Freedom 250 Great American State Fair Initiative – Abu Dhabi
🏛 U.S. Mission to United Arab Emirates
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations that plan and execute large-scale cultural events with international scope. Eligible applicants must be registered in the U.S. or UAE and have at least two years of documented large-scale event management experience. Not-for-profit organizations, NGOs, and educational institutions (public or private) may apply.
Applicants must demonstrate prior experience in cultural programming, vendor coordination, and public engagement. The grantee will develop and implement a three-day American State Fair in Abu Dhabi, focusing on programming and participant engagement rather than venue infrastructure.
Cost-sharing is not required. The grant supports one-time event design, curation, and implementation through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Embassy.
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Program description
The U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, Public Diplomacy Section, announces an open competition to develop and implement the programmatic elements of a three-day Freedom 250 Great American State Fair. The Fair will showcase authentic American heartland culture, creativity, entrepreneurship, entertainment, culinary traditions, and music through immersive public programming designed for UAE audiences.
Proposals should showcase American excellence, advance American commercial interests, enhance American brand visibility through public engagement, American vendor participation, strategic partnerships, and cultural programming, and strengthen the U.S.-UAE bilateral relationship.
If selected, the grantee would deliver a comprehensive American State Fair with multiple touchpoints, including but not limited to interactive gaming attractions, themed parades, entertainment showcases, curated exhibitions, family-centric experiences, and an expansive culinary and retail village concept featuring American food brands and artisan vendors, all of which will collectively create an immersive and authentic American state fair experience.
The selected grantee will be responsible for the design, curation, and implementation of the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair programming and participant experience. The grantee will be expected to coordinate closely with our UAE Local Partner Entity and their contractors, which will provide venue infrastructure and operational support. (Those services are subject to grantee negotiation with the UAE Local Entity and PDS involvement and may include but are not limited to the following: venue construction and dismantling, staging and physical infrastructure, ticketing operations, site setup and cleanup, utilities, waste management, security plans and coordination, public facilities, and other event logistics.) Accordingly, applicants for this Notice of Funding Opportunity should focus their proposals on programming, participant engagement, U.S. vendor recruitment and management, American cultural and commercial activations, and overall authentic event experience rather than venue operations and infrastructure. A detailed division of responsibilities will be provided to successful applicants and may be further refined in coordination with the Public Diplomacy Section and the UAE Local Entity.
This initiative directly supports U.S. foreign policy objectives and makes America stronger, safer, and more prosperous by advancing American commercial interests, showcasing U.S. excellence and innovation, positioning American businesses and cultural exports at the center of the UAE’s dynamic cultural and entertainment sector as it reemerges from the regional conflict, and strengthening strategic partnerships with the United Arab Emirates. As a Freedom 250 initiative, the Fair will celebrate 250 years of American independence and achievement and will showcase the unique culture and traditions of the American heartland. As a condition of award, the selected grantee will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UAE Local Entity, the co-host of the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair in Abu Dhabi, immediately after the award is signed with the U.S. Government (PDS UAE). The MOU will govern the operational, programmatic, and logistical responsibilities of the grantee in relation to the co-hosted event and will set forth the terms and conditions under which the grantee will collaborate with the UAE Local Entity. The grantee must conduct all activities in accordance with the terms and conditions established, as well as those set forth in the grant agreement with the U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi’s Public Diplomacy Section.
Note : For complete details, kindly refer to the attached NOFO.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Proof of registration in U.S. or UAE
- Documentation of large-scale event management experience (minimum two years)
- Project narrative/proposal
- Vendor recruitment and management plan
- Cultural programming and participant engagement strategy
- Budget and budget narrative
- Letters of support or partnership commitment letters
- Organizational capacity documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Nisha Lamichhane Aryal Grantor
- 📧 UAEPASGrants@state.gov
- 📞 0543067360
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.040 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$4,682,072
-
$3,371,312
-
$2,650,000
-
$2,446,525
-
$2,050,500
-
$1,861,451
-
$1,700,000
-
$1,565,795
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,480,000
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.040). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2018 | $129,428,262 | |
| 2019 est. | $34,549,598 | |
| 2020 | $129,979,440 | |
| 2021 | $128,999,999 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Not-for-profit organizations, NGOs, and educational institutions registered in the U.S. or UAE. You must have at least two years of documented large-scale event management experience.
What experience must we demonstrate?
Applicants must provide documentation showing expertise in large-scale event management, cultural programming, vendor coordination, and public engagement.
What will the grantee be responsible for?
The selected organization designs and implements programming, recruits American vendors, curates cultural activations, and manages participant experience. The UAE partner provides venue infrastructure and operational logistics.
What is the award amount?
The grant range is $750,000 to $1,000,000 for a one-time three-day event.
What is the deadline?
The application deadline is August 10, 2026.
Is cost-sharing required?
No, cost-sharing is not required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your organization's documented experience with large-scale public events. Include specific examples and metrics from previous projects.
- Focus your proposal on programming, participant engagement, and vendor recruitment—not venue operations or infrastructure logistics.
- Demonstrate clear understanding of American heartland culture and ability to create authentic, immersive experiences for UAE audiences.
- Develop a detailed vendor recruitment and management strategy that highlights American brands, artisans, and entertainment talent.
- Address how your event will advance U.S. foreign policy, strengthen bilateral relationships, and support American commercial interests in the UAE.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals focused heavily on venue construction, infrastructure, and logistics rather than programming and cultural curation. Lack of documented evidence of prior large-scale event management experience. Failure to address American commercial interests and foreign policy objectives explicitly.
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