‘Water: Our Shared Story’ invites photographers worldwide to document how water shapes our world and the people who depend on it with a US$23,000 prize pool

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has launched ‘Water: Our Shared Story’, a global photography competition inviting photographers to explore one of the world’s most vital resources through compelling visual storytelling.

Held in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, the competition comes ahead of the UN conference, which will take place in Abu Dhabi from 8-10 December 2026. Photographers worldwide are invited to submit a photo story of 5-10 photographs with a total prize pool of US$23,000.

Commenting on the competition, Ali Bin Thalith, Secretary General of HIPA, said: “We are proud to collaborate with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 2026 UN Water Conference by using the cultural and awareness-raising power of photography to encourage a global conversation about water. We invite photographers and photography communities worldwide to participate and share visual stories that are compelling, accessible and impactful, supporting the objectives of the conference.”

Bin Thalith added, “HIPA explored the theme of ‘Water’ in depth during its ninth season, highlighting its importance to life. The award received powerful and creative photographic interpretations that helped raise awareness and offer new perspectives on this vital resource. Water is not only essential to life; it is deeply connected to our communities, economies, environment and technological development.”

“With ‘Water: Our Shared Story’, we are inviting photographers to take the conversation further,” Bin Thalith said. “A photograph can cross languages and borders, allowing complex issues to be understood through a human and visual perspective.”

H.E. Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said : “Everyone sees the world differently, shaped by their own experiences, communities, and environments. That diversity of perspective is important as we look for new ways to understand and respond to global water challenges. Through ‘Water: Our Shared Story’, photography can bring those perspectives to life and help us see water through the eyes of people and communities around the world. As the UAE prepares to co-host the 2026 United Nations Water Conference with Senegal, we want to continue opening the conversation to new voices and new ways of thinking about water.”

Entries close on 15 October 2026. Full competition rules, eligibility requirements and submission details are available on the official HIPA website: www.hipa.ae.