Family

• You may submit up to one (1) Photo(s) / 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. It is also not allowed to use more than one account for the same person.
• Submitted Photo (s) must be in JPEG or JPG format, with high quality and resolution, of a minimum of 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.
• You are kindly requested to upload the original Photo(s) (RAW) or the Photo(s) (s) without any editing after the shortlisting of the photos(s).
• Black and white Photo(s) are permitted in all the categories of the Competition except for the Color sub category under the General 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 submissions to the Dreams (AI-Generated Images) category must be based on an original source photo\photos captured by, or legally owned by, the participant, which has been further developed or transformed using artificial intelligence techniques.
• Fully AI-generated images created entirely from scratch without an original source image will not be accepted. If a submission passes the judging stages, the participant may be requested to provide the original source image (prior to AI processing) for verification purposes only. The organizer reserves the right to disqualify any entry if the original image cannot be provided or if this condition is violated.
• 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(s) is 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) 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.
• Previously Awarded Works: Entries that have previously won major prizes in HIPA or in any other competitions comparable to this Award in terms of monetary value, prestige, or artistic reputation shall not be accepted, to preserve the Award’s uniqueness and the independence of its artistic standards and judging process. Works that have previously received honorary mentions, commendation awards, or have won in limited-scope or lower-profile competitions shall not be automatically excluded. Such works may be accepted provided they meet the participation requirements, or if the Jury determines that they demonstrate artistic merit worthy of presentation and evaluation within the Award. The Award’s General Secretariat reserves the exclusive right to assess the nature of any previous awards received by submitted works and to determine whether such awards are comparable in value or artistic significance to this Award. The Secretariat’s decision in this regard shall be final, binding, and not subject to appeal or review.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies: Except the Dreams Category (Artificial Intelligence) Participants are required to submit a written declaration confirming that no artificial intelligence tools or software were used in the creation of submitted works in categories where the use of such technologies is not permitted. This requirement aims to safeguard the authenticity of the artwork and the credibility of human creative expression, particularly in the Realistic Photography category.
• Commercial Use and Intellectual Property Rights: No photographs or videos that have been previously used for commercial purposes may be submitted unless the participant is the exclusive owner of all intellectual property rights related to such works

• 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 after two (2) months following the announcement of the Competition's results.
• Prize Payment and Disbursement: The disbursement of the cash prize to winners is subject to the submission of all required legal documents necessary to complete the bank transfer. The prize amount shall be denominated in United States Dollars (USD). Alternatively, winners may collect the prize in person in the form of a cheque issued in United Arab Emirates Dirhams (AED), calculated based on the exchange rate applied by the Award’s designated bank at the time of issuance
• 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.

• Submitted Photo(s) 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), 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:
  • A signed written consent, release and/or permission of each and every identifiable individual person(s) appearing in your submitted Photo(s), clearly authorizing you to use their picture or likeness for submitting the Photo(s) 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. Please click here to download the draft of the Model Release Form;
  • A signed written license from the copyright owner of any sculpture, artwork, or other copyrighted material that appears in your submitted Photo(s), 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;
  • A signed written license from the owner of any private property included in your submitted Photo(s), 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; and
  • 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; and click here to download the model of the Release form.
• 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), 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.

• Biography:
  
  • Your bio should describe your specialties and an overall aesthetic of your work in 500 words or less.
• Eligibility:
  
  • A brief text, no more than 100 words, in response to the question, “Why do you believe you deserve the accolade of HIP Photographer of the Year?”
• Achievements:
  
  • You must submit a minimum of three (3) of your achievements, with a maximum of ten (10) permissible to showcase your skills and experience. These accomplishments must have taken place between January, 1st, 2025, and January, 1st 2026.
  • Each achievement must be accompanied by at least one document (image or any type of file), and may include up to a maximum of ten files in total.
  • You are required to upload your achievements before 31st May 2026 (11:59 pm - UAE standard time).
• Current Projects:
  
  • You must present at least one cuurent photography project and are permitted to include up to a maximum of three current projects.
  • At least one document (image or file) for each project and up to a maximum of ten files per project.
• Future Plans:
  
  • Each photographer must outline at least one record of their future plans related to POY and can include up to a maximum of three future plans.
  • For each project, you need to include at least one document (image or any type of file), with a maximum of ten files allowed per project.
• Iconic Photographs:
  
  • You are required to upload one iconic photograph of your works, with a maximum of three iconic photographs.
• Edits or Modifications to Submissions:
  
  • Participants have a 7-day window following successful participation to make changes or edits to their POY submission.

* The above terms can also be found in the Rules tab of our competition page

• 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), 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);
  • 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).
  • 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) submitted prior to the termination, cancellation, modification or suspension. HIPA reserves the right to correct any typo-graphical, 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.