Dubai Municipality has opened registration for the 14th cycle of the Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development, a prestigious global initiative spotlighting innovation in sustainable urban development. Held in partnership with UN-Habitat, the award celebrates projects and policies that make tangible improvements to urban living, tackle climate challenges, and enhance community well-being. Winners will be announced during the 2026 World Governments Summit.
The award covers five core categories: Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces, Sustaining Urban Food Systems, Addressing Climate Change and Reducing Pollution, Urban Infrastructure Planning and Management, and the Most Beautiful, Innovative, and Iconic Building. With a total prize pool of USD 1 million, it aims to incentivise pioneering approaches that contribute to creating more liveable, resilient cities worldwide.
Nasser BuShehab, CEO of the Planning and Governance Sector at Dubai Municipality, emphasised that the award reflects Dubai’s ongoing commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted the city’s role in promoting global innovation and responsible urban development, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a hub for forward-thinking solutions at the intersection of governance, sustainability, and urban living.
Established in 1995 under the guidance of the late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum during a United Nations conference held in Dubai, the award has long recognised global excellence in sustainable urban development. It fosters effective partnerships between public, private, and civic sectors, aiming to inspire and showcase impactful projects worldwide.
Recent winners from the 2024 cycle provide insight into the diverse and practical nature of the initiatives honoured. Colombia’s EatCloud Zero Food Waste project was awarded for sustaining urban food systems through innovative, data-driven solutions aimed at reducing food waste and combating hunger. Indonesia’s Gree Energy project, known as The Hamparan Project, received accolades for addressing climate change by curbing methane emissions from a cassava starch factory and generating clean energy to empower rural communities.
In the category of Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces, the Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano (BAM) project in Italy was recognised for its pioneering role in urban development. Located in Milan’s Porta Nuova district, BAM is the first in the world to achieve both LEED and WELL for Communities certifications, setting a new benchmark for sustainable public spaces. New Zealand’s Scion Innovation Hub was celebrated as the Most Beautiful, Innovative, and Iconic Building, transforming a forestry research institute’s headquarters into a cutting-edge innovation hub.
Further reflecting the award’s breadth, Egypt’s Local Area Development Plan (LADP) received honours for Urban Infrastructure Planning and Management. This project focuses on detailed planning in informal areas of Greater Cairo, emphasising stakeholder participation and strengthening the link between planning and service delivery.
Registration for the current cycle is open to participants locally and internationally through the official Dubai Municipality website, inviting a broad spectrum of innovative urban projects to compete for global recognition. The award remains a significant platform to elevate best practices that inspire greener, more inclusive, and sustainable cities worldwide.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://focus.hidubai.com/dubai-municipality-opens-registration-for-global-sustainable-development-award/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.dubaiaward.ae/about/ – The Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development, established in 1995 under the directive of the late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum during the United Nations International Conference in Dubai, recognises global best practices in sustainable urban development. The award encompasses five key categories: Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces, Most Beautiful, Innovative & Iconic Building, Sustaining Urban Food Systems, Addressing Climate Change and Reducing Pollution, and Urban Infrastructure Planning and Management. It aims to promote effective partnerships between public, private, and civic sectors to enhance urban living and address climate challenges.
- https://www.dubaiaward.ae/2024-2/ – The 2024 Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development recognised several innovative projects. Notably, the EatCloud Zero Food Waste project from Colombia was honoured in the category of Sustaining Urban Food Systems. This initiative focuses on reducing food waste, combating hunger, and promoting environmental sustainability through data-driven solutions. Additionally, the Gree Energy project from Indonesia, known as The Hamparan Project, received the award in the category of Addressing Climate Change and Reducing Pollution. This project addresses methane emissions from a cassava starch factory and generates clean energy, contributing to sustainable development in rural communities.
- https://www.dubaiaward.ae/2024-2/ – The 2024 Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development also recognised the BAM project – Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano from Italy, which secured the award in the category of Best Practices in Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces. This project is part of the urban development of the Porta Nuova district and is the first in the world to secure both the LEED and WELL for Communities certifications. Additionally, the Scion Innovation Hub project from New Zealand won the award in the category of The Most Beautiful, Innovative and Iconic Building. This project aims to transform the headquarters of the Scion Research Institute, specialising in technology development for forestry, into a central innovation hub.
- https://www.dubaiaward.ae/2024-2/ – The 2024 Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development also recognised the Local Area Development Plan (LADP) from Egypt, which won the award in the category of Best Practices in Urban Infrastructure Planning and Management. This project seeks to develop a detailed blueprint for informal areas in Greater Cairo, highlighting the importance of stakeholder participation in the decision-making process and strengthening the connection between planning and service execution.
- https://www.dubaiaward.ae/2024-2/ – The Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development, established in 1995 under the directive of the late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum during the United Nations International Conference in Dubai, recognises global best practices in sustainable urban development. The award encompasses five key categories: Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces, Most Beautiful, Innovative & Iconic Building, Sustaining Urban Food Systems, Addressing Climate Change and Reducing Pollution, and Urban Infrastructure Planning and Management. It aims to promote effective partnerships between public, private, and civic sectors to enhance urban living and address climate challenges.
- https://www.dubaiaward.ae/2024-2/ – The Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development, established in 1995 under the directive of the late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum during the United Nations International Conference in Dubai, recognises global best practices in sustainable urban development. The award encompasses five key categories: Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces, Most Beautiful, Innovative & Iconic Building, Sustaining Urban Food Systems, Addressing Climate Change and Reducing Pollution, and Urban Infrastructure Planning and Management. It aims to promote effective partnerships between public, private, and civic sectors to enhance urban living and address climate challenges.
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 fresh, with no evidence of prior publication. The registration announcement for the 14th cycle of the Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development was made on July 3, 2025, and is not found in earlier sources. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. 🕰️
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
✅ No direct quotes are present in the narrative, indicating original content. 🕰️
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
✅ The narrative originates from Focus HiDubai, a reputable news outlet in Dubai, enhancing its reliability. 🕰️
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
✅ The claims about the Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development align with known facts. The award is established and has previously announced registration periods, such as the 13th edition in June 2023. The categories and prize pool mentioned are consistent with prior information. 🕰️
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
✅ The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from a reliable outlet. All claims are plausible and consistent with known facts, indicating a high level of credibility. 🕰️
