Freedom 250 Great American State Fair Initiative – Abu Dhabi

Key facts

Funder

Nisha Lamichhane Aryal Grantor

Application deadline

August 10, 2026

Award range

$750K – $1M

Eligibility

We encourage applications from the following entities registered in the United States or the United Arab Emirates, with at least two years of demonstrated experience in large-scale event management, cultural programming, vendor coordination, and public engagement. (Proposals must include documentation demonstrating the applying organization's experience.)• Not-for-profit organizations, including non-governmental organizations;• Public and private educational institutions;• Non-profit or governmental educational institutions;

Geography

United States

Focus areas

Other (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification)

Opportunity number

PDS-UAE-03-FY2026

Program overview

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.

How to apply

1. Confirm your organization meets the eligibility criteria above.
2. Read the full funding opportunity announcement from Nisha Lamichhane Aryal Grantor.
3. Draft your narrative against the funder's stated priorities and review criteria.
4. Submit before August 10, 2026, allowing time for registration and validation.

View the official funding announcement

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