Moroccan Brickmakers, Indian Innovators Among Winners of Expo City Dubai Foundation’s Global Innovators Programme
Dubai, 29th April, 2026 – A diverse group of entrepreneurs and social enterprises from across the globe has been selected for the latest Global Innovators Programme by the Expo City Dubai Foundation. Among the winning initiatives are Moroccan brickmakers reviving traditional building techniques, Indian innovators transforming straw into animal feed, and Egyptian producers developing cooling shades from ocean waste.
Designed to tackle extreme heat challenges in the Global South, the eighth cohort of the programme attracted over 1,000 applications from 84 countries. An independent judging panel featuring representatives from Emirates Airline and ENGIE selected seven outstanding projects originating from Egypt, Morocco, Peru, India, and Nigeria. The implementation of these solutions will span regions in South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Each selected project will receive funding of up to USD 100,000, along with technical guidance, increased visibility, and access to networking opportunities to further their impact.
Yousuf Caires, Executive Director, Expo City Dubai Foundation, commented, “We are delighted to announce our latest cohort of global innovators leaving a lasting impact on the world. The strong response is a testament to the wealth of ideas available to tackle extreme heat – a crucial and time-sensitive challenge that can only be successfully addressed by working collaboratively. These projects hold immense potential across a range of industries, and we are honoured to play a small part in helping them scale.”
He added, “We celebrate this milestone as we proudly mark a decade since announcing our first cohort in 2016 – as part of our first chapter as Expo Live. Collaboration and innovation to drive progress remains at the heart of everything we do, and we are determined to continue advancing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues, proving that – even within a shifting global landscape – purposeful action can and must persevere to secure a sustainable future for all.”
The Expo City Dubai Foundation offers a platform for social enterprises and entrepreneurs from around the world, enabling them to form partnerships, share future-focused, sustainable solutions, and collaborate to help ideas grow and thrive.
With the inclusion of these seven projects from the newest cohort, the programme has now supported over 200 entrepreneurs from 97 countries, furthering the mission of a global initiative that has positively impacted more than 6 million people worldwide.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
