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.
Al Miyah Challenge programme will include a series of prize competitions intended to identify innovative water solutions with practical applications in a range of sectors. The programme aims to source and support practical solutions that can be implemented in the UAE and have the potential to be scaled-up and deployed in other water-scarce countries.
For the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture, The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has joined forces with three sector-leading institutions, including the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), ASPIRE, the innovation acceleration arm of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), and Silal Food and Technology.
Ayesha Al Ateeqi, Executive Director of The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, commented, "The launch of the first Al Miyah Challenge is consistent with the ambition of The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative to accelerate innovation with tangible programmes that support practical water technologies and encourage technical creativity. Water use in agriculture accounts for nearly 70% of all water used globally and presents a particular issue for arid and water-scarce regions."
She added that the challenge aims to identify and pilot solutions that can increase agricultural productivity while reducing the intensity of water resources and that can ideally be deployed in other water-scarce countries following successful application in the UAE.
"Scalability and deployment of technologies is a key aim of the initiative in its mission to help create a world in which water is more accessible, affordable, and sustainable for all," Al Ateeqi stated.
Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director-General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs at ADAFSA, said, "By leveraging our expertise in sustainable farming, our teams will provide strategic oversight and technical expertise to ensure winning solutions align with Abu Dhabi and the UAE's long-term food security and resource conservation goals.
This initiative, she said, reflects the UAE leadership's vision for a future where cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices converge to optimise water use, boost agricultural productivity, and safeguard natural resources for generations to come.
She added, "Through this collaboration, we aim to accelerate the adoption of water-efficient technologies by bridging the gap between research and real-world application. By piloting and scaling these solutions, we will demonstrate their viability in the UAE's unique agricultural landscape while creating a blueprint for other water-scarce nations."
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, said, "Innovation is key to sustainable agriculture. Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture aims to push the boundaries of what's possible by ensuring the latest technology and research can be applied in the real world. ASPIRE is proud to collaborate with The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative on this important mission. Partnerships such as this are instrumental in transforming innovation into tangible impact for the UAE and beyond."
Salmeen Al Ameri, CEO of Silal, said that water scarcity is a critical challenge for agriculture in the UAE, and tackling it requires innovation and collaboration.
At the time of registration, eligible teams must have solutions with a proven feasibility ready to be piloted in the UAE during the Challenge period and subsequently deployed to the relevant sector within the UAE.
From the AED8 million total prize purse, AED3.7 million will be awarded to the winning team, along with the opportunity to further test and demonstrate the technology in the UAE. The remaining prize purse will be distributed amongst runners-up.
Competing teams will undergo a process of evaluation and selection to identify the most innovative, impactful, and practically deployable solutions. Teams will contribute to this process through live pitches and by piloting their solution in the UAE to demonstrate its potential real-world impact.
Registrations for the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture are now open, and teams are invited to submit their applications online before 30th June 2025 at www.mohamedbinzayedwi.ae/al-miyah-challenge.
