Competition format & key facts
Organized detailsOverview
The fifth cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award is accepting worldwide applications until 30 September 2026 at midnight UAE time, with a total prize value of US$1 million.
Complete competition details
The global award supports innovative solutions for water production, distribution, storage, monitoring, desalination and purification using renewable energy. The fifth cycle includes Innovative Projects, Innovative Research and Development, Innovative Individual and Innovative Crisis Solutions award categories, with stronger emphasis on digital transformation, artificial intelligence and machine learning for water solutions. The official portal lets applicants create an account, save and edit an application before final submission, then locks the application after final submission.
Eligibility requirements
Official current sources invite universities, research centres, institutions, companies, innovators and individuals worldwide. Applicants should review the category-specific eligibility, evaluation criteria, guidelines and terms on the official award portal before submitting; this umbrella record does not merge category-specific restrictions into a universal rule.
Tips for this competition
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Create an account on the official portal, choose the correct award category and review its specific guidelines and evaluation criteria before final submission.
- Study the scoring criteria and previous winners before deciding what evidence, prototype, essay, research or portfolio will best support the entry.
- Confirm country, age, team, education and organization restrictions and whether one person may enter multiple submissions.
- Follow the required file format, word/time limits and naming rules exactly; technical non-compliance can disqualify a strong entry.
- Keep proof of submission and submit before the deadline rather than relying on the final hour.
Verification notes
Verified 29 Aug 2026 UTC against the current award page, online application portal and DEWA's 20 Aug 2026 update. Fifth-cycle applications are open until 30 Sep 2026 at midnight UAE time. The total prize value is US$1 million across four award categories; no individual applicant is guaranteed the full amount.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award / Suqia UAE ↗