The program includes a set of grants to offer support to UAE national creatives. Aimed at fostering talent and overall cultural production, the grants target creative professionals distinguished in the cultural and creative industries.

Criteria and Procedures for Subsidizing Cultural Associations and Groups

This initiative is part of the Ministry’s efforts to preserve Emirati culture and enhance its value among members of the community. It aims to establish an integrated system and a comprehensive national vision based on modern architectural heritage in the country, from the 1960s until the present day.

More than 50 artists from the UAE participated at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, one of the leading artistic and cultural events in the world. The event, entitled “UAE: Living Landscape, Living Memory”, held in Washington, D.C., featured the UAE as the country in focus at the 2022 edition which took place from June 22 to 27, and June 30 to July 4.

Considered the largest exhibition of visual art from the Gulf, the biannual showcase of the GCC Visual Arts Forum aims to celebrate creativity from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar. Presented in a member nation every 2 years, the Forum stages activities, events and workshops, establish programmes to support creatives and awards prizes.

The UAE has implemented a long-term residence visa system for five or ten years that is automatically renewed when conditions are met for certain categories that include investors, entrepreneurs and specialized talents. This new system allows residents of the UAE, foreign expatriates and their families wishing to come to work, live and study in the country, the possibility of enjoying long-term residency without the need for a sponsor, with 100% ownership within the emirates, contrary to the custom that requires the presence of a local partner with a share not less than 51% of the business and investment projects within the emirate. To grant a residence for people from the cultural and creative fields, a recommendation from the Ministry of Culture is required.

The first edition of the Arabic Language Summit will be held, following the inaugural edition held on the margin of EXPO Dubai last year, under the slogan Language and Making of Identity, during the period from 20 to 21 December 2022 at Manarat Al Saadiyat Center. The Summit shall be organized by the Ministry of Culture in association with Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center.

The project aims at creating a unified national register of artifacts in all emirates of the UAE. This register helps everyone to know all the details about such artifacts and find proper ways to preserve them and restore them as part of the cultural heritage of the state. The implementation of this project is part of the objectives that the Ministry seeks to achieve in order to preserve archaeological sites and introduce them to internal and external audiences. The project is supervised by a local specialized team, which works closely with local authorities to implement modern scientific methods.

The aim of the camp is to develop young people’s ability to communicate and express themselves in a creative and effective way that will enhance their productivity in the future and broaden their awareness by stimulating their passion for knowledge and educating them about future career opportunities based on their interests and aspirations.

Launched in 2004, Al Burda is an international initiative by the Ministry of Culture focused on supporting and fostering creativity, as well as raising awareness about Islamic art and culture both locally and globally. The initiative aims to introduce and engage younger generations to the diverse disciplines of Islamic art and culture. By doing so, Al Burda establishes broad intergenerational links that encourages the advancement of Islamic art on the global cultural map.

Every year March is observed as the month of Reading in the UAE; it is marked by a rich and diverse calendar of engaging activities and sustainable initiatives that motivate the community to read with the aim of transforming reading into a daily habit for everyone and equip, with knowledge, a future generation capable of driving the perpetual  growth journey of the UAE.