Cultural Association and Bands Subsidies
About Us
Financial support granted by the ministry of culture to cultural associations, either in the form of an operational grant or for funding a specific cultural project submitted with the aim of obtaining financial support for it.
Operational grants:
Operational grants are provided once a year to cultural associations to help cover part of their operating costs and support their objectives. The grant amount is based on the financial deficit shown in the final accounts of the year before applying, and it must not exceed AED 100,000. Associations must comply with the approved terms, conditions, and criteria when submitting their application.
Project Grants:
Financial grants are disbursed once annually to cultural associations, either individually or collectively, in return for a cultural program or project to be implemented in the future and submitted to the Ministry with the aim of securing financial support for it. All cultural associations may apply for this type of grant. The value of project and program grants shall not exceed AED 300,000. Associations must comply with the following terms, provisions, and criteria when submitting applications for program and project grants.
Objectives
01
Establishing a system that achieves the principle of fairness and provides equal opportunities for all cultural associations to apply for various financial grants, in accordance with specified terms and criteria.
02
Disbursing financial grants to eligible beneficiaries based on clear evaluation criteria and announced results that ensure optimal distribution according to eligibility standards.
03
Facilitating and clarifying the journey of cultural associations in applying for grants and financial support from the Ministry by providing comprehensive information about application procedures and evaluation criteria.
04
Ensuring the existence of an effective system that enables cultural associations to provide the necessary evidence and requirements to qualify for grants and financial support in accordance with the Ministry’s approved standards and procedures.
05
Enhancing and raising the level of competitiveness among cultural associations to advance the cultural and creative sector in the country.
06
Motivating and encouraging cultural associations to implement more effective and impactful programs and initiatives for beneficiaries and supporting their efforts to generate new sources of funding.
Operating Grant - General Terms and Conditions
01
The operating grant is exclusively available for folk arts associations and theaters.
02
The cultural association must have been established and officially registered for at least one year.
03
Compliance with approved administrative rules and procedures is mandatory.
04
The association must demonstrate active presence through an annual operational plan.
05
Operational Support may not be granted to an eligible organization for more than three consecutive cycles. Eligibility may be reconsidered after the fourth year, subject to a review of the association’s status.
Fields
Literature and Arabic Language
Music
Films and Cinema
Performing Arts & Theatre
Visual Arts & Design
Animation and Video Games
Cultural Heritage and National Identity
Architecture and Design
Culinary Arts
Eligibility Criteria for Operating Grant
01
The cultural association’s need for Operational Support is assessed based on the financial deficit reflected in its approved final accounts, after deducting any Operational Support received from the Ministry in the previous year (if applicable).
02
The Operating Grant amount will be equivalent to the financial deficit incurred, up to a maximum of AED 100,000.
Grants for projects of cultural associations - General Terms and Conditions
01
The cultural association must have been established and officially registered for at least two years.
02
Compliance with approved administrative rules and procedures is mandatory.
03
The association must demonstrate active presence through an annual operational plan.
04
Adherence to existing partnership requirements with the Ministry is required.
05
A project may be submitted by one or more associations. For joint submissions, the Committee will determine the grant amount based on what it considers appropriate.
06
The cultural association’s level of compliance with the requirements of partnership agreements signed with the Ministry.
07
The requested grant amount will be reassessed in accordance with the Committee’s approved mechanism, which includes reviewing the project’s implementation costs and comparing them with estimates considered appropriate and realistic by the Committee.
08
The association must use the grant funds exclusively for the approved program or project, in accordance with the Ministry’s terms and conditions, to achieve the grant’s objectives and enhance the project’s impact on beneficiaries.
Eligibility Criteria for Program and Project Grants
Applications for Program and Project Grants are evaluated based on three main criteria. Cultural associations are required to submit the necessary documentation and supporting evidence demonstrating their eligibility. The evaluation criteria are as follows:
1.Quality of project planning (20%).
2.Added value of the project to the association(s) and their members (40%).
3.Added value of the project to the community (40%).
1. Quality of project planning:
- To assess the quality of the proposed program or project idea, the clarity of its rationale and feasibility, the robustness of operational and financial planning, and the availability of human resources and performance indicators. It also considers the identification of partners and target groups, as well as the implementation and review mechanisms of the work plan, demonstrating the association’s ability to deliver the project efficiently, on time, and in line with required quality standards.
2. Added value of the project to the association(s) and their members:
- To evaluate the extent to which the proposed program or project benefits the association’s members or the creative community related to its activities, including the number of beneficiaries, the participation of Emirati talents and creatives, and the expected tangible and intangible outcomes of the project.
3. Added value of the project to the community:
- To assess the extent to which the proposed program or project contributes to enriching the cultural landscape of the UAE particularly by strengthening national cultural identity, supporting the national framework for cultural activities in schools, and contributing to the development of cultural education. It also considers the project’s alignment with national cultural priorities and directions, as well as its relevance to the UAE Government’s annual priorities and initiatives—such as themed national years (e.g., the Year of the Family) and key government principles like Zero Bureaucracy and innovation.
Operating Grant – Required Documents
01
The decision to announce the association includes the announcement number
02
Certified financial report for the previous financial year
03
Minutes of the General Assembly meeting for the previous financial year
04
Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting to date
05
The association's general Programs and activities plan
06
Report on the implementation of the association's general programs and activities
07
List of supporting bodies (and the amount of support provided) to date
Required Documents for Grant Applications
01
The decision to announce the association includes the announcement number
02
Certified financial report for the previous financial year
03
Minutes of the General Assembly meeting for the previous financial year
04
Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting to date
05
Project plan and feasibility study submitted for the grant application
06
The association's general programs and activities plan
07
The association's general report on the implementation of programs and activities
08
List of supporting bodies (and the amount of support provided) to date
Cases of Exclusion and Rejection of Submitted Applications
- The Ministry may exclude or reject grant and financial support applications submitted by cultural associations for any of the following reasons:
- Failure of the cultural association to comply with any of the general terms, provisions, or criteria required for the requested grant as stated above.
- Failure of the cultural association to meet the minimum required supporting documents and essential evidence for the requested grant.
- Failure to submit complete documentation and supporting evidence consistent with the documents required for evaluation.
- Failure to disclose, in the final financial statements of the previous year, the grants and financial support received from the Ministry or other entities.
- Submission of any inaccurate or unreliable documents that may affect transparency, integrity, or fair competition.
Additionally, if the project receives less than 50% of the approved weighting in any evaluation criterion, or less than 50% in the overall evaluation result, the application may be rejected.
- The Ministry shall notify the excluded cultural association of the decision to exclude and reject the submitted application, including the reasons on which the decision was based.
Submit application
Deadline: 31 May 2026
To submit an application for:
- Periodic Subsidy: Press here
- Grants for projects of cultural associations: Press here
On this page
- About Us
- Objectives
- Fields
- Operating Grant - General Terms and Conditions
- Eligibility Criteria for Operating Grant
- Grants for projects of cultural associations - General Terms and Conditions
- Eligibility Criteria for Program and Project Grants
- Operating Grant – Required Documents
- Required Documents for Grant Applications
- Cases of Exclusion and Rejection
- Submit application