MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
As the second edition of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Awards kicks off, the inaugural winners are continuing to drive impactful environmental change across the UAE.
From pioneering sustainable agricultural technologies to leading youth-driven community initiatives, these change-makers are amplifying their work to foster a culture of environmental responsibility.
Among the winners is Ghaya Al Ahbabi, a 13-year-old environmental advocate who won first place in the Environmental Influencer Category.
She is the youngest UNICEF advocate for COP28 and an Ambassador for the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).
Al Ahbabi's passion for environmental change began when she was just six years old, inspired by the legacy of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Over the years, this young Emirati has become a leading voice for environmental action, founding the Green Buds community team, a youth initiative focused on sustainability.
"One drop in the ocean doesn't make a difference, but a wave can. I wanted to create that wave, because the environment needs all of us, not just one person, but as a team," Al Ahbabi told Aletihad.
In the Environmental Initiator Category, Muhammad Al Mazrouei earned second place for his innovative solutions to improve agricultural sustainability.
One of the devices he created helped reduce the labour-intensive process of mixing chemical fertilisers from two full workdays to just half an hour, while another transforms biochar into usable fertilisers, promoting eco-friendly farming practices.
Motivated by the recognition he received, Al Mazrouei is already working on a third device that integrates AI to combat the palm weevil.
"I feel incredibly motivated. This award inspired me to continue innovating. It has also opened new opportunities for me to further my work in the agricultural and environmental fields," he told Aletihad.
The third-place winner in the Environmental Influencer Category, Majid Abdullah bin Saad, is an ambassador for Emirates Nature and the founder of the "Athar" community initiative, which promotes volunteerism and environmental action.
With over 15 years of experience in community work, this 27-year-old Emirati has led various impactful social, environmental and humanitarian initiatives.
He also led the EAD Green Youth Majlis for a year as a volunteer. In his role, he helped expand the reach of its environmental initiatives, including increasing the number of members from 100 to 500 in less than a year.
Reflecting on his award, bin Saad told Aletihad: "I am both proud and honoured to receive it. The award is a reminder that there is always room for growth and improvement. It's not just a recognition of past achievements - it's a motivation to achieve excellence in giving."
In its second cycle, the scope of the Awards' participation has been expanded to include all seven emirates.
During the launch ceremony on Tuesday, Aysha Al Ketbi, Director of the Strategic Planning Office at EAD, said: "[This aims] to enhance environmental awareness across the nation and encourage individuals and organisations from various emirates to contribute their outstanding environmental initiatives and projects.
"We are confident that this expansion will contribute to discovering more talents and innovative ideas that will further enrich our pathway towards sustainability."
To be eligible for the Awards, applicants must operate within the UAE and adhere to all relevant national regulations and competition criteria. They are allowed to apply for only one category and cannot submit the same project in multiple categories.
Winners from previous cycle are not eligible to apply for the current cycle, while organisations with subsidiaries or branches within the UAE can only apply through one of their branches or subsidiaries.
The initiative being submitted must demonstrate measurable results that have been achieved over a period of at least one year. Moreover, the launch date of the initiative must not be more than four years prior to the date of the application.