# Dubai opens sixth Emirates Energy Award cycle with USD 1 million prize pool

> The 2026–2028 award cycle spans ten categories, from efficiency and distributed solar to applied research and young energy professionals.

- Topic: Policy and regulation
- Subjects: Electricity, Renewables
- Event date: 2026-10-22
- First published on EPC Feed: 2026-10-25T01:45:37.511Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T01:45:37.511Z
- Value: USD 1,000,000 (Total award value for the 2026–2028 Emirates Energy Award cycle, not project investment.)
- Countries: United Arab Emirates
- Page: https://epcfeed.com/news/dubai-emirates-energy-award-sixth-cycle-2026


## Key facts

- Launch date: 22 October 2026
- Cycle: 2026–2028
- Total award value: USD 1 million
- Categories: 10
- Prior-cycle winners: 151 across five cycles
- Distributed solar threshold: Large category at least 500 kW; small category below 500 kW

The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy launched the sixth Emirates Energy Award cycle for 2026–2028 on 22 October during the World Green Economy Summit. The cycle carries a total prize value of USD 1 million and uses the theme “Innovating for Sustainable and Resilient Energy.” The official announcement describes the award as a platform for recognising practical projects and practices across the energy sector. It does not announce a project investment or a procurement; the money is the award pool, not construction capital. The distinction is relevant for developers and contractors because the programme recognises completed results and demonstrated solutions rather than awarding EPC delivery work.

The ten categories cover public- and private-sector energy efficiency; large and small energy projects; circular economy; distributed solar installations above and below 500 kilowatts; education and capacity building; research and development; and young energy professionals. The award website adds application conditions: project entries must have been in execution for at least a year before application and should be supported by evidence of performance, such as savings, cost reduction or emissions reductions. Its evaluation criteria include innovation, energy efficiency, increased renewable share and economic, social or environmental impact. This makes the award framework focused on proof of results, although the current cycle announcement does not state when applications open or close.

The award is administered by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and has operated since 2012. DEWA’s launch announcement says the previous five cycles recognised 151 winners, including 118 over the first four cycles and 33 in the fifth. These historical counts describe past award recipients; they do not establish how many applicants there were or the scale of energy savings achieved. The award’s official website describes its scope as regional and says it recognises public and private organisations and individuals in energy efficiency, alternative energy, sustainability and environmental protection.

The new cycle aligns with national and Dubai policy targets. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure’s Energy Strategy 2050 page sets a goal to triple renewable energy’s contribution by 2030 and says the federal strategy mobilises AED 150–200 billion in national investment over the period to meet demand. It also lists clean-energy capacity and generation-share targets for 2031. The award launch release cites the UAE Net Zero by 2050 initiative and Dubai’s clean-energy and net-zero strategies. These references provide policy context; they do not mean that award recognition itself delivers those national targets or guarantees implementation of submitted solutions.

For the EPC and energy market, the categories give visibility to energy projects, efficiency measures, distributed solar and circular-economy approaches, while requiring applicants to document operating performance. The award also includes education and research, widening eligibility beyond asset owners and construction companies. The available material does not identify judging dates, winners for the new cycle or changes to award rules beyond the category list and general submission criteria. Any later report on applicants, awards or project outcomes should be anchored to a dated official announcement and the evidence each applicant submits. For now, the verified development is the launch of a new recognition cycle and its stated prize pool and scope.

## Sources

1. [Dubai Supreme Council of Energy launches the sixth edition of the ‘Emirates Energy Award’, worth USD 1 million, under the theme “Innovating for Sustainable and Resilient Energy”](https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/media-publications/latest-news/2026/10/dubai-supreme-council-of-energy). Government source, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Published 2026-10-22, Read 2026-10-25.
2. [About the Emirates Energy Award](https://emiratesenergyaward.com/about-eea/). Government source, Government of Dubai, Emirates Energy Award, Read 2026-10-25.
3. [Application Submission Guidelines](https://emiratesenergyaward.com/application-submission-guidelines/). Government source, Government of Dubai, Emirates Energy Award, Read 2026-10-25.
4. [UAE Energy Strategy 2050](https://www.moei.gov.ae/en/about-ministry/uae-energy-strategy-2050). Government source, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE, Read 2026-10-25.