Bangladeshi electric car firm among Zayed Sustainability Prize winners

Sheikh Mohamed says the UAE remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering sustainable development and empowering communities through innovation

An electric vehicle manufacturer based in Bangladesh was among the winners announced at the Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

President Sheikh Mohamed and several high-level guests attended the event at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) to recognise 11 pioneering organisations and high schools from around the world.

Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering sustainable development and empowering communities around the world through innovation.

Palki Motors took home the prize for energy, three years after electrical engineer Mustafa Al Momin launched the company. He told The National that he started with just $4,000 in his pocket to buy spare parts and, with prize money of US$1 million in the bank, the company will now be able to scale up production from 10 vehicles a month to 100 vehicles.

Mr Al Momin was inspired to build electric cars to combat Dhaka's pollution and improve the livelihoods of commercial drivers. He designed the first prototype in his uncle’s garage.

“This recognition motivates us to push even harder,” he said. “We believe in the power of technology and innovation to uplift entire communities, and this victory will give us the confidence to expand globally, bringing hope and opportunity to drivers everywhere.”

Palki Motors has helped commercial drivers and companies save up to 90 per cent on fuel costs and 50 per cent on maintenance expenses in Bangladesh. The company's cars incorporate features such as battery-swapping, which enables drivers to trade drained batteries for fully charged ones in just two minutes.

The company has benefitted 23,000 people to date and aims to reduce 260,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually by 2027, through the sale of 20,000 electric cars and 20,000 electric lorries.

President Sheikh Mohamed is joined by senior government figures, visiting dignitaries and Zayed Sustainability Prize winners during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on January 14. Present are Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand; Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia; Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda; Wavel Ramkalawan, President of Seychelles; William Ruto, President of Kenya; Kassym Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan; Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan; Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria; Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan and Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks to a representative of Merryland International School (UAE) during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed with, from right, Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan, Kenyan President William Ruto and Kassym Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan. Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc and vhairman of Masdar, delivers a speech during the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Mohamed Al Hammadi / UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed waves at young performers during the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Mohamed Al Hammadi / UAE Presidential Court

Performers participate during the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on January 14. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court

Rhett Butler, representing SkyJuice Foundation of Australia celebrates winning the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize for Water during an award ceremony at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court

Winners of 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. From left: Veena Moktali representing Periwinkle Technologies of India; Abullateef Olaosebikan representing NaFarm Foods of Nigeria; Mustafa Momin representing Palki Motors of Bangladesh; Rhett Butler representing SkyJuice Foundation of Australia; Innocent Maholi representing OpenMap Development of Tanzania; a representative from Centro de Estudios Tecnologicos del Mar 07 of Mexico; a representative of Sakafia Islamic Senior High School in Ghana; a representative from Merryland International School in the UAE; a representative of Presidential School in Tashkent in Uzbekistan; representatives from Janamaitri Multiple Campus in Nepal and Te Pa o Rakaihautu in New Zealand Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed honoured Zayed Sustainability Prize winners at the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Mohamed awards Monica Akkineni of Abu Dhabi's Merryland International School the regional winner in the global schools category of the Zayed Sustainability Prize

Sheikh Mohamed presents Mustafa Al Momin of Palki Motors, Bangladesh, with the energy award

Sheikh Mohamed presents Rhett Butler of SkyJuice Foundation, Australia, with the water award

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, speaks at the opening ceremony

The event, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), was also attended by heads of government and their representatives, experts and specialists in sustainability, as well as distinguished guests from around the globe

What is the Zayed Sustainability Prize?

The prize aims to spotlight solutions addressing the climate crisis. This year's fund was Dh21 million ($5.9 million) in total, an increase of Dh13 million from last year.

The prize awarded Dh3.6 million (US$1 million) to each winner in the categories of health, food, energy, water and climate action.

Within the global high schools category, which is divided into six regions, each school could claim up to Dh550,000 (US$150,000) to start or expand their project. The regions were the Americas, Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia and Pacific.

The winners

India’s Periwinkle Technologies won the health category for its portable, AI-enabled cervical cancer screening device. It operates without electricity and provides results at the point of care within 30 seconds.

In the food category, Nigeria’s NaFarm Foods won for its hybrid solar food dryers that prevent post-harvest losses.

Australia's SkyJuice Foundation picked up the award in the water category for its gravity-powered water treatment system, which uses low-pressure membrane filters to provide clean drinking water without the need for chemicals, pumps or external energy sources.

In the climate action category, OpenMap Development Tanzania won for its innovative mapping, which merges community-driven data collection with advanced technology such as drones, geographic information systems and remote sensing.

(L-R) Monica Akkineni and Muskan Maheshwari after Merryland International School won the Zayed Sustainability Prize in the global schools category. Victor Besa / The National

School effort

Monica Akkineni and Muskan Maheshwari, both 15, spent the summer developing sponge bricks made from green algae to improve air quality in classrooms and other settings. Their efforts were recognised when Merryland International School in Abu Dhabi was among winners in the global high schools category.

Their innovation aims to benefit around 3,000 students and staff at the school, creating better air quality, improved health and increased productivity. The school aims to inspire wider adoption of sustainable practices, fostering environmental awareness in the local community.

Ms Akkineni and Ms Maheshwari, both Indian nationals who live in Abu Dhabi, developed the bricks using coconut husks and industrial cement. A wall of 20 algae bricks is now on show at their school.

“It took us around four or five months to get the final working prototype,” Ms Akkineni told The National as she beamed with pride after receiving the award from Sheikh Mohamed. The pair hope the $150,000 prize money can be used by the school to expand their project.

The other winners in this category were Mexico's Centro de Estudios Tecnologicos del Mar07, representing the Americas, Ghana's Sakafia Islamic Senior High School, representing sub-Saharan Africa, Uzbekistan's Presidential School in Tashkent, representing Europe and Central Asia, Nepal's Janamaitri Multiple Campus, representing South Asia, and New Zealand's Te Pa o Rakaihautu, representing East Asia and the Pacific.

“Today, we recognise a remarkable group of organisations and high schools that are driving tangible progress toward a more prosperous future,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and director general of the Zayed Sustainability Prize. “This year’s prize winners showcase solutions that leverage advanced technologies including AI, enhance local resilience and deliver transformative, scalable impact worldwide. In doing so, they embody the power of progress in accelerating sustainable development and inclusive socioeconomic growth.”

The impact of climate change in the Middle East – in pictures

Flooding in the Al Barsha area of Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Vehicles being recovered near Al Maktoum airport in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in the Al Barsha area of Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Flooding along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Cars move through floodwater in Al Qudra, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Flooding on Dubai's Al Khail Road. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People abandon their cars on Sheikh Zayed Road due to heavy rain. Antonie Robertson/The National

Flooding on Al Khail Road. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Flooding in Oman. Photo: Royal Oman Police

A damaged car in Derna, Libya. Reuters

A destroyed vehicle in Derna. AFP

Abdul Salam Ibrahim Al-Qadi walks on rubble in front of his house, searching for his missing father and brother, in Derna. Reuters

An aerial view of the destruction in Derna. Reuters

Flood-affected people taking refuge in a makeshift camp after heavy monsoon rains in Jaffarabad district of Balochistan province. AFP

Internally displaced flood-affected people shift husk for their animals in a flood-hit area following heavy rains in Dera Allah Yar in Balochistan. AFP

The aftermath of flooding in Egypt's southern city of Aswan, 920 kilometres south of the capital. AFP

The Nile River from the top of Famine Stela, or Rock of Starvation, Egypt. Reuters

Volunteers search for people in need following heavy rainfall in east Mosul, Iraq, in March 2020. Reuters

People clean up after floods in Duhok, Iraq, on March 19. Reuters