National Grant Program for Culture and Creativity

Emerging or established or Artisans UAE national creative professionals are eligible to apply for the grant program.

The applicant must be at least 18 years old.

If the applicant is less than 18 years old but already has outstanding achievements and skills in the cultural and creative fields, then an exception may be made to consider their application.

Yes, the applicant must have either previous work experience of a minimum of three years or should have outstanding achievements in the relevant cultural or creative field applied for.

No, the grant is intended to support projects/ opportunities for individuals only.

Yes, however we would require one individual to represent the group to complete the registration and take responsibility for grant program requirements.

The National Grants Program for Culture and Creativity offers grants in five categories, catering to the specific needs of creatives.

• Creation and Production: Support the development of creative projects by covering production expenses including rental of locations and specialized equipment, etc.
• Promotion and Local Participations: Support the promotion and distribution of creative projects including exhibitions, performances, public programs, and participation fees for local events or festivals.
• Capacity Development: Support professional development of creatives to foster their talent and enhance their skills through local or international opportunities such as short courses or residencies.
• International Travel and Mobility: Support travel and transport expenses associated with participation in international opportunities such as festivals, exhibitions, and events.
• Documentation and Archiving: Supporting projects related to the preservation and documentation of cultural and artistic outputs, ensuring their sustainability as a reference for future generations. This category includes activities such as collecting, organizing, digitizing, and preserving creative materials in various forms.

The fields being supported include:

• Books & Literature Books (Literature, Poetry, Illustrations, etc.), Magazines and Digital Publishing
• Music: Music Production & Distribution, , Musical Performances, Concerts
• Performing arts and theatre Theatre, Opera and Live performances
• Film and TV Short Films, Feature Films – fiction, Documentaries, , TV Series, Animation, New Media – content creation
• Visual Arts and Design , Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Calligraphy, Fashion, Product Design, Digital Arts, Photography, Interior Design, Jewelry Design, Sculpture, Architecture Sustainable Products
• Video Games Game Design, Video game development and programming
• Cultural Heritage Crafts, Arabic Language Heritage Preservation, Heritage Education, Research and Exhibitions related to tangible and intangible heritage)

The applicant is required to choose one category that is compatible with the requirements of the submitted project within the creative fields described above.

The grant assessment team and a subject-matter expert committee at the Ministry of Culture will evaluate the appropriate grant amount that will be awarded based on the results of the overall application needs and taking into account the variables of the market.

Applicants are kindly requested to apply for a grant amount that falls within the allocated amount according to the grant categories.

• Creation and Production Grant (Up to AED 100,000)
• Documentation and Archiving Grant (Up to AED 100,000)
• Promotion and Local Participations Grant (Up to AED 80,000)
• Capacity Development Grant (Up to AED 50,000)
• International Travel and Mobility Grant (Up to AED 50,000)

1. Registration opens and applications are received.
2. Grants assessment team reviews applications to ensure completion of all required documents.
3. Grants assessment team begins the evaluation process of all applications and identifies shortlisted candidates.
4. Shortlisted candidates are contacted for interviews to further explain their proposed projects.
5. Overall evaluation process is completed and selected grantees are contacted.
6. Disbursement of grants to beneficiaries to start implementing projects.

31 August 2025

The financial grants will be disbursed 8 weeks after the evaluation of applications and approval of the final list of beneficiaries.

Yes, in case of insufficient information and based on the directives of the Ministry of Culture’s evaluation committee, the applicants may be contacted to provide more evidence.

Yes, there is a team that will follow up on the implementation of projects and receive final completion reports from the grantees.

Yes, you may still apply for this grant. The goal of this grant program is to support and sustain cultural and creative production, but all the details of the previous grants received must be mentioned in the application form.

• The applicant must be operating in a creative field listed by the Ministry. He/she should have a record of achievements in the field and be recognized in that field and have the ability to complete the proposed creative project.
• The applicant must provide a clear explanation of the project, its execution plan, impact, and requirements for the implementation of the project, as well as the duration and budget required for its completion.
• The applicant must provide clear evidence that he/she is the owner of the intellectual property of the project and will implement the project themselves. In case there are other creatives involved, their contribution and role in the project must be mentioned as well.

The ministry encourages grantees to plan effectively and will not bear any additional costs exceeding the grant amount that was finalized at the time of signing the contract.

It is not obligatory, but we encourage applicants to adopt a sustainable approach within their creative projects. Implementing environment-friendly practices or processes in the execution of creative projects will give applicants extra points during the evaluation process.

Integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into cultural and creative projects can be achieved in various ways, encompassing environmental, social, and economic considerations. Here are some ways to incorporate SDGs into cultural and creative projects.

1. Use of Sustainable Materials: Select eco-friendly, recycled, or biodegradable materials in artistic and cultural productions.
2. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Use renewable energy resources to reduce carbon footprint. Improving energy efficiency in creative processes is encouraged, such as use of solar energy or other renewable energy sources to power theaters, production sites, and art galleries.
3. Waste Reduction and Recycling: Adopt recycling and waste management practices in the creation of projects.
4. Awareness and Education: Use cultural and creative platforms to raise awareness about environmental issues and incorporate environmental and social messages into creative projects.
5. Inclusivity and Gender Equality: Promote inclusivity, gender equality, and diversity in creative teams and in the execution of the projects.
6. Community Collaboration: Engage with local communities to promote sustainable development and support traditional crafts and small-scale projects that contribute to sustainable development.
7. Partnerships: Collaborate with organizations and associations working to achieve SDG. Forge partnerships with the public and private sectors to enhance sustainability in cultural projects.

Yes, the National Grant Program for Culture and Creativity is an-annual program and we encourage interested individuals to follow the Ministry of Culture’s website and social media channels for any updates and announcements for the next cycle of the grants.