Bangladeshi photographer Pinu Rahman wins the $200,000 Grand Prize with a powerful image capturing a family amid the ruins of their home

            The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait feature among the Gulf’s winning photographers, while Palestine takes first place in the Portfolio category

            International photographers from across five continents recognised across five competition categories, including the emerging creative possibilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) held its 15th annual awards ceremony at the Museum of the Future. Themed ‘Family’, the milestone edition celebrated the power of photography to document human connection, preserve cultural narratives and bring communities closer across borders

Attended by dignitaries and prominent figures from the international photography community, the ceremony saw US$1 million in prize money awarded across the competition categories and Special Awards, recognising outstanding photographic talent and visual storytelling from around the world

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, presented the $200,000 Grand Prize to Bangladeshi photographer Pinu Rahman. His photograph captured a family sleeping within concrete walls that remained standing amidst the ruins of their home, following a devastating fire that destroyed more than 1,500 houses in Korail, one of Dhaka’s most densely populated informal settlements. Amid the destruction, the image offers a poignant portrayal of family, resilience and the human capacity to endure

Special Awards

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honoured the recipients of HIPA’s Special Awards, recognising outstanding contributions to photography, visual storytelling and the wider creative community

The Appreciation Award was presented to Japanese photographer Kazuyoshi Nomachi, in recognition of a career spanning more than half a century. His extensive body of work documents the lives of communities in remote regions and challenging environments, exploring their relationship with the land, deeply rooted beliefs, spiritual practices and everyday lives. Recognised internationally for its artistic, cultural and humanitarian significance, his photography and publications have been described by the international press as ‘a valuable record of humanity and the land’

The Content Creator Award went to Syrian photographer Dr. Ali Mohamad, recognising his influential role in reshaping the relationship between advanced technology and visual arts across the Arabic-speaking world. Through his work, he has made complex technological concepts more accessible to photographers and content creators, helping expand the possibilities of creative expression

The HIPA Photographer of the Year Award was presented to French photojournalist Véronique de Viguerie, in recognition of her distinguished career and impactful projects documenting the lives of people affected by oppression, war and conflict. Her work has brought the experiences and voices of those living through some of the world’s most challenging circumstances to international attention

Ali Bin Thalith, HIPA’s Secretary General, expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his continued patronage and support of HIPA and the art of photography

He said, “The fifteenth edition was themed ‘Family’, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to designate 2026 as the ‘Year of the Family’. This initiative aims to strengthen family bonds, support social stability and instil authentic Emirati values in future generations”

“As we celebrate our fifteenth anniversary, we are proud to announce that HIPA’s photo archive now holds more than one million photographs, contributed by an active community of over half a million photographers from 209 countries”

 “From its home in Dubai, HIPA has helped reshape the global photography landscape, establishing itself as a leading international platform beyond the traditional centres of the photography world. This has been made possible by our cultural and intellectual influence, our ability to engage audiences across continents and a sustainable model that supports photographic projects and creative talent worldwide”

Celebrating Family Through Photography

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honoured the winners of the ‘Family’ category, which explored the bonds, relationships and shared experiences that shape family life

Emirati photographer Hamid Obaid Al Ali secured first place, followed by Saudi photographer Nawaf Alosaimi in second place and Indian photographer Subhajit Datta in third

General Category Celebrates Diverse Photographic Perspectives

H.E. Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Federal National Council Affairs and HIPA Chairman, presented the awards in the ‘General’ category, recognizing distinctive approaches to photography across colour and monochromatic imagery.

In ‘General – Colour’, Slovak photographer Filip Hrebenda won first place, followed by Franco Banfi from Switzerland in second, Ramiro Torrents from Italy in third

In ‘General – Black and White’, Australian photographer Jono Allen won first place, followed by South-Indian photographer Barun Sarkar in second and Canadian photographer Thomas Vijayan in third.

Palestine Takes First Place in a Powerful Portfolio Line-up

His Excellency Dr. Sultan bin Saif Miftah Hamad Alneyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, honoured the winners of the ‘Portfolio’ category, which recognises photographers for the strength and consistency of their visual storytelling across a collection of images.

Palestinian photographer Yousef Alzanoon secured first place, followed by American photographer Brent Stirton in second place and American astronaut and photographer Don Pettit in third

Sports Photography Captures the Spirit of Competition

His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, presented the awards in the ‘Sports Photography’ category, recognising compelling images that capture the intensity, emotion and defining moments of sporting competition

Chinese photographer Hongbin Wu won first place, followed by Kuwaiti photographer Faisal Hamada in second and Russian photographer Kirill Kudryavtsev in third.

Dreams Through AI Opens New Creative Horizons

Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, honoured the winners of the ‘Dreams Through AI’ category, celebrating the creative possibilities emerging at the intersection of photography and artificial intelligence

New Zealand-based photographer Chi Hui Tang won first place, followed by Chinese photographer Fan Ho Tsang in second and Colombian photographer Bernardo Hernandez in third