The winners of the inaugural edition of Sustainable Impact Challenge from Majra, the National CSR Fund were announced at a special ceremony held at the SEE Institute in The Sustainable City in Dubai.
In first place, taking the top prize of Dhs 300,000 was HeroGo, a grocery delivery service reducing food waste; in second place winning Dhs 200,000, was a donation initiative from tutoring platform Thiqa Education; and in third place and receiving Dhs 100,000 was Distant Imagery, a drone company mapping mangrove restoration.
Twenty organisations made were shortlisted for the Sustainable Impact Challenge and each was required to deliver a one-minute pitch to an audience made up of government minsters and impact professionals at the awards ceremony.
“The 20 projects we are honouring today demonstrates the breadth of creativity and courage that exists in our private sector and third sector,” said Sarah Shaw, Majra CEO. "Beyond being CSR in name, these initiatives are real life examples of the impact that we can achieve by incorporating purpose into business.”
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of Majra’s Board of Trustees, added: “The Sustainable Impact Challenge reflects our mission to nurture a culture of sustainable development. Through this initiative, we aim to support impactful private sector projects that align with the national agenda, contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and promote responsible business practices.”
In addition to the winners, four organisations also received a special mention. They were: Enable, a UAE - born social enterprise empowering People of Determination through retail - based entrepreneurship; Art Connects Women, supporting female artists through a dedicated gallery in Dubai; Wazen, a financial literacy movement promoting economic stability and sustainable growth; and Greening Communities, a mangrove planting project at Ajman University.
Majra is a UAE federal government entity dedicated to supporting the private sector by amplifying their impact in the space of CSR, ESG and sustainability.
Organisations with projects or initiative that demonstrates real impact and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goalss and UAE Vision 2030, are invited to apply for Majra verification. The Majra Verification stamp, valid for two years, serves as official federal-level recognition of a project’s legitimacy and alignment with UAE National Priorities.
The Winners
HeroGo is the UAE’s first food - tech platform that rescues surplus groceries and pantry goods, delivering them to homes and businesses at reduced prices. By combating food waste and offering more affordable groceries, HeroGo supports a circular food economy and strengthens national food security. In 2024, they diverted over 410 tons of food from landfills, created 1 million meal equivalents, and reduced CO₂ emissions by over 1,000 tons. Their smart platform personalises deliveries, learns household needs, and helps consumers shop more sustainably - saving money while saving the planet.
Thiqa Education's 'Dirham Makes a Difference' initiative turns every teaching hour into a donation that funds education for students in need. Through their CSR fund, they support underprivileged children, single mothers, and teachers by allocating AED 1 from each class toward scholarships and training. Already, the initiative has sponsored 40 students, supported 50 mothers, and trained 5 teachers. By 2030, the goal is to support 1,000 students, empower 1,000 mothers, and deliver 100 development workshops - building an ecosystem of equitable, inclusive education for all.
Distant Imagery is a homegrown innovation using AI - powered drones to restore mangrove forests across Abu Dhabi, planting over 9.5 million seeds to date. Built with modular, repairable tech from repurposed plastic waste, the drones reduce costs, improve planting success rates, and enable local ownership through a licensing model. The platform empowers communities with training, drone kits, and real - time data to expand restoration globally. With partners like ADNOC, ENGIE, and the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi, the project is scaling impact, advancing biodiversity, and contributing to the UAE’s 2030 goal of 100 million mangroves.