UAE Ministry of Culture opens second cycle of Modern Heritage Grant Programme
In short
The UAE Ministry of Culture has launched the second cycle of the Modern Heritage Grant Programme for 2026-2027, organised with Zayed University and MAJRA – National CSR Fund. Applications run until October 31 through the ministry's official website, under a theme the two outlets word slightly differently. The cycle offers four grant categories, two of them new: a Publication Grant and a Research Initiation Fund for emerging researchers.
Why it matters
The programme channels ministry funding into research, documentation and creative work on the UAE's modern heritage, and the two added categories widen who can apply, including early-career researchers. As a government-backed scheme run with a university and the national CSR fund, it signals continued institutional spending on cultural research. Its relevance is largely domestic to the UAE's research and arts sector.
Key facts
- The Ministry of Culture launched the second cycle of the Modern Heritage Grant Programme for 2026-2027. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The cycle is organised with Zayed University and MAJRA – National CSR Fund. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It offers four main grant categories, two of which are new. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The categories are the Scholarly Research Grant, Creative Research Grant, Publication Grant and Research Initiation Fund. [ 2 ]
- The Publication Grant and the Research Initiation Fund are the two new categories. [ 2 ]
- The Research Initiation Fund is for emerging researchers and provides guidance from experts and researchers. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Applications are open until October 31, 2026, through the ministry's official website. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Gulf News listed focus areas including Climate Intelligence; Everyday Modernities; Modern Contributions and Regional Networks; and Future Conservation and Digital Practices. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Ministry of Culture launched the second cycle of the Modern Heritage Grant Programme 2026-2027. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The programme is run in collaboration with Zayed University and MAJRA – National CSR Fund. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The cycle comprises four main grant categories, including two new ones. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A new Research Initiation Fund targets emerging researchers and includes specialised guidance. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Applications are accepted until October 31 through the ministry's official website. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The theme's exact wording: Gulf News gives it as “Modern Heritage as a Living Practice: Adoption, Memory, Contribution and the Future,” while WAM gives “Adaptation, Memory, Contribution and the Future.” The two outlets differ on a single word of the theme, and neither explains the discrepancy.
- The programme's name: Gulf News calls it the “Modern Heritage Grand Program,” WAM calls it the “Modern Heritage Grant Programme.” The outlets use different names for the same initiative.
- Grant amounts, the number of grants available and eligibility terms. Neither document states funding values, grant counts or detailed eligibility rules.
- The application deadline year is given explicitly only by Gulf News as 2026; WAM says “until October 31” without a year. One outlet gives a single-source detail on the year.