Hada News
UAE Ministry of Culture opens Modern Heritage Grant cycle two; WAM gives 31 October as the deadline, but two ministry pages say 15 October
The Ministry of Culture, with Zayed University and MAJRA, has opened the second cycle of the Modern Heritage Grant Programme for 2026–2027. WAM and the cycle page's Key Dates give 31 October 2026 as the last day to apply, but the ministry's programme page and a timetable on the cycle page give 15 October. There are four grant types, two of them new.
Researchers and creatives working on the UAE's 1960s–1990s built heritage have until the end of the month, according to WAM. The Ministry of Culture, working with Zayed University and MAJRA – National CSR Fund, launched the second cycle of the Modern Heritage Grant Programme on 2 October, WAM reported the same day.
Four grant types: Scholarly Research Grant (articles, chapters, book manuscripts), Creative Research Grant (creative publications, drawings, photography series, film, installations, exhibitions and other formats), plus two new categories — Publication Grant for completed or near-completed work, and Research Initiation Fund for emerging researchers with mentor support.
Theme and focus: the cycle title is "Modern Heritage as a Living Practice: Adaptation, Memory, Contribution and the Future." Applicants are steered to Climate Intelligence, Everyday Modernities, Modern Contributions and Regional Networks, and Future Conservation and Digital Practices.
Deadline note: WAM reported on 2 October that the ministry will accept applications until 31 October through its website, and the cycle page's Key Dates give "31 October 2026 by 11:59 pm". The same cycle page also carries a timetable listing the application period as 15 August–15 October, and the ministry's programme page gives "15 October 2026 by 11:59 pm" (UAE time) as the last day. The ministry has not explained the difference.
Support beyond money: one-to-one sessions, midway presentations, technical-committee guidance, ministry support letters, Zayed University library access, a covered final exhibition and the Annual Modern Heritage Symposium.
Why it matters: the new Publication Grant and Research Initiation Fund open the programme to finished work and to emerging researchers, while the ministry's own pages disagree on whether applications closed on 15 October or stay open until 31 October.
Sources: Emirates News Agency (WAM), 2 Oct 2026; Ministry of Culture cycle page and programme page.
Watch next: whether the ministry reconciles the 15 and 31 October dates, and the January 2027 winner announcement window on the cycle page.