Introduction

The AEEDC Dubai Research Award in collaboration with the IADR UAE section is a prestigious initiative designed to recognize and support outstanding dental research in the United Arab Emirates. In partnership with AEEDC Dubai and the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) UAE Section, this award encourages innovation, collaboration, and advancement of dental science in the UAE.
Through competitive selection and open scientific exchange, the award aims to:

• Support promising research proposals that address key questions in oral health.
• Strengthen research capacity within the UAE dental community.
• Promote knowledge transfer and visibility of UAE-based research at AEEDC Dubai and beyond.

Award Categories and Funding

• First Prize: AED 30,000
• Second Prize: AED 20,000
• Third Prize: AED 10,000

Total award pool: AED 60,000.

Funds will be disbursed directly by AEEDC Dubai to the winning investigators’ institute.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open exclusively to investigators based in the United Arab Emirates (faculty, researchers, clinicians, postgraduate students, or early-career scientists). Researchers from industry are not eligible to apply.
• Applications must present original, innovative research proposals relevant to dentistry and oral health sciences.
• Collaborative projects are encouraged, provided the Principal Investigator (PI) is UAE-based.
• Only one submission per PI is allowed.
• Proposals must not be funded simultaneously by another major grant.

Application Process

Applicants must submit the following through grant portal (Administered by AEEDC Dubai)

Application Form: This refers to the online submission page designed by AEEDC Dubai where applicants submit the documents mentioned in Points A, B, and C. The applicant mentions the site where the research is being/will be conducted (Demographics, Name, Affiliation, Email, Phone Number, Site of Research )

A. Structured Proposal (maximum 5 pages, including references):

• Title
• Abstract (250 words)
• Background and significance
• Objectives and hypotheses
• Methodology and feasibility
• Expected outcomes and impact
• Budget outline with justification

B. Curriculum Vitae of the Principal Investigator (maximum 3 pages).
C. Institutional Endorsement Letter (signed by Dean/Head of Department or relevant authority).

Review & Selection Process

Step 1 – Initial Review

• The IADR-UAE Scientific Committee will conduct a blind peer review of proposals.
• Proposals will be assessed based on:
• Originality and innovation (25%)
• Scientific merit and methodology (30%)
• Feasibility and resources (20%)
• Impact on UAE dental community and oral health (20%)
• Budget justification (5%)

For the initial review process, tentatively 10 reviewers may be appointed: 5 reviewers from the IADR-UAE Section membership (including Council members) and 5 external reviewers from other institutions or sectors. The final number of reviewers might change according to the number of applicants. Each grant will be reviewed by 3 independent reviewers per each proposal.

Step 2 – Shortlisting

• The top 10 highest-scoring proposals from the initial review will be shortlisted for oral presentation at AEEDC Dubai.

Step 3 – Final Presentation at AEEDC Dubai

• Shortlisted investigators will present their proposals in an open scientific session at AEEDC.
• A total 18 minutes will be allocated for each proposal; divided into 13 minutes oral presentation and 5 minutes questions and discussion.
• Presentations will be evaluated by the Scientific Committee and discussed publicly
• Dr. Nabeel will serve as the Chair of the Judging Panel. The remaining two judges will be selected by mutual agreement between the Core Committee (Dr. Nabeel, Dr. Mohannad and Dr. Anas) and AEEDC Dubai. Reviewers who participated in the initial review process should not be selected to serve as judges for the oral presentation round.
• The Principal Investigator (PI) will also serve as the presenter if the proposal passes the initial review and is selected for presentation at AEEDC Dubai. If the PI is unable to attend, they may nominate a co-investigator to present the research on their behalf. The PI may not nominate the Main Supervisor to present on their behalf.

Step 4 – Winner Selection

• Final decisions will be made based on both proposal quality and presentation performance.
• Winners will be announced during AEEDC Dubai.

Grant Administration & Reporting

• AEEDC Dubai will handle financial disbursement of awards’ primary institute
• A joint committee of AEEDC Dubai and IADR-UAE Scientific Committee will oversee progress monitoring and compliance.

Reporting Requirements:

• Progress reports submitted twice per year to IADR-UAE.
• A final report due at the end of the grant period.
• Awardees may be invited to present progress at AEEDC Dubai or IADR-UAE events.

Grant Duration:

• Standard period: 2 years.
• Optional no-cost extension: 1 additional year (upon request, no additional funds).

Ethics & Compliance

• Projects involving human or animal subjects must obtain ethical approval from relevant UAE regulatory bodies before funds are released.
• Awardees must comply with all institutional and national research ethics requirements.
• Publications and presentations arising from funded projects must acknowledge support from AEEDC Dubai and IADR-UAE.
• Final work should be presented at AEEDC Dubai.

Conflict of Interest

• Members of the IADR-UAE Scientific Committee with direct involvement in any submitted proposal must recuse themselves from reviewing that proposal.

Key Dates

• Call for Applications Opens: [ End of August 2026/ First week of September 2026]
• Submission Deadline: 31st October 2027
• Notification of Shortlisted Applicants: 30th November 2026
• Final Presentations at AEEDC Dubai: [during AEEDC Dubai 2027 between 19-21 January 2027]
• Announcement of Winners: [during the awarding ceremony at AEEDC Dubai 2027]