RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Tuesday, 11. November 2025
From flood
prevention to smart quality control, young innovators from across the
Arab region showcase practical solutions for sustainability challenges
Two
student-led innovations from Saudi Arabia and Morocco earned top honors
at INJAZ Al-Arab Youth Entrepreneurship Celebration (YEC) in Cairo,
showcasing how young Arab entrepreneurs are transforming sustainability
challenges into practical solutions.
The Alshaya Starbucks
Sustainability in Action Award honored two standout projects: Clear Flow
from Saudi Arabia in the high school division, while Sparks from
Morocco in the university category. The teams were selected from 22
competing teams representing 12 countries at the region’s flagship youth
entrepreneurship event, held under the patronage of His Excellency
Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt.
Clear Flow: Reducing Single Use Cup Waste
Clear
Flow, a team of Saudi high school students, addressed Starbucks'
single-use coffee cup waste by proposing a returnable cup system linked
to the app ‘EcoCup’. This app integrates with Starbucks Rewards to track
returnable cup usage and reward customers. The team thoughtfully
considered the entire lifecycle of the initiative, incorporating
collection bins and cleaning solutions for the cups, as well as
incentivized recycling bins for paper cups to further reduce waste.
Sparks: Adopting Sustainable Habits
Sparks
from INJAZ Morocco, created a platform that encourages customers to
adopt sustainable habits while earning rewards. Their app allows users
to scan a QR code after making eco-friendly choices in Starbucks stores,
such as recycling, using personal cups, or collecting used coffee
grounds. These actions earn ‘EcoPoints’, which can be redeemed for
rewards via the Starbucks Rewards app, further motivating sustainable
behaviours.
Mohammad Mahmoud, Senior Vice President of Starbucks
at Alshaya Group, and one of this year’s judges, said: “Both Clear Flow
and Sparks showcase how young people are using creativity to serve their
communities. Their innovations are practical, purposeful, and deeply
connected to the values we share at Starbucks. We are proud to recognize
their work and support the next generation of changemakers shaping a
more sustainable future across the Arab region. By giving future
generations the tools, confidence, and platform they need, we’re seeing
complex sustainability challenges turned into practical, testable
solutions.”
Akef Aqrabawi, President and CEO of INJAZ Al-Arab/JA
MENA, said: “These winning projects exemplify how youth innovation can
drive sustainable solutions for our region’s most pressing challenges.
Through our partnership with Alshaya Starbucks, we continue to give
young people the skills and confidence to turn ideas into action.“The
diverse range of award winners at YEC 2025 demonstrates how young Arab
entrepreneurs across MENA are addressing challenges through technology,
creativity, and practical problem-solving, contributing to the UN
Sustainable Development Goals and their countries’ national visions,” he
added.
Beyond the sustainability awards, YEC 2025 celebrated
excellence across various entrepreneurship categories. Among the
winners, Qeshour from Oman emerged victorious, claiming the coveted
“Company of the Year” title in the university track, while Ecorock from
Palestine demonstrated exceptional talent and was awarded “Company of
the Year” in the high school category.
Product of the Year
recognition went to Rooh from KSA in the university track and Raicom
from the UAE in the high school track. The new Global Impact category
saw victories from Catalyth from Tunisia in the university track, and
Peelup from Bahrain taking home the award in the high school category.
This
year’s edition further featured a coveted Innovative Award,
highlighting the best entrepreneurial ventures, with LYNQ from Bahrain
winning in the university track, and Neuromove, a venture from Lebanon,
claiming the high school track award.
The Alshaya Starbucks
Sustainability in Action Award builds on The Starbucks Foundation and
Alshaya Group’s three-year partnership with INJAZ Al-Arab/ JA MENA
through EmpowerME, a regional program that equips youth with
entrepreneurial skills, sustainability awareness, and practical
experience. In its first year, the program has already engaged over
86,000 young people across the region.
Starbucks at Alshaya Group
Starbucks®
Coffee Company, the international coffeehouse and roastery chain,
operates in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia
regions as a licensed franchise under the umbrella of Alshaya Group, one
of the world’s leading brand franchise operators. As the premier
roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the region, Starbucks at
Alshaya Group seamlessly integrates global coffee expertise and local
knowhow.
Starbucks at Alshaya Group is all about nurturing the
human connection, bringing together local communities and delivering
memorable customer experiences. We work to ensure the highest standards
of quality and excellence in bringing you an ethically sourced,
high-quality cup of Arabica coffee. Serving up coffee and connections to
draw our world closer, Starbucks at Alshaya Group currently operates
more than 2,000 stores in 13 countries in the region.
Learn more about your perfect cup of Starbucks coffee:
https://www.alshaya.com/en/brands/food/starbucks/
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Contacts
Omar Katbi
+971 52 362 3183
okatbi@apcoworldwide.com