We are pleased to inform you that the 14th cycle of the Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development is now open for submissions until 17 October 2025.
The Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development was established in 1995 following the Dubai Declaration at the United Nations International Conference in Dubai.
This year, the Award marks the 30th anniversary of the collaboration between UN-Habitat and Dubai Municipality to adopt and implement the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Award seeks to showcase impactful and innovative initiatives focused on creating sustainable urban futures. In this context, five categories are encouraged to apply their best practices, which are listed below:
- Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces
- Most Beautiful, Innovative, and Iconic Building
- Sustaining Urban Food Systems
- Addressing Climate Change and Reducing Pollution
- Urban Infrastructure Planning and Management
The eligible entities include governments, non-governmental organizations, academia, international organizations, private sector partners, and individuals from all regions.
The Award winners will gain recognition and international visibility by showcasing their practices on platforms associated with UN-Habitat and Dubai Municipality, along with a total prize fund of USD 1 million. Winners will also have the opportunity to present their practices at the World Government Summit 2026 and will be included in the Urban Best Practices Database.
Please find the application form here. For further information regarding the application, please visit the applicant guidebook.
The previous winners are both available at the New Urban Agenda Platform’s Best Practices and from the official website of the Award.
We encourage all interested UCLG-MEWA members to consider this unique opportunity to showcase your efforts on sustainable development on a global stage. In case of any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Esranur Tanrıkulu at e.tanrikulu@uclg-mewa.org.