
A total prize pool of over AED 70,000 in Abu Dhabi Mall vouchers will be awarded to the top entries
After weeks of public admiration and creative buzz, the winners of the third edition of The Art of Recycling competition have officially been announced; celebrating some of the most imaginative and eco-conscious artistic talent in the UAE.
Held in partnership between Yalla and Abu Dhabi Mall, this year’s competition invited participants to create artworks under the theme “I love Abu Dhabi, because…”, transforming discarded materials into bold expressions of identity, sustainability and vision.
Over eighty shortlisted pieces took over the mall’s main atrium in a stunning three-week exhibition that turned one of the city’s busiest shopping destinations into a powerful showcase of environmental storytelling.
Now, the final judging is complete; and the winning entries have been selected. From recycled fashion to intricately assembled sculptures, each piece demonstrated not just artistic flair but a meaningful connection to both community and climate.
The judging panel which consisted of Fine Artist Mark Dickens, James Matthews, a respected art educator and curator, and Gemma Gallagher, founder of Design and Dine, had the difficult task of selecting winners from an extraordinarily diverse and thoughtful group of submissions.
A total prize pool of over AED 70,000 in Abu Dhabi Mall vouchers will be awarded to the top entries, with the official awards ceremony set to take place on 19 June at 6pm in Abu Dhabi Mall.
The ceremony will bring together participants, partners, and supporters to celebrate the creativity and impact of this unique community-driven initiative.
With another successful edition wrapped, the legacy of The Art of Recycling continues to grow; turning everyday waste into extraordinary art, and sparking conversations that resonate far beyond the walls of the mall.
Both Yalla and Abu Dhabi Mall would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful entries, over 240 of them, for supporting this latest campaign and welcome everyone to participate yet again in the future.
NURSERY
Winner
Cranleigh Pre-prep – Cranleigh Abu Dhabi
Runners-Up
Blue Falcon Class – Falcon British Nursery
Coral Falcon Class – Falcon British Nursery
Hidayah Fatima Khan – Islamiya English School
KG Students – Mayoor Private School
Lou Fuentes – Diyafah International School
M. Maaz Mahmoud – Islamiya English School
Purple Falcon Class – Falcon British Nursery
Ruby Falcon Class – Falcon British Nursery
Tashvik Nattyals – Abu Dhabi Indian School
Teal Falcon Class – Falcon British Nursery
PRIMARY
Winner
Sarah Zeidan – The British School Al Khubairat
Runners-Up
Bella Corlin – Brighton College Abu Dhabi
Dhananjayan Vigneshwaran – GEMS Cambridge International School
Hannah Cahill – The British International School Abu Dhabi
Israa Isam – Islamiya English School
Reem Rubaiy – Brighton College Abu Dhabi
Rudaina Turas – Islamiya English School
Sai Aarav – Al Yasat Private School Abu Dhabi
Salama Almazrouei – ADNOC School
Sujaya Vigneshwaran – Merryland International School
Vera Antsimonava – The British International School Abu Dhabi
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SECONDARY
Winner
Sachit Bhagat – GEMS Cambridge International School – Abu Dhabi
Runners-Up
Ayman Rubaiy – Brighton College Abu Dhabi
Esteban Demeter – German International School Abu Dhabi
Francis D’Costa – Amity International School Abu Dhabi
Mahdiya Nisaa – Mayoor Private School
Majd Mahmoud – Abu Dhabi International Private School
Nabil Ahmajany – Abu Dhabi International Private School
Oneth Sathsilu – GEMS Winchester School
Shantanu Sandeep Bhow – Abu Dhabi Indian School
Sharvesh Kandappan – Abu Dhabi Indian School
INDIVIDUAL
Winner
Sushant Bhagat
Runners-Up
Camille Lamelliere
Martin Holtz Javier
Paul Banatin
Priya Sakthivel
Zinea Fullonton
UNDER 12 POD
Winner
Niya Elsa Nithin – Sunrise International School
Runners-Up
Marcus Danaf & Zayn Vicky – Aspen Heights British School Abu Dhabi
Meera Alremeithi, Theodore Hanson & Youssef Shamseldin – Aspen Heights
British School Abu Dhabi
Salama Shurafa & Zayed Alhammadi – Aspen Heights British School Abu Dhabi
Theo Hassan – American Community School
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