INTRODUCTION

Power can be defined as a complex and multi-faceted force that has been a source of pride and honour throughout history. It is a fundamental human desire, difficult to fully capture due to its broad scope and diverse meanings. Power drives change and transformation - an engine for progress. It can also inspire or instill fear, making it a dynamic and influential force in human life.

We invite photographers from around the world to explore and capture the concept of power through artistic, technical and/or human perspectives. This category welcomes all forms of photography including aerial, photojournalism, and even abstract, to highlight the philosophical and aesthetic dimensions of power.

This season, we are also introducing the ‘Drone (Video)’ category, in recognition of these specialised tools that have enhanced the creators’ artistic control and produce exceptional ideas that have shaped the photography industry and influenced various fields.

The’ Sports Photography’ category has now become a permanent category due to popular demand. This dynamic category celebrates sports enthusiasts who skillfully capture the energy, drama and spirit that make sports thrilling to watch - and even more exciting to photograph.

For the ninth consecutive season, the ‘Portfolio’ category continues to thrive in the competition, showcasing great works from photographers that must create a powerful, unified series that engage and connect the hearts and minds of the audience in a way a single photograph cannot.

Last but certainly not least, the ‘General’ Category (Colour and Black & White) offers photographers a limitless platform to unleash their creativity and explore new artistic horizons without boundaries or constraints.

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Power

‘Power’, a multi-faceted theme, is not just something we can see or measure; it is also something we feel and engage with. It exists in many forms, each with its own dimensions and meanings.

Whether in the raw force of nature, the creativity and innovation of humankind, the complexities of social and political conflict, or humanity’s attempts to control nature through technology, power manifests in countless ways.

Power is found in technological influence, as well as in the destructive forces that shape our world like wars, pollution and climate change. Power drives change and transformation - in ways both inspiring and unsettling.

We invite photographers from around the world to explore and capture the concept of power through artistic, technical and/or human perspectives. This category welcomes all forms of photography including aerial, photojournalism, and even abstract, to highlight the philosophical and aesthetic dimensions of power.


Drone (Video)

Photographers have reached new creative heights using specialised tools to enhance their artistic control and produce exceptional ideas that have shaped the photography industry and influenced various fields.

This category invites photographers to present their artistry; showcasing content that combines creativity, emotion, and originality.


Sports Photography

From intense competition to moments of victory and defeat, Sports offer a dynamic blend of emotion, movement and storytelling.

Back by popular demand, this category invites photographers to capture the energy, drama and spirit that make sports thrilling to watch - and even more exciting to photograph.


Portfolio (Story-Telling)

A challenging category for photographers to the art of visual story-telling, where each image weaves into a compelling narrative.

Photographers must create a powerful, unified series that engage and connect the hearts and minds of the audience in a way a single photograph cannot.


GENERAL (Black & White And Colour)

Each year, thousands eagerly await the return of the General Category, a cornerstone for photographers to showcase their artistry that is not defined under a specific category.

This category has consistently attracted over one-third of total submissions; which continues to evolve in both quality and creative diversity.

Photographers can submit entries into two sub-categories: Black & White - evoking the timeless elegance of monochrome; and Colour - celebrating the rich tapestry of hues.


WHAT’S NEW

  • Season Theme POWER  will be the main theme of the season.
  • Grand Prize The Grand Prize of USD $200,000 will be awarded to one winner from any category this season, not limited to the main theme.
  • Submission Deadline The last day of participation will be on 31st May 2025 at 11:59 PM (UAE local time - GMT+4)
  • Special Awards There are THREE Special Awards for this season: The ‘Photography Appreciation Award’, The ‘Photography Content Creator Award‘ (by invitation from HIPA) and the ‘HIPA Photographer of the Year Award‘ (by submission and nomination).
  • General Category The General Category will include two subcategories: Colour and Black and White.
  • Other categories Other categories are; Drone (Video), Portfolio (Story-Telling), Sports Photography and General
  • Photo Criteria Submitted Photo(s) must be in JPEG 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.
  • Story Telling In the Portfolio category, participants must submit 5 to 10 photographs that together tell a unified story.
  • Drone (Video) category For detailed specification of the Drone (Video), please refer to the official rules.
  • About (AI) Generated Images AI-generated photos are not permitted and HIPA reserves the right to disqualified any AI-generated submissions.

Special Awards

Photography Appreciation Award

The photography industry has many passionate individuals who tirelessly strive for excellence. These dedicated professionals offer their skills and expertise selflessly, playing a crucial role in shaping the photographic community.

The ‘Photography Appreciation Award’ honours individuals or groups who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to advancing the art of photography. Through this award, HIPA aims to express a small token of respect and gratitude for their invaluable contributions.


Photography Content Creator Award

Service to photography goes beyond capturing stunning images; it includes editors, publishers, bloggers, researchers, inventors, promoters, and all content creators - both print and digital - who have made a positive impact on the industry and contributed to its evolution.

The ‘Photography Content Creator Award’ acknowledges and celebrates the dedication and passion of those whose work has shaped the photography world in profound ways.


HIPA Photographer Of The Year

Introduced in 2024, the ‘HIPA Photographer of the Year Award’ celebrates an exceptional photographer whose creative achievements over 12 consecutive months have resulted in a remarkable portfolio of visual masterpieces and ground-breaking photographic projects.

To participate, photographers must present their accomplishments from the past year, including current projects and future creative visions. Submissions should feature iconic images that define their artistic journey during this period.

Photographers meeting these criteria can submit their entries in accordance with the detailed guidelines.

GrandPrize 200,000

Grand
Power
1st 40,000
2nd 30,000
3rd 20,000
Drone (Video)
1st 40,000
2nd 30,000
3rd 20,000
Sports Photography
1st 40,000
2nd 30,000
3rd 20,000
Portfolio (Story-Telling)
1st 50,000
2nd 40,000
3rd 30,000
GENERAL (Black & White And Colour)
Black & White
1st 40,000
2nd 30,000
3rd 20,000
Colour
1st 40,000
2nd 30,000
3rd 20,000

Special Awards

HIPA Photographer of The Year 80,000

The Photography Content Creator Award 50,000

Photography Appreciation Award 100,000

GrandTotal 1,000,000

Grand

All the Prize money will be in US Dollars

Rules

  • The Competition is open for online submissions only (the Submissions), through the Competition online registration page available on www.hipa.ae.
  • Submissions will be accepted from 00:01 on 10th January 2025 until 23:59 on 31st May 2025 (UAE local time - GMT+4). No Submissions made after the deadline will not be accepted.
  • Participants must be individuals aged eighteen (18) years or over at the time of the Submission(s).
  • You hereby certify that you are eighteen (18) years old or older at the date of submitting your Photo(s) to the Competition. You further understand and agree that HIPA will automatically and without further notice discard any Photo(s) that are found to be submitted by a participant that is below eighteen (18) years old at the time of the Submission.
  • You may submit up to one (1) Photo in each relevant category of the Competition including the subcategories under the General category, except the Portfolio category where you can submit between 5 - 10 Photo(s) and one video for Drone (Video). You must provide a title and description for each Photo submitted, for the set of photos in the Portfolio category and in Drone (Video).
  • 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. Using more than one account for the same person is not allowed.
  • 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 required to submit should upload their photo(s)/video in RAW format initially. However, if shortlisted, they must upload the RAW or camera original file(s) in any format.
  • Black and white Photo(s) are permitted in all the categories of the Competition except for the Colour subcategory under the General category.
  • For the Portfolio category, you are requested to submit a series of Photo(s) on unified subject matter. The number of permitted Photo(s) is the minimum of 5 and maximum of 10 Photo(s).
  • Drone video rules:
    1. Duration: 30 seconds to 1 minute
    2. Resolution: Minimum Full HD (1920x1080); 4K (3840x2160) preferred
    3. File Formats: MP4, MOV or AVI (Other formats will be rejected)
    4. Codec: (H.264 or H.265)
    5. Maximum File Size: 500 MB
  • All submitted Photo(s) or video 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(s) or video is acceptable, provided any such editing does not affect the authenticity and/or genuineness of the Photo(s) or video. Advanced editing used to create illusions, deceptions and/or manipulations; including compositing and creative retouching of the Photo(s) or video prohibited. HIPA preserves the right to assess and discard from the competition any submitted Photo(s) or video 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) and video that have won any previous award(s), whether in any HIPA prior competition(s), or in any other competition(s) whatsoever and announced before 31st May 2025, and/or Photo(s) or video that have been previously used, or are intended to be used, for any kind of commercial purposes, must not be submitted. Any Photo(s) and video submitted in contrary to the foregoing will be automatically and without further notice disqualified from the entire Competition.
  • HIPA’s appointed judging panel shall assess and determine the winning Photo(s) or video. 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.
  • Receiving the prize money is subject to receive all the legal documents needed for Bank transfer of attend in person to receive the cheque.
  • HIPA’s judging panel has the right, at its absolute discretion, to turn down or reject any Photo(s) or video 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.
  • Submitted Photo(s) or video must be a single work of original material created and/or taken by you, must not contain any materials owned or controlled by a third party for which you have not obtained a license, permission or approval to use, must not infringe the copyright, trademark, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity.
  • Upon reaching the final stage of judging, you grant HIPA, a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty free, sub-licensable right and license to use, publish, reproduce, display, perform, adapt, modify, create derivative works, distribute, have distributed, print, promote your submitted Photo(s) or video, in whole or in part, in any form, in all media forms now or hereafter known, anywhere in the world for any purpose, related to the Competition, the publication in HIPA promotional digital and/or printed materials and formats broadcast such as on HIPA magazines, printed leaflet and brochures, HIPA website and/or through other public online feeds, promoting subsequent competitions and/or the work of HIPA generally.
  • You must obtain, solely bear the cost for, and provide HIPA within seven (7) calendar days of any request to do so by HIPA, with any or all of the following:
    1. A signed written consent, release and/or permission of each and every identifiable individual person(s) appearing in your submitted Photo(s) or video, clearly authorizing you to use their picture or likeness for submitting the Photo(s) or video in the manner contemplated by the Competition, and authorizing HIPA to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the entry(s) for all purposes, in any media now or hereafter known.
    2. A signed written license from the copyright owner of any sculpture, artwork, or other copyrighted material that appears in your submitted Photo(s) or video, authorizing HIPA to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the relevant entry(s) for all purposes, in any media now or hereafter known.
    3. A signed written license from the owner of any private property included in your submitted Photo(s) or video, authorizing HIPA to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the relevant entry(s) for all purposes, in any media now or hereafter known.
    4. A signed written license or release letter from a person who has the right or is able to assert any right over the Photo(s) (e.g. employer, agency, etc.) authorizing HIPA. HIPA to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the relevant entry(s) for all purposes, in any media now or hereafter known. Upon HIPA’s request, users will be prompted to sign documents directly on our website through the dashboard. This system-enabled feature allows users to complete the Model Release form conveniently online, eliminating the need to download, sign and re-upload the form.
    5. If you have been announced as a winner of the Competition (in any category), you grant to HIPA, a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty free, sub-licensable right and license to use, publish, reproduce, display, perform, adapt, modify, create derivative works, distribute, have distributed, promote your winning Photo(s) or video, in whole or in part, in any form, in all media forms now or hereafter known, anywhere in the world and for any purpose, including but not limited to: display at a potential exhibition of winners, publication of a book featuring select entries in the Competition, publication in HIPA materials and/or online highlighting entries or winners of the Competition, and promoting the work of HIPA generally.
  • You hereby hold harmless, release, indemnify and discharge HIPA and its partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers and representatives from all liability, claims, judgments, demands, controversies, agreements, damages, actions and causes of action whatsoever, arising out of or related in any way to the Photo(s), the Competition or the conduct of the Competition and the acceptance and use, misuse, or possession of any prize awarded, whether in law or in equity, no matter what the cause or nature, and you further waive any claims that you may state or assert against HIPA in association with the Competition or any of its associated activities, or in any way related to or resulting from the Photo(s) or videos, Competition even if such injury or claims results from or is caused by the negligence or gross negligence of HIPA, in whole or in part. You further agree to indemnify and hold harmless HIPA from any claim arising out of your participation in the Competition including, without limitation, all claims brought or asserted by any third party as a result of any injury or loss that you or they may sustain in any way associated with your participation in the Competition.
  • If HIPA, at its sole discretion, is of the opinion that you have breached any of the Rules, HIPA has the right to disqualify you from the Competition, and in such circumstances you must re-pay to HIPA all costs undertaken by HIPA in relation to your Submission(s) and participation in the Competition and the awards ceremony, including but not limited to (if and to the extent applicable) any travel costs incurred by HIPA, and re-pay the Competition prize money and return any trophies or certificates at your own cost to HIPA.
  • Under no circumstance HIPA will be liable for any:
    • Lost, late, misdirected, stolen, illegible or incomplete Submissions;
    • Error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, submitted Photo(s) or video;
    • Problems, failures or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, providers, computer equipment, software, email, players or browsers, on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet, at any website, or on account of any combination of the foregoing;
    • Incorrect or inaccurate information, caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Competition or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of the Photo(s) or video and/or the Submissions;
    • Injury or damage to any Participant or to any computer related to, resulting from or in connection with the Competition.
  • If, for any reason, the Competition is not capable of being conducted as anticipated, due to computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of HIPA, which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Competition, HIPA reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Competition as deemed appropriate, disqualify any Participant, and/or select winners from all eligible Photo(s) or video submitted prior to the termination, cancellation, modification or suspension. HIPA reserves the right to correct any typographical, printing, computer programming or operating errors at any time.

The Competition, your Submission(s) and the Rules shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Emirate of Dubai and the applicable federal laws of the United Arab Emirates, and any aspects or disputes arising out of or in connection with the Competition and/or your Submission(s) will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Dubai courts (as established by Law No. (3) of 1992 and Law No. (13) of 2016).

This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Apple Inc. The participants understand that they are providing information to HIPA and not to Apple Inc. Any questions, comments, or complaints regarding the contest should be directed to HIPA and not to Apple Inc.

Faq's

General Questions

‘POWER’ is the main theme of the Fourteenth Season of competition. Other categories are: Drone (Video), Portfolio (Story-Telling), Sports Photography and General (Colour and Black and White).

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) is a prestigious global photography competition founded in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with the aim of promoting and celebrating the art of photography worldwide.

We invite all individuals aged 18 and above, from anywhere in the world, to participate.

Participation in the Special Awards is by exclusive invitation from HIPA.

No, nominations cannot be made on your behalf.

There are no fees involved; the competition is completely free to enter.

Please click here for a full list of the all the categories.

You may submit one (1) photo in each relevant category of the competition, including the subcategories under the General category. In the Portfolio category, you must upload 5 to 10 photographs. Additionally, you can submit one video under the Drone (Video) category.

You can submit photos through the official HIPA website at https://hipa.ae/members/login/

Registration is available on the HIPA website at https://hipa.ae/members/login/. Please ensure you read and accept all the rules before registering.

You can check the uploaded submissions from the Dashboard.

Please check your Spam or Junk mail folders for any emails from HIPA. Additionally, make sure to add noreply@hipa.ae to your email safe list to avoid missing future communications.

Please click here for the prize breakdown of all the categories.

No, you cannot submit any photo(s)/video that have already won any HIPA award or any other competition.

Yes, you can, as long as you hold the copyright for the content and it did not win any moral or material prizes.

No, photo(s)/video that have been used for commercial purposes are not eligible for submission.

‘Commercial purposes’ refers to the use of a photograph for the following:

  • Sale or resale
  • Producing a document, print or photograph (in whole or in part) for the purpose of sale.

Yes, you can participate with photo(s) and video that has been shared on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc.

You can participate with photo(s) taken using either digital or analogue cameras; however, all submission must be made digitally online. If submitting analogue photographs, you will need to scan them before submission.

Yes, you can, as long as it complies with the rules.

Yes, a brief description of at least 150 words must be included with each submission in all categories. For the ‘Portfolio’ category, you need to provide a description for the entire photo series.

Photo descriptions can be submitted in either English, Arabic or both languages only.

Yes, you can delete or replace your photo(s)/video, but this must be done within three (3) days of the original upload.

If you encounter any issues with uploading your photo(s)/video, you can contact the team at Helpdesk@hipa.ae for assistance.

Participants are not required to submit should upload their photo(s)/video in RAW format initially. However, if shortlisted, they must upload the RAW or camera original file(s) in any format. Our system supports up to 38 different RAW file types.

Yes, you can use Photoshop or other photo-editing software, but the editing should not compromise the authenticity of the photo(s)/video.

Yes, submitted photo(s) must be in JPEG format, with high quality and resolution. The minimum file size should be 5 MB, the longest edge must be at least 2000 pixel and the resolution should be no less than 30dpi and suitable for publication.

Yes. For detailed specification of the Drone (Video) category, please refer to the official rules.

Yes, there is no restriction on the date that submissions were taken.

Yes, you can, except in the Colour subcategory of the General Category.

Yes, a model release form will be required if requested by HIPA upon reaching the final judging stage.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

You can edit or update all your details, except your name and email address, by logging on to your member page on the HIPA website.

Yes, you can view your submitted photo(s)/video as soon as they are uploaded.

JUDGING

There are four (4) stages of judging at HIPA.

The identities of judges will remain anonymous until the completion of the current season.

We have a system for judgment based on four (4) main stages:

  • Stage One (1)

    The process begins with screening (filtration) of received photo(s)/video. In this stage, judges review all submissions to ensure they comply with our rules. Photographs are then marked either as qualified or not qualified.

  • Stage Two (2)

    Qualified photographs then proceed to the first stage of actual judging, where a group of judges evaluates them. Typically, there are three groups of three judges, each responsible for a specific category. The judges assign scores to the photographs, ranging from 1 to 100, based on their assessment of the selected images.

  • Stage Three (3)

    A percentage of the photo(s)/video (the exact percentage varies depending on the total number of submissions) will advance to the third judging level, where all the judges (between 6 to 9 judges) will assign another score, ranging from 1 and 100.

  • Stage Four (4)

    During this stage, the verification process for participants will also begin within a specified timeframe. This includes requesting legal documents such as model release forms, ownership statements, copies of identification cards and/or passports. The verification process ensures compliance with all terms and conditions, and the results of this stage determine the winners in each category.

Yes, the judging is anonymous. Judges do not have access to participants’ names or details.

It means you may be a winner, and your photo(s) could be published in our annual book or featured in our website gallery, depending on the score you achieved.

No, only participants whose photographs are published in the annual book of the respective season will receive a copy.

No, your photo(s) will not be used. All photo(s) that do not reach the final stage or in which participants have not completed the legal and technical requirements outlined in the competition conditions will be destroyed.

Yes, you can. However, winners will be required to sign an undertaking letter that grants HIPA or its partners the right to use the winning photos in publications and for non-commercial purposes.

Yes, you can. However, HIPA retains the right to use the photo as outlined in the undertaking letter.

You will be notified via the email address you provided during registration. If you are selected as a finalist, you will be asked to submit necessary documents to verify your personal details. Additionally, the results will be visible in your user panel on the HIPA website.

WINNERS PER CATEGORY