The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award integrates cutting-edge technologies, including AI, into its criteria for creativity and innovation, aiming to advance solutions that benefit humanity

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE), has announced the enhancement of the ‘creativity and innovation’ criteria for the fifth cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award. The move will see artificial intelligence integrated into the evaluation process. While chairing the board’s fourth meeting of 2025, Al Tayer emphasised the award’s support for initiatives that harness the latest technologies, including AI, to better serve humanity. He noted that this approach aligns with the UAE’s vision to empower creative talent, accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge solutions and transform innovative ideas into practical projects that enhance quality of life globally.

The meeting was attended by Board members: HE Prof Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University of Science and Technology; Prof Ahmed Ali Al Raeesi, Vice Chancellor of UAE University; Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development & Excellence at DEWA; Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA; and Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, acting Executive Director of Suqia UAE.

Al Tayer stressed that incorporating AI as a criterion for the award, which offers a total prize of USD 1 million, is intended to stimulate investment in AI and inspire the development of innovative, sustainable solutions to address the global water crisis. He noted that this involves advancing new methodologies, applications and systems for drinking water management, in addition to improve efficiency, expanding renewable energy storage capacity and reducing unit operational costs. Evaluators will consider the integration of AI technologies and machine-learning algorithms to enhance process automation, enable proactive monitoring, support demand forecasting, identify materials and system topologies, and optimise a range of operational functions.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award aims to empower and disseminate innovations that desalinate and purify water using renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, osmosis and geothermal. The award comprises four main categories: the Innovative Projects Award, which includes the Large Projects Award and the Small Projects Award; the Innovative Research and Development Award, which includes the National Institutions Award and the International Institutions Award; the Innovative Individual Award, which includes the Distinguished Researcher Award and the Youth Award; and the Innovative Crisis Solutions Award.

Entry applications are evaluated based on a set of category-specific criteria. For the Innovative Projects Award (for both small and large projects), applications are assessed according to the following criteria: creativity and innovation (30%), technology and process design (20%), compliance with health, safety and environmental standards (20%), adaptability to local environments (20%), and cost-effectiveness and potential for development (10%).

For the Innovative Research and Development Award, which is open to both national and international institutions, applications are assessed based on criteria encompassing creativity and innovation (40%), technology and process design (20%), compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards (10%), adaptation to local environments (20%), and cost-effectiveness and scalability (10%).

For the Innovative Individual Award, applications in the Distinguished Researcher Award category are judged on creativity and innovation (35%), technology and process design (15%), implementation potential (15%) and proven leadership in the advancement of water-scarcity issues and/or the production of safe drinking water using renewable energy technology (35%).

Submissions to the Youth Award category are scored with a 50% weight for creativity and innovation, 15% for technology and process design, 10% for adherence to health, safety and environmental standards, and 25% for active engagement, teamwork, education and awareness of water-scarcity related issues.

For the Innovative Crisis Solutions Award, applications are evaluated based on creativity and innovation (30%), ease of implementation (30%), adaptation to local environments (30%) and cost efficiency (10%).

Applications are open until 30 April 2026 via www.mbrwateraward.ae/awards and inquiries can be sent to award@suqia.ae.