Award History

Established in 1995—under the directive of the late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum during the United Nations International Conference in Dubai—as an outcome of the Dubai Declaration. This declaration created the international concept of sharing Best Practices for the accelerated development of the human settlements sector. 

The Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development has continued to receive support from H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality.

Transformative. Global. Tangible.

Now reaching its 25th year, the award recognizes the world’s best practices that demonstrate valuable contributions to sustainable urban development, as a result of effective partnerships between public, private, and civic sectors in these areas:

1. Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces
2. The most iconic, sustainable, innovative and smart building in the world
3. Sustaining Urban Food Systems
4. Addressing Climate Change and Reducing Pollution
5. Urban Infrastructure Planning and Management