for generations to come.”

Emirates Energy Award has consolidated its position as an international platform that showcases best solutions and innovations made across the region and globally in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency, education, and research and development. Over its five previous cycles, the Award has recognised a diverse range of winners from government, private-sector and academic institutions, among others.

These achievements reflect the cumulative efforts that have helped advance innovation and deliver more modernised solutions that address the needs of vital sectors, both regionally and globally.

Over its five previous cycles, Emirates Energy Award has honoured a total of 151 winners.

The first four cycles recognised 118 winners, while the fifth cycle honoured 33 winners, reflecting the Award’s expanding reach and its continued role in highlighting outstanding initiatives and projects across the various fields of energy and sustainability.

Ahmed Butti Al Muhairbi, Secretary-General of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Emirates Energy Award said: “The sixth cycle of the Emirates Energy Award marks a new phase in the Award’s journey, guided by a vision focused on translating innovation into tangible impact across the energy sector. It seeks to encourage solutions that enhance efficiency, improve resource management, and strengthen the ability of systems and infrastructure to operate efficiently under varying conditions. The theme of this cycle, ‘Innovating for Sustainable and Resilient Energy’, reflects the need to move beyond conventional solutions towards more advanced models that are better equipped to respond to the rapid changes shaping the global energy sector.”

Al Muhairbi added, “We view the Award as an important platform for accelerating promising ideas and highlighting projects that deliver key value and demonstrate the potential for scalability and implementation, whether in energy generation, management, storage or efficiency. The Award also helps showcase experiences that harness technology, circular economy approaches and smart solutions to improve performance, reduce waste and enhance operational efficiency, thereby supporting the competitiveness of the energy sector and encouraging institutions and companies to adopt more advanced and future-ready solutions.”

Over the course of its five previous cycles, Emirates Energy Award has consolidated its role as an incubator for pioneering ideas.

Innovative contributions in the field of clean energy demonstrate the Award’s ability to inspire creative minds to address global energy challenges. This direction also aligns with the UAE’s role in fostering an enabling environment for innovation across clean energy through initiatives and strategies that help create favourable conditions for transforming emerging projects into scalable and implementable models.

Al Muhairbi noted: “We expect strong participation from youth and entrepreneurs in the Award, which represents a key element in endorsing diversity and innovation through the development of practical and resilient solutions that keep pace with global transformations and support the UAE’s vision of achieving carbon neutrality. The ideas we have seen from these emerging projects in previous cycles open new opportunities for building a sustainable economy and a society that is more aware of clean energy.”

During the press conference, Taher Diab, Secretary-General of Emirates Energy Award, provided a detailed overview of the Award’s objectives and categories, which have reinforced its position as a platform for innovation in the energy sector by contributing to the advancement of clean energy and highlighting best practices and pioneering achievements in energy efficiency.

The Emirates Energy Award is granted across the Award’s 10 categories, including: Energy Efficiency – Public Sector; Energy Efficiency – Private Sector; Large Energy Project; Small Energy Project; Circular Economy; Large Solar Energy Project (Distributed Generation ≥ 500 kW); Small Solar Energy Project (Distributed Generation < 500 kW); Education and Capacity Building; Research and Development; and Young Energy Professional.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter