Photo taken on Jan. 14, 2019 shows the opening ceremony of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The event, the largest sustainability gathering in the Middle East, started on Monday and awarded winners for their innovation in environmental protection. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)?

ABU DHABI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, largest sustainability gathering in the Middle East, started on Monday in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and awarded winners for their innovation in environmental protection.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, honored 10 winners in sectors including health, food, energy and water, with the Zayed Sustainability Prize named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, late founding father of the UAE.

The crown prince praised the winners' efforts in boosting sustainable development around the world, and encouraged them to continue their work in exploring and promoting more innovative solutions to challenges.

"The UAE is continuing to draw inspiration from its vision of sustainable and comprehensive development, which will continue to be celebrated throughout 2019 , the Year of Tolerance," he said.

On Dec. 15, 2018, the UAE government announced that the year of 2019 would be officially proclaimed the Year of Tolerance to strengthen the nation's role in encouraging stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

The ceremony was also attended by UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who is also the ruler of Dubai, Yang Jiechi, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative, and a number of world leaders and representatives.?