Through a Lens that Protects Nature and Preserves the Future

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Through a Lens that Protects Nature and Preserves the Future, HIPA, in collaboration with the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority, invites photographers from around the world to capture the extraordinary beauty and diversity of nature across the UAE—from remarkable wildlife and breathtaking landscapes to the hidden wonders beneath the water’s surface.

A special category also invites participants to reimagine nature through Artificial Intelligence, using an original photograph taken in the UAE as the foundation for a new visual creation.

The competition welcomes compelling perspectives that showcase the UAE’s natural heritage through photography, storytelling, and creative innovation.

Through every image, the competition seeks to deepen our connection with nature and inspire greater appreciation for the natural world we share.

Wildlife

From the smallest creatures to the most commanding wildlife, nature reveals a world rich in life and diversity. This category celebrates photographs of animals, birds, insects and wild plants in their natural habitats within the UAE. All submitted photographs must be captured in the UAE.

Natural Landscapes

Through light, land, and changing seasons, nature creates landscapes that tell a different story in every place. This category features mountains, deserts, forests, valleys, coastlines and other natural scenery and phenomena within the UAE. All submitted photographs must be captured in the UAE.

Underwater World

Beneath the surface lies a hidden world filled with colour, movement and life. This category explores marine life, coral reefs, aquatic species and underwater landscapes found in the UAE’s coastal and marine environments. All submitted photographs must be captured in the UAE.

Nature Reimagined With AI

When UAE nature meets imagination and technology, a photograph can tell a new story. This category celebrates creative works that reimagine an original nature photograph through Artificial Intelligence. The final image must clearly show a recognisable connection to the UAE.

Environmental Photography Ethics

To help protect nature and wildlife, participants are requested to adhere to responsible photography practices when capturing images, including the following:

  • Respect wildlife and maintain a safe distance from animals and birds. Avoid chasing, frightening, or disturbing them for the purpose of capturing a photograph.
  • Do not touch, handle, feed, relocate, or reposition living organisms, and do not interfere with nests, breeding sites, or resting areas.
  • Do not remove plants, rocks, or other natural elements, or alter the surrounding environment for the purpose of improving the scene or photographic composition.
  • Remain within designated trails and permitted areas, avoid entering sensitive or restricted locations, and avoid causing damage to natural habitats.
  • Comply with the instructions of the authorities responsible for protected areas, natural and marine areas, and photography locations, and obtain any required approvals or permits in accordance with applicable regulations.
  • Use photography equipment in a manner that does not disturb living organisms. The use of appropriate lenses for photography from a safe distance is recommended.
  • Avoid using lighting, sounds, or any other means that may affect the natural behaviour of living organisms.
  • Keep the location clean and do not leave behind any waste, materials, or equipment that may affect the environment.
  • Consider personal safety and the safety of others, and do not engage in any dangerous behaviour for the purpose of capturing a photograph.
  • When using drones, participants must comply with the applicable permits, requirements, and permitted areas in accordance with the regulations in force in the UAE and the Emirate of Dubai. Drone operations in Dubai are subject to registration requirements and permitted operating areas as determined by the relevant authorities.
Wildlife
1st 15,000
2nd 10,000
3rd 5,000
Nature Reimagined With AI
1st 10,000
Natural Landscapes
1st 15,000
2nd 10,000
3rd 5,000
Underwater World
1st 15,000
2nd 10,000
3rd 5,000

Rules

01 SUBMISSIONS
  • The competition is open for online submissions only through the registration page available on: www.hipa.ae
  • Submissions start on 21st August 2026 at 00:00 am and the deadline will be until 24:00 on 2nd September 2026. No submissions will be accepted after that time.
  • Participants must be individuals aged 18 years and over, at the time of their submission.
  • 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 reserve the right and 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 one photo in each category.
  • You must provide a title and description for all your submissions.
  • The same photo must not be submitted twice in the portfolio. Any photo submitted more than one within the portfolio will be discarded from the competition.
  • Submitted photo must have an original file 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.
  • Submission(s) from mobile phones and drones are allowed.
  • 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 that 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, contrary to the foregoing.
  • Photos 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.
  • The winner(s) will be contacted by HIPA Team and must provide their bank account details and personal details within seven (7) days from request received. The prize(s) will be delivered to each winner within a period of two (2) months following the announcement of the competition's results.
  • HIPA 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 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.
  • 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.