who: for more than three decades, Sheikh Zayed has been an advocate and a supporter of the concept of what is known today as ‘sustainable development’. His pioneering vision has touched all aspects of life in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from roads to airports, from health to social services, and from security to housing; however, it is the environment to which he is most committed. One of Sheikh Zayed’s most remarkable and enduring achievements must surely be the greening of his desert land. Under his leadership, 100 million trees have been planted in the UAE, all in an effort to stem the encroachment of sand onto agricultural land and urban areas.

In 1995, Sheikh Zayed received a gold medal from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations for his agricultural development efforts, not only in the UAE, but in other developing countries as well. In 1997, he was honoured by the President of Pakistan with a special decoration for his role in environmental conservation. This was the first time that Pakistan bestowed such an accolade on a head of state. That same year, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and President Emeritus of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) presented Sheikh Zayed with the "Golden Panda", WWF’s highest conservation award. This too was the first time in the history of the award that a head of state was so honoured. Again, in 1997, he received the region’s first ever Gulf Business Award for Environmental Action.

what: the Zayed International Prize was established in recognition and appreciation of the achievements of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, former president of the UAE. The founder and patron of the Zayed Prize is General H. H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Defence Minister of the UAE. The Zayed International Prize for the Environment, worth US$ 1 million, is now considered the largest and most valuable environmental prize in the world.

The Zayed International Prize for the Environment is not just a prize. It is an institution, which endeavours to promote sustainable development through various environmental protection initiatives. The individuals and organisations nominated for this prize should represent the spirit of the true environmentalist, H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan , who for more than 30 years has fought to ensure that the environment in the UAE, the Gulf region and around the world is safeguarded for future generations.

cool for you: the Zayed International Prize for the Environment invites you, on behalf of the Higher Committee, to nominate individuals and organisations for the 2nd cycle of the Zayed International Prize for the Environment. The nomination form is available online at: www.zayedprize.org.ae/en/NominationForm.aspx.