Water is experienced differently across people, communities and environments. Photography has the power to make these experiences visible - documenting challenges, celebrating solutions and connecting global conversations to real human stories.
In collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) invites photographers from around the world to contribute to this wider conversation by showing how water shapes our world and the people who depend on it.


Water shapes our lives, communities, economies, and ecosystems.
This global photography competition invites photographers to submit a story of 5–10 photographs that explores the relationship between:
Water & People
Water & Communities
Water & Planet
Water & Innovation
Water & Challenges
The 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal, will take place in Abu Dhabi from 8-10 December 2026.
The Conference aims to bring together countries and stakeholders from around the world to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6: ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
By participating, you understand, acknowledge and fully, irrevocably and unconditionally agree to abide and be bound by the following rules:
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.