• Entrants must be UAE residents who have graduated from a university or college within the last five years or 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 can be submitted individually or by a group of up to three people.

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

• You will need a mentor. By nominating you, they commit to working with you throughout the production and installation of your work, to guide and support you. 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 and one that will help you to realise your work.
• Be clear and concise. When filling in the online application form, keep your answers concise, focused, and honest. If you foresee 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 cost, contact potential suppliers for quotes. Your budget doesn’t have to be final at the start, but it should be realistic and based on some initial research.
• Think big, think small, but think practical.
  .  Is your work durable? If the work is exhibited outside it must withstand all elements: wind, rain, and sun.
  .  Can you produce your project for $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 to exhibit in a public space?
• Think outside of the box. Previous winners may inspire you, but the selection committee will always be looking for innovation and originality.
• Enjoy the experience and have fun! This is a tremendous opportunity to create art and work with arts professionals.

• Application Form [here]
• Budget Form
• Production Schedule Form

By entering this competition, entrants indicate 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 & 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 with 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 organizing body, sponsors, or affiliated partners of ADMAF are not eligible to participate, except as explicitly stated in these Terms.   

2. Submission Guidelines  

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

• Format & 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 from the same author(s) are not permitted.   

• Digital files visualising the artwork (must adhere to the accepted file formats and size limits specified in the submission guidelines: PNG, JPEG, PDF)   

3. Judging Process & Criteria  

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

• The committee’s decisions are final and binding.   

4. Intellectual Property & Usage 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 USD 10,000 disbursed in accordance with a pre-established payment schedule.   

• Additional Benefits: Winners may receive exhibition opportunities, global media exposure, and mentorship based on the needs 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 the 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 names, likenesses, biographical details, and submitted works for promotional and publicity purposes related to the Award, without additional compensation unless otherwise agreed.   

• Filming & 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 as 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.  

• 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 shall be resolved by confidential binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of Abu Dhabi.   

• Governing Law: These Terms 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, unauthorized 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 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.  

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

11. Termination and Forfeiture 

• Non-Compliance: Submissions that do not adhere to these Terms 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 is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.  

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

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