Emirates Environmental Group Celebrates Young Environmental Visionaries at the Awarding Ceremony of the 21stCycle of the Environmental Drawing Competition & 3rdCycle of Art from Waste Participation of 229,392 students from 611 schools in EDC & 1,042 students from 361 schools across the UAE
Dubai, UAE – 22 May 2026: The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) proudly concluded the 21st Cycle of the Environmental Drawing Competition (EDC) and the 3rd Cycle of Art from Waste (AfW) Competition with a distinguished awarding ceremony held at The Ismaili Centre Dubai. The event brought together students, educators, dignitaries, corporate representatives, jury members and families to celebrate the remarkable creativity and environmental awareness demonstrated by young participants from across the nation.
This year’s editions witnessed exceptional participation from schools representing all seven Emirates, including institutions supporting students of determination. A total of 611 government and private schools registered for the Environmental Drawing Competition, while 361 schools participated in the Art from Waste initiative, reflecting the growing importance of sustainability education and environmental engagement among the youth of the UAE.
For more than two decades, EEG’s Environmental Drawing Competition has served as a pioneering educational platform that empowers students to explore environmental challenges through artistic expression. The initiative encourages young minds to think critically, creatively and compassionately about the future of the planet while strengthening their understanding of sustainability issues.
The 2026 Environmental Drawing Competition featured three compelling themes tailored to different age groups:
- Ages 6 – 8: Saving the Icy Homes of My Polar Friends
- Ages 9 – 11: Rivers & Lakes: Lifelines of Our Planet
- Ages 12 – 14: Fast Forward –Imagine Earth in the Year 2075
Through these thought-provoking themes, students explored urgent environmental concerns including climate change, freshwater conservation and the future of life on Earth. The submissions reflected not only artistic excellence, but also a deep sense of environmental responsibility, innovation and hope for a sustainable future.
Alongside EDC, EEG also celebrated the success of the 3rdCycle of Art from Waste — an initiative designed to encourage students to rethink waste and embrace the principles of recycling, upcycling and circular economy practices through practical creativity.
This year’s competition challenged students to develop innovative and purposeful creations under the following themes:
- Group Age 9 – 11: A Three-Seater Garden Bench
- Group Age 12 – 14: Solar Street Lamp: Lighting Pathways
- Group Age 15 – 17: Harnessing the Wind: Building a Windmill
The competition showcased the incredible ability of students to transform discarded materials into functional and artistic creations, reinforcing the message that waste can become a valuable resource when approached with creativity and environmental consciousness.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Habiba Al Mar’ashi, Co-Founder and Chairperson of EEG, stated:
“Today’s gathering is far more than a celebration of artistic talent and creativity; it is a reflection of a generation that is deeply aware of its surroundings and responsibility towards protecting our planet. Through every drawing, every innovative creation and every thoughtful idea presented, our students have demonstrated the power of art as a voice for environmental stewardship and sustainable living.”
Dr. Habiba Al Mar’ashi further remarked, “Since the inception of Emirates Environmental Group, we have taken immense pride in nurturing environmentally conscious young minds and grooming future generations to become compassionate leaders, responsible citizens and true ambassadors of sustainability”; she added, “through meaningful educational platforms such as these, we aim to inspire creativity, critical thinking and a lifelong commitment towards protecting our planet and preserving its precious resources for generations to come.”
She also expressed her sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Education, Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and Sharjah Private Education Authority for their continued support in encouraging widespread participation across schools in the UAE; she further extended heartfelt gratitude to The Ismaili Centre Dubai for graciously hosting the awarding ceremony, as well as to Almarai, Dabur, Delmonte, HP and L’Oréal for their generous contribution towards recognising and celebrating the achievements of the young participants.
Submissions were reviewed by a distinguished panel of experts:
- Bahia Shehab, Senior Specialist in Student Skills Development, Counseling and Future Skills Management, Ministry of Education
- Dr. Najat Makki, Visual Artist, Member of Dubai Cultural Council
- Pari Sagar, Artist
The awarding ceremony was divided into two parts; the first one was for the winning students in in the 21st Cycle of Environmental Drawing Competition under each theme:
“Saving the Icy Homes of My Polar Friends” (Ages 6–8)
| Students of Determination Category | |||
| School | Participant | Result | |
| Abu Dhabi Autism Center – Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination | Dana Abdullah Al Shamsi | Winner | |
| Al Sila Center for Care and Rehabilitation – affiliated with the Zayed Authority for People of Determination | Majid Saeed Al-Mansouri | 1stRunner Up | |
| Al Noor Training Centre for People of Disabilities | Hamza Abid | 2ndRunner Up | |
| Regular Students Category | |||
| School | Participant | Result | |
| Delhi Private School Sharjah | Aarush Nithin Rajan | Winner | |
| Al Zuhour School | Sedra Mohamed Elsaid | 1stRunner Up | |
| Al Madam Children Center | Shamsa Awad Mohammed | 2ndRunner Up | |
“Rivers & Lakes: Lifelines of Our Planet” (Ages 9–11)
| Students of Determination Category | |||
| School | Participant | Result | |
| Al Noor Training Centre for People of Disabilities | Ardi Victoria | Winner | |
| Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services – Eastern Region Branch – Kalba | Alya Hussein Al Mazrouei | 1stRunner Up | |
| Al Noor Training Centre for People of Disabilities | Amelia Zalfa | 2ndRunner Up | |
| Regular Students Category | |||
| School | Participant | Result | |
| Bint Al Shati’ School | Shamma Marwan Muhammad Al-Ghafli | Winner | |
| Sultan Bin Zayed School | Saleh Aayed Al-Harithi | 1stRunner Up | |
| Al Hikma Private School – Al-Nuaimiya | Yara Tamer Zakaria | 2ndRunner Up | |
“Fast Forward –Imagine Earth in the Year 2075” (Ages 12–14)
| Students of Determination Category | |||
| School | Participant | Result | |
| Zayed Authority for People of Determination – Al Ain Care and Rehabilitation Center | Yousuf Mohammed Saeed | Winner | |
| GEMS New Millennium School Dubai | Zaara Mohamed Saif | 1stRunner Up | |
| Alain Autism Center | Mubarak Saeed Mohammed Qannas Al Ameri | 2ndRunner Up | |
| Regular Students Category | |||
| School | Participant | Result | |
| Al Zuhour School | Hoor Badir Mohamed | Winner | |
| Abu Ayyub al-Ansari | Hamad Saeed Khalifa Yousuf Al Zaabi | 1stRunner Up | |
| Al Dhafra Private Schools | Zainab Husain Mohamed Sadiq Alkhoori | 2ndRunner Up | |
The 2nd part of the awarding ceremony was the winning schools in the 3rd cycle of Art from Waste Competition; they were recognised for their outstanding submissions under each theme:
| Project name | Category | Position | Schools |
| A Three-Seater Garden Bench (aged 9 to 11 years) | Regular | Winner | New Indian Model School, Dubai |
| 1st Runner Up | India International School Sharjah | ||
| 2nd Runner Up (Tie) | Al-Sahwa School for Basic and Secondary Education – Girls | ||
| 2nd Runner Up (Tie) | Al Rayan Cycle 1 | ||
| Students of Determination | Winner | Dibba Al Fujairah School, Third Grade, Girls | |
| 1st Runner Up | Rumeitha Al-Ansari, Cycle One | ||
| 2nd Runner Up | Alkhalidiah School cycle 3boys | ||
| Solar Street Lamp: Lighting Pathways (aged 12 to 14 years) | Regular | Winner | Sharjah Public School |
| 1stRunner Up (Tie) | Ambassador School Sharjah | ||
| 1stRunner Up (Tie) | Asia Bent Muzahem School C2 | ||
| 2nd Runner Up | Arcadia Global School | ||
| Students of Determination | Winner | Asia Bent Muzahem School C2 | |
| Harnessing the Wind: Building a Windmill (aged 15 to 17 years) | Regular | Winner | Dunes International School |
| 1st Runner Up | Umm al-Mu’minin School | ||
| 2nd Runner Up | Emirates National Schools – Al Ain Campus | ||
| Special Recognition | Applied Technology Schools-UAQ Boys | ||
| Students of Determination | Winner | Ambassador School Sharjah | |
| 1st Runner Up | Al Noor Training Centre for People of Disabilities |
EEG extends its heartfelt congratulations to all winners and participants for their enthusiasm, vision, and commitment to environmental protection.
Editors’ Note:
Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is a professional working group established in 1991 in the United Arab Emirates. It is devoted to protecting the environment through the means of education, action programmes and community involvement. EEG is actively encouraged and supported by concerned local and federal government agencies. It is the 1st environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and the only organisation of its kind in the UAE with accredited status to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
EEG is a member of the UN Global Compact, the Global Urban Development (GUD) and the Global Investors for Sustainable Alliance (GISD). It is also a member of the One Planet Network under the programme of Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) and its Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee (MAC) and Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML), EEG is a full Member (voting) of World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
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