• Entrants must be UAE residents who have graduated from a university or college within the last five years or who are full-time degree students enrolled at a UAE university or college. 

• All applicants must apply for the award with the support and nomination of a mentor from within or outside of the university system. 

• Entries may be submitted individually or as a group of up to three people. 

• All submissions must be original works and must not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party. 

A selection committee chooses a winning entry based on the following considerations: 

You will need a mentor. By nominating you, your mentor will commit to working with you throughout the production and installation of your work, providing guidance and support. They can be a practicing artist, a current or past professor, a client, a gallerist – anyone whom you would like to work with. It is an important relationship that will support the development of your work. 

Be clear and concise. When completing the online application form, keep your answers concise, focused and honest. If you anticipate challenges in creating your work, explain what they are and how you may need help to overcome them. 

Do your research. If you are estimating your artwork’s production costs, contact potential suppliers for quotes. Your budget doesn’t have to be final at the start, but it should be realistic and based on initial research.  

Think big, think small and think practically. 

• Is your work durable? If the work is exhibited outdoors it must withstand the elements, including wind, rain and sun.
• Can you produce your project within $10,000 USD (approximately AED 36,730)?
• Can you deliver your artwork on time while managing other commitments?
• Do you have a suitable workspace?
• Is your work safe for displaying a public space?

Think outside the box. Previous winners may inspire you, but the selection committee will be looking for innovation and originality. 

Enjoy the experience and have fun! This is a valuable opportunity to create art and work with experienced arts professionals. 

• Application form – apply here
• Budget form
• Production schedule form

By entering this competition, entrants acknowledge and confirm their agreement to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.  

1. Eligibility  

• Open entry: The award is open to artists based in the UAE who have created original designs.   

• Age and legal capacity: Participants must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into a binding agreement. In cases where legal capacity is in question, entrants must provide documented consent from a legal guardian.   

• Nationality: Open to Emirati and UAE-based residents holding a valid Emirates ID.   

• Originality: All submissions must be original works and must not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party.   

• Exclusion criteria: Employees, contractors or representatives of the organising body, sponsors, or affiliated partners of ADMAF are not eligible to participate, except as explicitly stated in these Terms and Conditions.   

2. Submission Guidelines  

• Submission period: Entries must be submitted during the official submission period. Late submissions will not be considered.   

• Format and content: Submissions must include a detailed description of the work, technical specifications and an artist’s statement. Digital files must adhere to the accepted file formats and size limits specified.   

• Multiple entries: Multiple entries from the same author(s) are not permitted.   

• Group submissions: A single submission may be submitted by up to three authors. 

• Visual materials: Digital files visualising the artwork must be submitted in one of the following formats: PNG, JPEG or PDF and must adhere to the specified file size limits. 

3. Judging Process and Criteria   

• Selection committee: An independent panel of experts in art will evaluate all submissions.   

• Final decision: The committee’s decisions are final and binding.   

4. Intellectual PropertyandUsage Rights   

• Ownership: Participants retain full ownership of their submitted works.   

• License to ADMAF: By entering the award, participants grant ADMAF a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display, reproduce, distribute and use the submissions for promotional, educational and archival purposes, subject to proper attribution.   

• Moral rights: Participants agree that any use of the submitted works in connection with the award does not compromise their moral rights. Any third-party rights must be clearly documented and managed by the entrant.   

5. Award Disbursement  

• Award: The award includes a monetary award of USD10,000 disbursed in accordance with a pre-established payment schedule.   

• Additional benefits: Winners may receive exhibition opportunities, global media exposure and mentorship as required to realise the proposed artwork.   

• Award acceptance: Winner must formally accept the award by signing an award acceptance agreement. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the award.   

• In accepting the award, the winner agrees to travel nationally and internationally if and when required.  

6. Publicity and Use of Likeness  

• Consent: By participating, entrants consent to the use of their name, likeness, biographical details and submitted works for promotional and publicity purposes related to the award, without additional compensation unless otherwise agreed.   

• Filming and photography: By participating, all applicants consent to appear in photography and filming related to the award.   

• Media release: Programme participants and the award recipient agree to participate in interviews, photo sessions and other media activities reasonably requested by ADMAF.   

7. Confidentiality and Data Protection  

• Confidentiality: All information provided in submissions will be treated with strict confidentiality and used solely for the purposes of the award evaluation and subsequent administration.  

• Data protection: Personal data will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws and ADMAF privacy policy.   

8. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law  

• Arbitration: Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions shall be resolved by confidential binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of Abu Dhabi.   

• Governing law: These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction of Abu Dhabi.   

• Participants consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the relevant courts for any disputes not resolved through arbitration.   

9. Limitation of Liability  

• No guarantees: ADMAF is not liable for any technical issues, unauthorised third-party interventions or other disruptions that might impact the submission process or evaluation.   

• Force majeure: ADMAF shall not be responsible for any delay or failure in performance due to events beyond their reasonable control.   

10. Amendments and Modifications  

• Right to amend: ADMAF reserves the right to amend or modify these Terms and Conditions at any time, with changes effective immediately upon publication on the official award website page. Participants will be notified of significant changes, and continued participation constitutes acceptance of the amended Terms and Conditions.  

• Communication: All notices and communications regarding amendments will be sent to the email address provided during registration or made available on the official website.  

11. Termination and Forfeiture 

• Non-compliance: Submissions that do not adhere to these Terms and Conditions or the guidelines will be disqualified at the sole discretion of ADMAF.  

• Withdrawal: Participants may withdraw their submission before the deadline. Withdrawn entries will be permanently removed from consideration.  

12. Miscellaneous Provisions 

• Severability: If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.  

• Entire agreement: These Terms and Conditions, together with any additional guidelines or documents referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between the participants and the organisers regarding the award.  

• Contact: For any questions or further clarifications regarding these Terms and Conditions, participants may contact ADMAF at [email protected].