Abu Dhabi Students Win USD 12,500 Earth Prize for AI-Powered App

A high school team from Ghayathi in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region has won the 2025 Earth Prize for the Middle East with an AI-powered education platform called EcoMind Academy.

Developed by Sustainability Heroes - a team made up of schoolgirls Israa Ashraf, Almaha Almansoori, Fatma Hussen, and Jourey Abdullah from Al Reef Private School - the app integrates sustainability into school subjects through gamified challenges, quizzes, and rewards, aiming to make environmental education engaging and actionable for young learners.

Organised by the Earth Foundation, the annual Earth Prize recognises student-led innovations in sustainability. This year, EcoMind Academy stood out among 1,300 teams from 138 countries, earning the Middle East regional award and a USD 12,500 prize. The team’s app not only encourages eco-conscious habits in the classroom, but also connects students with local environmental businesses and initiatives through workshops, school campaigns, and field activities.

The students plan to use the prize to expand the app’s reach, enhance its AI features, and launch it across government schools in the UAE. They also hope to introduce EcoMind Academy to other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Oman, contributing to broader environmental awareness across the GCC.