Deadline Date: April 30, 2026
The Suqia UAE is now accepting applications to support innovative solutions that provide emergency access to clean and safe drinking water for communities affected by major crises.
The initiative is focused on recognizing proven systems or management approaches that can deliver rapid and reliable water relief during the most critical phases of humanitarian response.
The Innovative Projects Award recognizes practical, innovative solutions that are already commercialized or ready for commercialization and have shown measurable results for at least three months before the application closes. Within this category, the Large Projects Award is designed for initiatives with capital expenditure above USD 2.5 million and/or those benefiting more than 15,000 people, with water production exceeding 450,000 liters per day. This category has a total prize value of USD 300,000, awarded as USD 150,000 for first place, USD 90,000 for second place, and USD 60,000 for third place. The Small Projects Award supports projects with capital expenditure of USD 2.5 million or below and/or those benefiting 15,000 people or fewer, with water production up to 450,000 liters per day. The total prize value here is USD 240,000, distributed as USD 120,000 for first place, USD 72,000 for second place, and USD 48,000 for third place.
The Innovative Individual Award is open to individuals who have contributed to the development of innovative technological solutions addressing water scarcity through renewable energy and aligned with World Health Organization guidelines for safe drinking water. Under this category, the Distinguished Researcher Award honors individuals with at least ten years of impactful contributions to water industry research, particularly in renewable energy–powered water innovation, supported by a strong scientific publication and project deployment record. This award carries a prize of USD 20,000 for one winner. The Youth Award is aimed at applicants under the age of 35 who have successfully deployed solutions related to renewable energy–powered potable water production, distribution, or management, demonstrating clear environmental, scientific, social, or technological impact. This award also offers a prize of USD 20,000 for one winner.
The Innovative Research and Development Award focuses on advanced solutions that have reached a minimum Technology Readiness Level of 5 and can demonstrate measurable improvements in potable water production, distribution, or management. Within this category, the National Institutions Award is open to project teams endorsed by UAE-based institutions, with the requirement that the solution was developed, tested, prototyped, or deployed in the UAE. This award has a total prize value of USD 200,000, allocated as USD 100,000 for first place, USD 60,000 for second place, and USD 40,000 for third place. The International Institutions Award targets project teams endorsed by non-UAE institutions and carries the same total prize value of USD 200,000, distributed in the same amounts for first, second, and third place.
The Innovative Crisis Solutions Award supports projects that provide emergency access to clean and safe drinking water for communities affected by internationally declared crises, including natural disasters and catastrophic events. This award focuses on innovative systems or management approaches for emergency relief, with the prize money awarded directly to the institution or entity rather than the project team. The prize value for this category is USD 20,000 for one winner.
Eligible projects must involve an innovative system or management solution designed specifically for emergency water provision in communities impacted by internationally declared crises, such as natural disasters or catastrophic events.
Applicants must be legally registered organizations with a valid trade licence and an active bank account. A copy of the organization’s trade licence or equivalent documentation must be submitted as part of the application process.
For more information, visit Suqia UAE.
