Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS UAE 03 FY2026
The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, through its Public Diplomacy Section, is funding one organization to design and deliver the core programming for a three-day "Freedom 250 Great American State Fair" in Abu Dhabi. The event is meant to bring an immersive, highly recognizable American heartland-style state fair experience to UAE audiences, highlighting U.S. culture, creativity, entrepreneurship, entertainment, music, and food in a way that feels authentic and interactive rather than purely promotional. The broader purpose is public diplomacy: strengthening the U.S.-UAE relationship while also elevating American brand visibility and advancing American commercial interests through direct public engagement, partnerships, and strong U.S. vendor participation.
The selected grantee will be responsible for the full participant-facing experience, including conceptual design, curation, and execution of programming. The Embassy is looking for a multi-touchpoint fair atmosphere that could include interactive gaming attractions, themed parades, entertainment showcases, curated exhibitions, and family-oriented experiences, anchored by a major culinary and retail village featuring American food brands and artisan vendors. The expectation is that visitors can see, taste, and participate in American cultural and commercial offerings, with programming that demonstrates American excellence and innovation and places U.S. businesses and cultural exports prominently within the UAE's high-profile entertainment and cultural landscape.
A key point in this opportunity is the division of responsibilities: applicants should not build their proposals around venue infrastructure and operations. A UAE Local Partner Entity (and its contractors) will provide venue infrastructure and operational support, potentially covering items like construction and dismantling, staging and physical infrastructure, ticketing operations, site setup and cleanup, utilities, waste management, security coordination, public facilities, and similar logistics. Because those operational elements are largely expected to sit with the local co-host (subject to negotiation and Embassy involvement), the applicant's proposal should concentrate on what the Embassy is actually competing: programming strategy and delivery, audience engagement design, recruitment and management of U.S. vendors, cultural and commercial activations, and overall event authenticity and quality. After an award is made, a more detailed division of responsibilities will be shared and may be refined with the Embassy and the UAE Local Entity.
This initiative is positioned as part of the Freedom 250 theme, celebrating 250 years of American independence and achievement, with a specific emphasis on the traditions and character of the American heartland. The Embassy frames it as advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives by strengthening strategic partnerships with the UAE and promoting U.S. economic and cultural interests, including supporting U.S. companies and positioning American brands in the UAE's evolving cultural and entertainment sector.
Operationally and legally, the award will be made as a cooperative agreement (meaning the Embassy anticipates active involvement and coordination during implementation). As a condition of award, the grantee must sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE Local Entity immediately after executing the grant agreement with the U.S. Government. That MOU will set the terms for collaboration and spell out operational, programmatic, and logistical responsibilities between the grantee and the local co-host, and the grantee must run the project in compliance with both the MOU and the grant agreement requirements.
Funding details provided in the notice include an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000, with one expected award. The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number PDS UAE 03 FY2026, CFDA 19.040, and is categorized as discretionary. Applications are encouraged from U.S.- or UAE-registered organizations with at least two years of demonstrated experience in large-scale event management, cultural programming, vendor coordination, and public engagement, and proposals must include documentation that proves this experience. Eligible applicant types include not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs) and public or private educational institutions, including non-profit or governmental educational entities. The listed application deadline is August 10, 2026. For full requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions, applicants are directed to consult the complete NOFO.Apply for PDS UAE 03 FY2026
- The U.S. Mission to United Arab Emirates in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Freedom 250 Great American State Fair Initiative – Abu Dhabi" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is a U.S. government-funded cooperative agreement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi (Public Diplomacy Section) to support one organization in designing and delivering the core programming for a three-day event called the "Freedom 250 Great American State Fair" in Abu Dhabi.
Who is offering the grant?
The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, through its Public Diplomacy Section, is the funding and implementing U.S. government entity for this opportunity.
What is the event, in plain terms?
The project is to create an immersive, highly recognizable American heartland-style state fair experience for audiences in the United Arab Emirates. The focus is on an authentic, interactive fair atmosphere rather than a purely promotional showcase.
What are the main goals of the "Freedom 250 Great American State Fair"?
The stated goals are public diplomacy and direct public engagement: strengthening the U.S.-UAE relationship, elevating American brand visibility, and advancing American commercial interests through partnerships and strong U.S. vendor participation.
How does "Freedom 250" connect to the project?
The initiative is positioned under the "Freedom 250" theme, which celebrates 250 years of American independence and achievement, with a specific emphasis on the traditions and character of the American heartland.
How many awards will be made?
The notice indicates one expected award (one organization selected).
How much funding is available?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000.
What is the deadline to apply?
The listed application deadline is August 10, 2026.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PDS UAE 03 FY2026. The CFDA listing referenced is 19.040.
What type of award is this?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which means the Embassy anticipates active involvement and coordination during implementation.
What is the grantee expected to deliver?
The selected organization is responsible for the full participant-facing experience, including the conceptual design, curation, and execution of programming for the three-day state fair.
What kinds of activities or elements might the fair include?
The notice describes a multi-touchpoint fair atmosphere that could include interactive gaming attractions, themed parades, entertainment showcases, curated exhibitions, and family-oriented experiences. The experience is expected to be anchored by a major culinary and retail village featuring American food brands and artisan vendors.
What does the Embassy mean by an "authentic and interactive" fair?
The notice emphasizes programming that feels like a real American heartland state fair experience where visitors can see, taste, and participate, rather than an event that is primarily promotional in tone.
What role do U.S. vendors play in the program?
Strong U.S. vendor participation is a central expectation. The grantee is expected to recruit and manage U.S. vendors and to place U.S. businesses and cultural exports prominently within the overall fair experience.
Is the grantee responsible for venue infrastructure and site operations?
No. Applicants are specifically told not to build proposals around venue infrastructure and operations. A UAE Local Partner Entity (and its contractors) is expected to provide venue infrastructure and operational support.
What operational support is expected to be provided by the UAE Local Partner Entity?
The notice indicates the local partner may cover items such as construction and dismantling, staging and physical infrastructure, ticketing operations, site setup and cleanup, utilities, waste management, security coordination, public facilities, and similar logistics (subject to negotiation and Embassy involvement).
If operations are handled locally, what should the applicant focus on in the proposal?
The applicant should concentrate on the elements the Embassy is competitively funding: programming strategy and delivery, audience engagement design, recruitment and management of U.S. vendors, cultural and commercial activations, and ensuring overall event authenticity and quality.
Will the responsibilities between the grantee and the local partner be finalized at the time of application?
The notice indicates that after an award is made, a more detailed division of responsibilities will be shared and may be refined with the Embassy and the UAE Local Entity.
Is there a required agreement with the UAE Local Partner Entity?
Yes. As a condition of award, the grantee must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UAE Local Entity immediately after executing the grant agreement with the U.S. Government.
What is the purpose of the required MOU?
The MOU will set the terms for collaboration and spell out operational, programmatic, and logistical responsibilities between the grantee and the local co-host.
Which documents govern how the project must be implemented?
The grantee must run the project in compliance with both the MOU and the grant agreement requirements.
Where will the event take place?
The fair is planned for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
How long is the event?
The core event is described as a three-day state fair.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applications are encouraged from U.S.- or UAE-registered organizations with at least two years of demonstrated experience in large-scale event management, cultural programming, vendor coordination, and public engagement.
What types of organizations are eligible applicant types?
Eligible applicant types include not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs) and public or private educational institutions, including non-profit or governmental educational entities.
Is experience required, and how must it be demonstrated?
Yes. Proposals must include documentation that proves at least two years of demonstrated experience in the areas highlighted (large-scale event management, cultural programming, vendor coordination, and public engagement).
What is the broader policy purpose according to the notice?
The Embassy frames the initiative as advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives by strengthening strategic partnerships with the UAE and promoting U.S. economic and cultural interests, including supporting U.S. companies and positioning American brands in the UAE's evolving cultural and entertainment sector.
Does the notice specify evaluation criteria or how to submit?
The summary provided directs applicants to consult the complete NOFO for full requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions.
What does "discretionary" mean in this listing?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary in the notice, indicating it is a competitive funding opportunity where an award is expected to be made based on the application and selection process described in the full NOFO.
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