The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Photos by Daniel Nicholson via OceanLove

Egypt’s sustainability landscape is making a splash on the world stage. Three Egyptian-based initiatives, VeryNile, Sustainable Network Egypt, and The Ocean Knows My Heart, have been named among the Top 10 Finalists for the OceanLove Innovation Award 2025, the world’s largest and most inclusive ocean-related innovation prize, endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science.

Chosen from a record-breaking 260 applications across 64 countries, these homegrown projects are not just competing; they are redefining how Egypt connects with global ocean conservation.

Egypt’s Ocean Innovators

From the banks of the Nile to classrooms and community networks, Egypt’s finalists represent a powerful wave of grassroots innovation. Sustainable Network Egypt, founded by Nadine Wahab, is a pioneering platform that unites sustainability practitioners across Egypt, from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. It helps them collaborate, share resources, and drive collective environmental action. The initiative promotes connection over competition and is building a nationwide culture of environmental stewardship.

The Ocean Knows My Heart, created by Beyond Borders Collective, is a co-created children’s storybook and learning toolkit that connects Egypt and Tanzania through art, storytelling, and emotional literacy. It empowers young minds to understand and care for the ocean in an imaginative and heartfelt way, proving that change can begin with empathy and creativity.

Turning River Waste into Opportunities (VeryNile) is already a familiar name in Egypt. As Africa’s first large-scale river clean-up initiative, VeryNile turns plastic waste into livelihoods, with local fishers collecting and recycling river plastics before they reach the sea. It is a model of community empowerment and circular economy in action, showing that environmental and social impact can go hand in hand.

A Global Stage for Ocean Change

The winners of the OceanLove Innovation Award 2025 will be announced on November 6, 2025, at Tomorrow.Blue Economy World Congress during the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The event is expected to attract more than 25,000 ocean experts, investors, and changemakers from around the world.

The top five winners will receive cash prizes of €10,000 for 1st place, €5,000 for 2nd, €3,000 for 3rd, €2,000 for 4th, and €1,000 for 5th. Each winner will also receive one year of expert coaching to help turn their ideas into real-world impact and lasting change.

Egypt’s Growing Role in Global Sustainability

Egypt’s recognition in the OceanLove Innovation Award is part of a larger movement positioning the country as a regional leader in environmental innovation. From hosting international climate summits to fostering youth-led green startups, Egypt is steadily building a reputation for sustainability-driven creativity. These projects reflect a new generation of Egyptians redefining how conservation looks and feels, merging local traditions with forward-thinking solutions that speak to global audiences.

About OceanLove

Founded in 2021 by Dutch social entrepreneur Ilco van der Linde and managed by Egyptian freediver Raghda Ezzeldin, OceanLove has quickly become a global movement for ocean innovation and inclusivity. The initiative is endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science and collaborates with organisations such as Mission Blue, Afrilabs, and KMT House.

OceanLove’s global network includes renowned ambassadors such as Dr Sylvia Earle, the world-famous marine biologist and founder of Mission Blue, and Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and a leading advocate for sustainable business and climate action.

Funded by the Fred Foundation from the Netherlands, Stichting Nieuwe Waarde, and the OOF Foundation, OceanLove continues to grow each year, inspiring more participants, more creativity, and more solutions for a healthier planet.

Egypt at the Heart of Global Ocean Action

From cleaning rivers to inspiring young ocean storytellers, Egypt’s presence at the OceanLove Innovation Award highlights how local action can create global impact. These Egyptian initiatives prove that ocean conservation does not begin at the coast; it starts wherever people choose to care.

As Egypt’s innovators prepare to take the stage in Barcelona, they carry with them a message that resonates far beyond borders. Our rivers, our oceans, and our future are deeply connected, and Egypt is proudly part of the movement to protect them.