Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation

What Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation does

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) is a UAE-registered non-profit cultural foundation founded in 2004 by H.E. Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, headquartered at Makeen Tower in Abu Dhabi. The foundation operates the flagship annual Abu Dhabi Festival (running more than 20 years) and runs a portfolio of competitive awards (G42 Advanced Technologies Art Award, Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award, ADMAF Jewelry Design Award with L'ÉCOLE/Van Cleef & Arpels, Gulf Capital ADMAF Creativity and Visual Arts Awards, TotalEnergies Sustainability Design Award, Dolce&Gabbana x ADMAF Design Award), international residencies (Young Filmmakers' Circle in Cannes and Paris, Inspiration Residency for Craftsmanship at Mobilier national in Paris), and community/education programmes (Music in Hospitals, ADU Art for Autism Competition, Young Media Leaders, Riwaq Al Fikr talks, Riwaq Al Adab Wal Kitab). ADMAF has no core proprietary technology platform; its operations are event-and-programme-driven with HubSpot CRM used for applicant and partner communications, and technology partnerships (MBZUAI, G42) deployed selectively within the G42 Advanced Technologies Art Award.

The foundation serves five primary stakeholder groups: Emirati youth and emerging artists aged 18-35 (the main award and residency beneficiaries); UAE students and educational institutions across Zayed University, NYU Abu Dhabi, University of Sharjah, American University of Sharjah, and Sharjah Performing Arts Academy; healthcare settings including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Salma Rehabilitation Hospital; government and diplomatic bodies including the UAE Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy; and people of determination through the ADU Art for Autism Competition and partner special needs centres.

ADMAF's business model is philanthropic rather than commercial. It does not charge beneficiaries for awards, residencies, or educational programmes; awards are paid out as one-time prizes (AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 per category, plus a USD 10,000 Christo/Jeanne-Claude prize and a six-month Dolce&Gabbana internship). Revenue is generated through institutional sponsorship from Mubadala, G42, GS Energy, TotalEnergies, Dolphin Energy, Gulf Capital, Dolce&Gabbana, Chopard, and Van Cleef & Arpels, alongside government grants and in-kind support from UAE ministries and the Department of Culture and Tourism. Go-to-market is event-driven: applications for awards and residencies are self-serve via admaf.org; awareness and brand reach are built through the Abu Dhabi Festival, yearbooks, the ADMAF Tribune, social channels, and the Riwaq Al Fikr dialogue series, with international cultural diplomacy handled through structured MoUs with Seoul Metropolitan Government, KOFICE, NYU Abu Dhabi, AGDA, AFAC, Institut français, Mobilier national, Hong Kong Ballet, and others.

Name

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation

Legal name

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation

Website

https://admaf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ADMAF is a UAE non-profit cultural foundation founded in 2004 that operates the Abu Dhabi Festival and a portfolio of awards, international residencies, and education/community programmes serving emerging Emirati artists, students, healthcare settings, and people of determination, funded by institutional sponsors and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Foundation and Arts Education Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Management & Accounting (Artists) (MPAIAGAD)

Keywords

• Arts education programs
• Cultural festival management
• Artist award programs
• Arts residency programs
• Cultural diplomacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation / Philanthropic Funding: ADMAF operates as a non-profit cultural foundation. Revenue is generated through institutional sponsorships, government partnerships, and donor funding rather than commercial product sales. Sponsors include Mubadala, G42, GS Energy, TotalEnergies, Dolphin Energy, Gulf Capital, Dolce&Gabbana, and Chopard. The foundation does not charge beneficiaries for participation in awards, residencies, or educational programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) is a non-profit cultural foundation that operates the flagship annual Abu Dhabi Festival and a comprehensive portfolio of awards, residencies, education, and community programmes nurturing creativity across the UAE. Its offerings include competitive artist awards (jewelry, visual arts, performing arts, fashion, sustainable design, advanced technologies art), international residencies in Paris and Cannes, therapeutic music in hospitals, school and university arts education, panel discussion series, and publications, delivered free of charge to Emirati beneficiaries.

Product overview

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) operates a portfolio of arts and culture programs centered around the annual Abu Dhabi Festival. The organization supports emerging artists through multiple award programs including the G42 Advanced Technologies Art Award, Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award, ADMAF Jewelry Design Award (with L'ÉCOLE/Van Cleef & Arpels), Gulf Capital Creativity and Visual Arts Awards, Dolce&Gabbana x ADMAF Design Award, and Total Energies Sustainability Design Award. ADMAF offers residency programs including the Young Filmmakers' Circle (featuring Cannes Film Festival partnerships) and the ADMAF Inspiration Residency for Craftsmanship (in Paris). The foundation runs community initiatives such as Music in Hospitals, the Riwaq Al Fikr discussion series, and the Young Media Leaders training program, supported by annual publications. These programs collectively nurture creativity across music, performing arts, visual arts, design, and technology-integrated art forms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Abu Dhabi Festival: Annual arts and culture festival organized by ADMAF featuring music, visual arts, performing arts, and cultural exchanges.
• Riwaq Al Fikr
• ADMAF Awards

Products and services

• Abu Dhabi Festival Annual flagship arts festival organised by ADMAF featuring music, performing arts, visual arts, and international cultural events across Abu Dhabi venues including Emirates Palace and Manarat Al Saadiyat. Targets Emirati audiences, international arts communities, and global cultural partners.
• G42 Advanced Technologies Art Award Competitive award supporting UAE-based cross-disciplinary creatives to develop artworks integrating advanced technologies, exploring cultural heritage at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Prize AED 50,000 plus MBZUAI mentorship and public showcase at Abu Dhabi Festival 2027. Open to Emirati nationals and UAE residents aged 18+.
• The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award Annual award presented by NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery in partnership with ADMAF supporting UAE undergraduate students and recent graduates (within last five years) to create publicly exhibited works of art honouring the legacy of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Prize USD 10,000 with mentorship and public exhibition.
• ADMAF Jewelry Design Award Platform for emerging jewelry designers in the UAE with bespoke collaborations and comprehensive training, in partnership with L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Prize AED 50,000, 5-day Dubai programme, 5-day Paris trip, mentorship, and showcase at L'ÉCOLE Festival and Abu Dhabi Festival 2027. Open to Emirati nationals and UAE residents aged 18–35.
• Gulf Capital – ADMAF Creativity Award Platform for young UAE artists to develop and showcase talent in performing arts including music, theatre, dance, and spoken word, focused on presence, originality, and collaboration. Prize AED 20,000 with public showcase at Abu Dhabi Festival 2026. Open to Emirati nationals aged 18–35.
• Gulf Capital – ADMAF Visual Arts Award Award nurturing artistic excellence and supporting emerging Emirati artists across visual arts forms including video, film, animation, photography, painting, sculpture, and installation. Aims to develop UAE visual arts talent through recognition and development opportunities.
• Dolce&Gabbana x ADMAF Design Award Annual award in partnership with Dolce&Gabbana supporting young Emirati fashion designers through mentorship, international exposure, and a six-month internship at Dolce&Gabbana headquarters in Milan or Legnano (with economy flights, accommodation, and 600 Euro monthly allowance). Winner displays work at Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 and a Dolce&Gabbana boutique in Abu Dhabi. Open to Emirati fashion designers aged 18–35.
• TotalEnergies Sustainability Design Award Award recognising outstanding innovation by young Emiratis in sustainable design and architecture, encouraging solution-driven work prioritising environmental and social well-being. Prize AED 10,000. Open to UAE emerging artists aged 18–35 in building design, interior design, landscape architecture, or sustainable design.
• ADMAF Inspiration Residency for Craftsmanship Programme offering designers and artisans immersion in the French crafts ecosystem through residency at Mobilier national, Paris, with access to workshops in wool dyeing, restoration, and textile creation, and meetings with ARC artisans. Targets emerging Emirati designers and artisans.
• Young Filmmakers' Circle Professional filmmaking training programme providing emerging UAE filmmakers access to industry professionals, networking opportunities, and international film sector exposure, including a Cannes Film Festival residency and ESRA International Film School Paris residency. Targets aspiring young filmmakers in the UAE.
• Music in Hospitals Therapeutic music programme bringing live concerts to UAE healthcare settings to support patient recovery and provide cultural enrichment for patients, families, and caregivers. Operated in partnership with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Salma Rehabilitation Hospital and supported by Dolphin Energy; running for over a decade.
• Riwaq Al Fikr (ADMAF Talks) Dialogue series convening decision-makers, intellectuals, diplomats, and international experts for discussions on arts, culture, and cultural diplomacy. Held at venues including ADNEC, NYU Abu Dhabi, and AGDA. Includes the related Riwaq Al Adab Wal Kitab literature programming at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
• Young Media Leaders Initiative nurturing Emirati university students and graduates in media skills through coverage of Abu Dhabi Festival, producing the ADMAF Tribune publication. Established in 2007. Targets Emirati university students and graduates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Music in Hospitals programme has been running for over a decade, providing therapeutic music recitals to patients across UAE hospitals.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bassam Freiha Art FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025ADMAF and Bassam Freiha Art Foundation signed an MoU to collaborate on cultural and artistic initiatives, strengthening ties between two UAE arts foundations.
• Ministry of Education (UAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025ADMAF and the UAE Ministry of Education signed a landmark MoU to advance arts education and cultural awareness among students across UAE educational institutions.
• Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Historic first-in-Arab-world MoU with Seoul Metropolitan Government for cultural collaboration, building on a 15+ year relationship. Includes co-productions, co-commissions, art exhibitions with Seoul Museum of Art in 2025 showcasing Emirati artists in Korea and Korean artists in the UAE, and cultural exchange programmes.
• Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024MoU signed in Seoul with KOFICE to expand cultural dialogue between UAE and South Korea, supporting '2024 Korea Season in the UAE' as part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2024. Includes performance of 'Jungle' by Korean National Contemporary Dance Company at Louvre Abu Dhabi and NYU Abu Dhabi, research trip with Nam June Paik Art Center at Abu Dhabi Art, and joint 'Orchestra of Dream' performance with Abu Dhabi Youth Orchestra.
• The WOW FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 October 2023MoU signed in London with The WOW Foundation to celebrate and empower women and girls through creative exchanges, cultural initiatives, and collaborative projects. Includes online forum with 12 female leaders from UAE and WOW network, and UAE representation at WOW Festival in Manchester.
• MiralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMAF signed a MoU with Miral to collaborate on cultural initiatives, leveraging Miral's portfolio of leisure and entertainment destinations in Abu Dhabi.
• Hong Kong BalletminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbu Dhabi Festival signed an MoU with Hong Kong Ballet for a cultural collaboration, bringing international dance performances to Abu Dhabi.
• Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership between ADMAF and AFAC to advance artistic excellence across the Arab region, signed in Abu Dhabi in the presence of the Lebanese Ambassador to the UAE.
• Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU for cultural diplomacy collaboration including exchange of knowledge, joint cultural events, student cultural awareness programmes, Riwaq Al Fikr dialogue series, Arts in Embassies initiative, and Abu Dhabi Festival overseas productions. AGDA is a globally recognised diplomatic centre of excellence in the UAE.
• New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery for the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award (under the Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan). NYU Abu Dhabi co-presents theatre productions (e.g., Hamour Doesn't Leave the Cubicle) and hosts panel discussions, the Young Media Leaders initiative, and Abu Dhabi Festival programming.
• Institut français des Emirats arabes UniscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Institut français for the ADMAF Inspiration Residency for Craftsmanship and Young Filmmakers' Circle programme. The residency immerses selected Emirati designers/artisans in French craftsmanship ecosystem at Mobilier national, Paris (September 2025). Filmmakers' Circle includes Cannes residency and ESRA International Film School Paris residency.
• Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier nationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench governmental crafts institutions partnered with ADMAF for the Inspiration Residency for Craftsmanship. The residency takes place at Mobilier national in Paris, with access to workshops in wool dyeing, restoration, textile creation, and meetings with ARC artisans.
• L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & ArpelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2019 for the ADMAF Jewelry Design Award. L'ÉCOLE provides training, mentorship, and a five-day programme at its Dubai Design District campus, with the winner attending a five-day jewellery culture programme in Paris. Supported by Van Cleef & Arpels.
• Dolce&GabbanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2023 for the Dolce&Gabbana x ADMAF Design Award in fashion and jewellery. Includes a six-month internship at Dolce&Gabbana headquarters in Milan or Legnano (economy flights, accommodation, 600 Euro monthly allowance), and public showcase at Abu Dhabi Festival and Dolce&Gabbana boutique.
• G42 Advanced TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with G42 Advanced Technologies for the G42 Advanced Technologies Art Award, supporting UAE-based cross-disciplinary creatives integrating advanced technologies into visual arts practice. Prize: AED 50,000. Public presentation at Abu Dhabi Festival 2027.
• Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with MBZUAI for the G42 Advanced Technologies Art Award, providing regional workshops and expert guidance to participants on integrating advanced technologies into visual artworks. Also partners on art-tech panel discussions.
• Abu Dhabi ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMAF participates annually at Abu Dhabi Art, presenting commissioned artworks (e.g., Rawdha Al Ketbi's M'HAB, Ayesha Hadhir's Woven by Hands), Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award winners, panel discussions, and community accessibility programmes for students from special needs centres.
• Cleveland Clinic Abu DhabiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi hosts Music in Hospitals therapeutic recitals at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Center (Oncology Center), providing music-based healing experiences for patients.
• Salma Rehabilitation HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalma Rehabilitation Hospital hosts Music in Hospitals recitals for rehabilitation patients, supported by Dolphin Energy and ADMAF.
• Ministry of Culture (UAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UAE Ministry of Culture provides touring support for ADMAF productions such as Hamour Doesn't Leave the Cubicle theatre performance.
• Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) – UAE-China Cultural DialoguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMAF and AGDA co-hosted a panel discussion to celebrate 40 years of UAE-China diplomatic relations, with H.E. Noura Al Kaabi, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yiming, and AGDA Director-General Nickolay Mladenov. Part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2024 programming.
• NYU Abu Dhabi – Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMAF, supported by Mubadala, presented the Harmonizing Hope talk featuring Dr. Ahmad Naser Sarmast, Founder and Director of ANIM, at NYU Abu Dhabi, sharing ANIM's story of resilience and music's transformative power.
• Zayed UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZayed University partnered with ADMAF for the Fatima bint Mubarak panel discussion under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
• Abu Dhabi University (ADU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbu Dhabi University partnered with ADMAF for the eighth ADU Art for Autism Competition, which received 80 artworks from seven special needs centres and schools across the UAE.
• Arabic Language Center Abu DhabiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMAF collaborated with the Arabic Language Center Abu Dhabi and the National Library & Archives for the International Mother Language Day 2025 panel discussion celebrating linguistic diversity.
• National Library & Archives (UAE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMAF partnered with the National Library & Archives (UAE) and Arabic Language Center Abu Dhabi for International Mother Language Day 2025 programming.
• Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADMAF participates annually in Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) through its Riwaq Al Adab Wal Kitab programme, launching Emirati and international books and hosting panel discussions.
• Hyundai Motor CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHyundai Motor Company participates in ADMAF Abu Dhabi Art programming through art-tech panel discussions, bringing global perspective on art and technology collaboration (e.g., DooEun Choi, Art Director at Hyundai Motor, as panellist).
• House of ArtisansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouse of Artisans partnered with ADMAF for the daily performance activating Ayesha Hadhir's commissioned artwork Woven by Hands, Walked by Generations at Abu Dhabi Art 2024, with Sadu artisan Afra Al Mansoori.
• Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism is a key government partner supporting Abu Dhabi Festival and ADMAF's cultural programming across the emirate.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prince Claus Fund: Netherlands-based cultural foundation that awards prizes, mentors and provides cultural-space support to artists in the Global South. Highly comparable to ADMAF as a non-profit foundation issuing arts awards and residencies with international programming.
• Sharjah Art Foundation: UAE-based non-profit arts organisation running residencies, awards, exhibitions and the Sharjah Biennial. Comparable to ADMAF as a UAE-resident cultural foundation serving emerging artists and commissioning exhibitions, with overlapping corporate and government sponsors.
• Sundance Institute: US-based non-profit running year-round artist development programmes (labs, residencies, fellowships) culminating in the Sundance Festival. Closely comparable model to ADMAF's Young Filmmakers' Circle and Abu Dhabi Festival combination of talent development + flagship event.
• Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE): Korean government-affiliated cultural exchange body with which ADMAF signed a 2024 MoU. KOFICE is a structural peer in cross-border cultural diplomacy and festival co-production, mirroring ADMAF's role on the Gulf/Arab side.
• Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC): Beirut-based independent Arab regional arts grantmaker. AFAC directly parallels ADMAF as a fellow grantmaker/funder of Arab artists with whom ADMAF has a formal MoU, sharing overlapping mission (artist development, regional cultural exchange) and competing for the same donor pool.

Broad incumbents

• Aga Khan Trust for Culture: Large Geneva-based cultural foundation running music, architecture and heritage programmes with a strong Gulf/Muslim-world footprint. Overlaps ADMAF's cultural-diplomacy and heritage mandate but operates at materially larger scale across multiple geographies.
• Goethe-Institut: German state-affiliated global cultural and language network. ADMAF mirrors its cultural-diplomacy function in the Gulf; Goethe-Institut is a much larger incumbent offering overlapping language, residency and cultural-exchange programming.
• British Council: UK public body for cultural relations and arts programming worldwide. Functionally similar to ADMAF's cultural-diplomacy remit (partnering with AGDA, hosting international artists), operating at significantly larger scale and global footprint.

Emerging players

• Bassam Freiha Art Foundation: Sharjah-based private arts foundation with which ADMAF signed an MoU in December 2025. Comparable as a UAE-resident foundation running grants and exhibitions for regional artists, and a direct collaborator rather than competitor in the UAE arts-funding landscape.

Regional players

• Dubai Culture & Arts Authority: Government-backed Dubai authority for culture, heritage and arts. Regional peer to ADMAF in the UAE ecosystem, running grants, events and arts-education programmes that overlap ADMAF's award, residency and education mission within the same country.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ADMAFsocial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCy4cqieqTmUd2yDKA_fGVSw
• Facebookfacebook.com/AbuDhabiMusicAndArtsFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/admafsocial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation