9:24 pm - February 14, 2026
Twenty-one international teams progress in the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative’s Al Miyah Challenge, showcasing diverse solutions to reduce water use in farming amidst global drought concerns.
The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has hit an important milestone—the announcement that 21 teams have advanced to the next phase of the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture. This is actually the first competition within its bigger umbrella program, the Al Miyah Challenge. The contest is a global one, aiming to find innovative ideas that can help cut down water use in farming, all while keeping or even boosting crop yields. It’s a pretty urgent issue, especially for dry, water-scarce places like the UAE.
Out of hundreds of applications from 54 different countries, these selected teams represent a pretty wide range—geographically and technically. They come from 13 nations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including startups, established companies, and research groups. Their solutions cover a broad spectrum—from high-tech precision irrigation and AI-powered analytics to biodegradable materials that trap water, microbial boosters, atmospheric water harvesting, reuse of wastewater, plant biosensors, and advanced water storage systems. This variety really shows the global scale of the challenge—and the diverse approaches being considered to tackle water scarcity using innovative, scalable tech.
The challenge kicked off with a prize pot of AED 8 million, and its main goal is to discover technologies that can work in the real world, starting with the UAE, but hopefully also applicable elsewhere facing similar climate and agricultural issues. The Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture is the first in a series, and it’s specifically focused on agriculture because it’s one of the biggest water users worldwide.
Once the qualifying phase finishes, these teams will present their ideas to a panel of expert judges beginning later this month. They’ll also go on site visits both within the UAE and abroad. After that, the best solutions will be selected for pilot testing—both indoors and outdoors—starting in November 2025 right here in the UAE. The finalists will be announced in January 2026, with the winners being revealed by the end of that year. It’s a structured process, with plenty of emphasis on actually testing these ideas in real environmental conditions, which is pretty important for verifying that they can deliver real water savings.
The project is backed by key organizations from the UAE, such as the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), ASPIRE (which is the innovation arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council), and Silal Food and Technology. All of this really highlights the power of partnerships across different sectors working together to find feasible solutions to water problems.
Ayesha Al Ateeqi, who’s the Executive Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, pointed out how critical agricultural water use is—both globally and locally—in the bigger fight against water scarcity. She told Aletihad that the submissions they’ve received show impressive innovation, remarking, “The ingenuity of these teams reflects the bold, scalable thinking needed to truly address this urgent challenge, and at the same time, strengthen the agricultural sector we all depend on.”
Dhafer AlQasimi, Group CEO of Silal, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the need for clever, sustainable water practices—an absolute must for ensuring food security here in the UAE and beyond. “Water scarcity is a huge challenge for farming,” he said, adding that the competition is looking for practical solutions, particularly around things like cooling greenhouse environments and circular water use.
The partners are also heavily involved in testing out these new ideas. Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director General of ADAFSA, mentioned that their research stations and experimental centers will create simulated UAE conditions—hotter, drier, and so on—to see whether the innovations hold up. She also said that this effort fits well with the UAE’s broader goals of enhancing food security and positioning the country as a pioneer in sustainability and innovation.
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, highlighted the importance of seeing innovative ideas work in the real world. “We believe innovation isn’t just about great ideas—it’s about proven results,” he said. He added that the UAE offers an ideal environment for piloting these kinds of solutions, thanks to its environmental challenges, which can help develop technologies that might well be scaled to other similar regions.
It’s worth noting that agriculture makes up roughly 70% of all freshwater use globally—so, it’s clearly a vital area for water conservation, especially in dry places like the UAE. Advances like smart irrigation, atmospheric water harvesters, and microbial soil enhancers are all part of what’s needed to make farming more water-efficient and sustainable. The contest, by putting a spotlight on real-world testing in the UAE’s exact climate, aims to fast-track deployment of solutions that could be adapted elsewhere.
Overall, this global competition reflects a larger trend—countries and companies are increasingly turning to tech and innovation to combat water scarcity. It also fingers the UAE as a front-runner in integrating water security into its broader sustainability and food security plans. The diversity of applicants and international scope speak to how interconnected this challenge really is.
As the competition heads toward the pitching and pilot stages, everyone will be watching closely—checking how well these solutions perform under actual environmental conditions. The key, of course, is reducing water use in agriculture without sacrificing crop yields, which could be a game-changer in fighting the world’s rising water crisis. The Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture is definitely positioning itself as an essential platform to find and promote solutions capable of making a real difference.
For folks involved in climate-tech and water sustainability in the UAE, this is a rare chance to see cutting-edge innovations up close—and to get involved. With funding, big institutional support, and high stakes, the solutions emerging from this challenge might just help shape the future of water use not only here in arid regions but around the world.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.urdupoint.com/en/middle-east/mohamed-bin-zayed-water-initiative-announces-2042421.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.mohamedbinzayedwi.ae/al-miyah-challenge-for-agriculture – The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has launched the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture, aiming to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative water solutions. This competition seeks technological advancements that reduce water consumption in agriculture while maintaining or improving crop yields. The AED 8 million prize is open to local and international participants, with the requirement to test and demonstrate their technology’s applicability in the UAE by December 2026, with potential for deployment in other regions with similar climates.
- https://www.mohamedbinzayedwi.ae/news/mohamed-bin-zayed-water-initiative-launches-al-miyah-challenge-to-accelerate-innovative-water-solutions – The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has launched the Al Miyah Challenge to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative water solutions. Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture is the first in a series of competitions to be launched as part of the Initiative’s Al Miyah Challenge programme. In its first edition, the challenge aims to accelerate innovation in developing technological solutions that can reduce water consumption in agriculture while maintaining and improving crop yield. The AED8 million competition is open to local and international participants and will require aspiring teams to test and demonstrate their technology’s applicability in the UAE in December 2026, with the potential for deployment in other locations with similar weather and climate conditions.
- https://en.emirates7.com/article/4451 – The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has officially launched the Al Miyah Challenge, a global competition designed to fast-track the creation and implementation of cutting-edge water solutions. The inaugural edition, titled the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture, marks the first in a planned series under this broader programme. Focused on driving innovation, the initial challenge seeks technological advancements that significantly reduce water usage in agriculture while maintaining or enhancing crop yields. With a prize fund of AED 8 million, the competition is open to both local and international teams. Participants must be prepared to test and demonstrate their solutions within the UAE by December 2026, with the possibility of scaling to other regions facing similar climatic and environmental challenges.
- https://en.aletihad.ae/news/uae/4569043/uae-search-on-for-innovative-solutions-to-global-water-crisis – The search is on for innovative solutions that can help address one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, water scarcity. Through the recently launched Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture, the UAE reaffirms its commitment to supporting the development of technologies that can tackle the global crisis. In a statement to Aletihad, Ayesha Al Ateeqi, Executive Director of The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, elaborated on the challenge that offers a significant prize pool of Dh8 million. Launched by The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, the competition targets cutting-edge advancements in sustainable irrigation, water-efficient farming practices, and climate-adapted agricultural technologies suitable for arid regions like the UAE.
- https://www.atrc.gov.ae/news/mohamed-bin-zayed-water-initiative-launches-al-miyah-challenge-accelerate-innovative-water – The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has launched the Al Miyah Challenge to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative water solutions. Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture is the first in a series of competitions to be launched as part of the Initiative’s Al Miyah Challenge programme. In its first edition, the challenge aims to accelerate innovation in developing technological solutions that can reduce water consumption in agriculture while maintaining and improving crop yield. The AED8 million competition is open to local and international participants and will require aspiring teams to test and demonstrate their technology’s applicability in the UAE in December 2026, with the potential for deployment in other locations with similar weather and climate conditions.
- https://www.mohamedbinzayedwi.ae/qualifying-teams – Selected from a highly competitive field of international applicants across 54 countries, the qualifying teams bring forward innovations to reduce and improve water usage in agriculture while sustaining or boosting crop yields — a critical priority in water-scarce regions. Representing 13 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, this diverse cohort spans startups, established enterprises, and research institutions – each bringing a novel approach.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, with the announcement of 21 teams advancing in the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture dated September 12, 2025. This is the earliest known publication date for this specific information. The content appears original and not recycled from other sources. The report is based on a press release from the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, which typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Ayesha Al Ateeqi, Executive Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, and other officials are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating original content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, a reputable organisation. The report is based on a press release from this organisation, which typically warrants a high reliability score.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture, including the selection of 21 teams and the focus on water-saving innovations, are consistent with previous reports from the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. The narrative lacks excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim, and the tone is consistent with official communications from the organisation.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current, original, and based on a press release from a reputable organisation, with no discrepancies or signs of disinformation.
