Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award deadline extended to 30 September 2026
Misryoum reports that Suqia UAE extended submissions for the 5th cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award to 30 September 2026.
A key deadline for water innovation just moved: the submission cutoff for the 5th cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award has been extended to 30 September 2026.
The update comes after many applicants asked for more time, according to Misryoum. The extension is intended to broaden participation and give applicants worldwide a better chance to prepare and submit their entries.
In this context, the award remains focused on research and development for sustainable responses to the global water crisis, including efforts that rely on renewable energy. It also targets water scarcity and aims to support improved access to safe water in less developed communities.
This deadline shift matters because it can change who is able to apply, especially teams that need extra time to refine project plans, data, and implementation timelines.
The 5th cycle places added emphasis on digital transformation. Projects that use artificial intelligence and machine learning are highlighted for their potential to strengthen proactive monitoring and improve operational efficiency.
The structure of the award continues to include four main categories, with a total prize value of USD 1 million. The Innovative Projects Award accounts for the largest portion at USD 540,000, split between USD 300,000 for large projects and USD 240,000 for small projects.
Misryoum also notes that the Innovative Research and Development Award totals USD 400,000, divided equally between national and international institutions.. The Innovative Individual Award provides USD 40,000, shared between a Distinguished Researcher Award and a Youth Award, while USD 20,000 is allocated to the Innovative Crisis Solutions Award.
Looking ahead to the wider impact, this kind of funding can help translate ideas into systems that are easier to monitor, manage, and scale, particularly when water challenges require fast, practical solutions.
Across the previous four cycles, the award recognised 43 winners from 26 countries for work linked to water production, desalination, and purification.. Winning projects from the fourth cycle have been implemented in multiple countries, including Tunisia, Egypt, Botswana, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Lebanon, Syria, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Turkey, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Philippines, Fiji, Ukraine, Georgia, and Indonesia.
Ultimately, the extended submission window gives more innovators time to align with the award’s current priorities, including the push toward AI-enabled monitoring and efficiency.. For many, that extra time may be the difference between a last-minute submission and a stronger, better-prepared application.