The Ministry of Culture has announced the list of winning projects under the 2025 grant program for cultural associations of public utility. According to the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Mubarak Al Naqbi, the ministry is working to build a sustainable cultural system based on effective partnership between government institutions and society, with cultural associations being one of the most important drivers of this system. They provide quality initiatives that reflect the authenticity of the Emirati identity, contribute to empowering talents and building an aware and creative generation, and enhance the presence of our country on various cultural platforms locally and globally.
Among the winning projects this year, the 'Cultural Festivals' category saw five prominent projects win, including the 'Ras Al Khaimah Festival for Al Ayala Art', the 'From the Heritage of Ancestors' festival by the Umm Al Quwain Association for Folk Arts and Theatre, the 'Kiz Diba' festival by the Dibba Association for Culture, Arts and Theatre, and the 'Zawaya for Cultural Creativity' festival by the UAE Association for Social Development. The UAE Association for Libraries and Information also received a grant to organize the UAE Libraries Forum.
In the 'Cultural Education' category, grants were awarded to the EMA Music Center of the UAE Musicians Association, the 'Al Mald and Al Habbiya Arts' workshops project by the Dubai Association for Folk Arts, the 'Folk Arts' course by the Umm Al Quwain Association for Folk Heritage, and the 'Green Reading Initiative' by the Association for the Protection of the Arabic Language.
In the 'Creative Production' category, grants included several theatrical and artistic works, such as 'Screams from the Abyss' by the Kalba Association for Folk Arts and Theatre, 'Upside Down' by the Yas Association for Culture and Arts, a social theatrical work by the Dubai National Theatre, 'City of Dreams' by the Khorfakkan Theatre for Arts, and 'Land of Drought' by the Fujairah Theatre.
