With an impressive Grand Prize of 120,000 USD, the Hamdan International Photography Award is an international photography award, founded in 2011 under the patronage of the crown prince of Dubai.
This year, the main theme of the HIPA contest is ‘Diversity’. In all its vastness, ‘Diversity’ widens the doors of creativity allowing your photography to be filled with meaningful, empowering and expressive concepts.

There are three categories:
• General (subcategories: Colour and Black & White)
• Portfolio
• Digital Art
The Award encourages photographers to share their craft and demonstrate excellence in what is now one of the most coveted Awards in the world. You can submit one photograph per category, except the portfolio category, where you must upload 5-10 photographs.

Benefits

Alongside winners for each category and a Grand Prize of 120,000 USD, there will be also three special awards:

• Photography Appreciation Award: 20,000 USD
• Photography Content Creator Award: 15,000 USD
• Emerging Person/Organisation in Photography Award: 10,000 USD

Requirements

  • Open to all individuals over the age of 18 from all over the world.

Selection Criteria

  • You may submit up to one (1) Photo in each relevant category of the Competition including the sub categories under the General category, Except the Portfolio category where you can submit between 5 – 10 Photo(s); You must provide a title and description for each Photo submitted and a description for the set of photos in the Portfolio category.
  • The same Photo must not be submitted in more than one (1) category. Any Photo submitted in more than one (1) category will be discarded from the Competition.
  • Submitted Photo must be in JPEG or JPG format, with high quality and resolution, of a minimum 5 MB in size, the minimum of the longest edge should be no less than 2000 pixel and the quality no less than 300dpi and to be suitable for publication.
  • Participants are NOT requested to submit the raw/original camera files at the same time of submitting their Photographs, but it will be requested from them if they qualify to the final stage of judging.
  • Black and white Photo(s) are permitted in all the categories of the Competition except for the Color sub category under the General category.
  • Participants are allowed to submit a digitally manipulated photo only in Digital Art category.
  • For the Portfolio category, you are requested to submit a series of Photo(s) on the same subject matter. The number of permitted Photo(s) is the minimum of 5 and maximum of 10 Photo(s).
  • All submitted Photo(s) (must not contain any tag(s), signature(s), initial(s), frame, border(s), logo(s) or any other references and/or marks added by the Participant. Basic technical editing of the Photo(sis acceptable, provided any such editing does not affect the authenticity and/or genuineness of the Photo(s). Advanced editing used to create illusions, deceptions and/or manipulations; including compositing and creative retouching of the Photo(s) is prohibited. HIPA preserves the right to assess and discard from the competition any submitted Photo(s) deemed, at HIPA’s own discretion, contrary to the foregoing.
  • Photo(s) that portray or otherwise include inappropriate and/or offensive contents, including nudity, violence and/or any other contents deemed to be contrary to the UAE religious, cultural and/or public morals traditions and practices will be disqualified.
  • Photo(s) (that have won any previous award(s), whether in any HIPA prior competition(s), or in any other competition(s) whatsoever and announced before 30th June 2023, and/or Photo(s) that have been previously used, or are intended to be used, for any kind of commercial purposes, must not be submitted. Any Photo(s) submitted in contrary to the foregoing will be automatically and without further notice disqualified from the entire Competition.

Judging Criteria

  • HIPA’s appointed judging panel shall assess and determine the winning Photo(s). The results, prizes and the winners will be announced in a public ceremony.
  • The winner(s) will be contacted by HIPA and must provide HIPA with their bank account details and personal details within seven (7) days from HIPA’s request. The cash money prize(s) will be paid to each winner within a period of two (2) months following the announcement of the Competition’s results.
  • Payment of the prize money is subject to obtaining the winner(s) legal documents required to process the bank transfer. Alternatively, the prize money can be collected in person via cheque, on receipt of valid photo identification.
  • HIPA’s judging panel has the right, at its absolute discretion, to turn down or reject any Photo(s) or Submission(s) without having to give any notice or explanation to the relevant Participant.
  • Any federal, state/ provincial/ territorial, and/or local taxes, fees and surcharges and taxes (whether foreign or domestic, and including income tax) on any prize that may be awarded to you under the Competition will be solely paid by you.
  • The decision of HIPA’s judging panel is final and binding on all Participants in respect to all matters relating to the Competition.

Method of Application

Click Here to Apply

For more information, visit HIPA website

Application Deadline: June 30, 2023