The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) hosted the fourth edition of ‘Dubai Photo Forum’ last November in Dubai, following the closing ceremony of its fourteenth awards season. The two-day forum attracted 300 participants and featured six diverse events including lectures, panel discussions, workshops and curated photo walks led by prominent photographic figures from the UAE, Kuwait, Egypt, Palestine, Ethiopia and the United States.

According to the post-event survey, 93% of attendees described the forum as the most stimulating and informative photography event in the region while 96% of attendees requested a longer forum duration and more than one edition be held annually.

The Secretary General of HIPA, His Excellency Ali Bin Thalith said, 

“We are delighted with the strong turnout and more importantly, the overwhelming positive feedback from the participants. The forum was designed to provide valuable knowledge, professional skills and meaningful dialogue around contemporary photography. The participation of 300 photographers reflects the growing strength of our community.”

Bin Thalith added, “The positive evaluation results reaffirm HIPA’s founding vision - to elevate photographic knowledge and practice in line with global developments. We are carefully studying participants’ suggestions as we plan future editions.”

Forum Highlights

The first day opened with a photo walk titled ‘Through the Alleys of Time’, led by Emirati photographer Ola Allouz, guiding participants through Dubai's historic districts.

An afternoon panel discussion, ‘Photography in the Age of AI’, was moderated by Emirati photographer Hussein Al-Mousawi, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Arabia. The panel included Ethiopian photographer Aïda Muluneh, Palestinian visual artist Yahya Qaddoura and American photographer Karen Aigner. The discussion explored the evolving relationship between AI and contemporary photographic practice.

The day concluded with a lecture titled ‘Storytelling Against All’ presented by American photographer and recipient of the Photography Appreciation Award, Rick Smolan.

The second day began with a photo walk at the Museum of the Future titled ‘Symphony of Lines: Architectural Photography’, led by Egyptian photographer Wael Onsey. 

Later, Kuwaiti photographer Majed Sultan Al Zaabi delivered a practical workshop ‘The Smart Edit with Lightroom’, focusing on efficient post-production techniques.

The forum concluded with a lecture titled ‘The Art of Impactful Content’, presented by American photographer Mark Smith, recipient of the Photography Content Creator Award. 

Audience Feedback

One attendee commented:

“The organization was perfect. The session was very valuable and inspiring. The workshop was the best I've ever attended. The instructor was highly professional and his storytelling style and the way he shared all the details and information were incredibly moving and amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and if I were asked to attend the same workshop again, I would gladly do so.”

Another participant wrote: 

“Thank you to HIPA for organizing this event. It was a wonderful experience. Rick Smolan spoke continuously for over two hours without interruption, and everyone enjoyed listening to his journey as a visual storyteller. It was a unique and unforgettable experience for me.”

An emerging photographer shared: 

“I am very happy with the workshop. It was truly fantastic, and the HIPA team was incredibly friendly and supportive. Their efforts were greatly appreciated. I am eagerly looking forward to participating in future workshops, where I will have more opportunities to grow and improve my photography skills.” 

Seasoned photographers also commended the audience’s engagement and proposed topics for future forums, including intellectual property and the protection of photographers’ rights - suggestions that HIPA confirmed are under consideration.

The Dubai Photo Forum continues to reinforce HIPA’s commitment to nurturing creative talent, encouraging professional dialogue and strengthening the regional and international photography community.