HIPA 2025 Awards Celebrate Global Photography Excellence

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, the 14th Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) celebrated an extraordinary gathering of photographers from around the world at the Museum of the Future. The theme, ‘Power,’ set the stage for a night highlighting awe-inspiring creativity and the human pursuit of visual storytelling.

The $200,000 Grand Prize was awarded to Italian photographer Gianluca Gianferrari for his breathtaking capture of Mount Etna in Sicily, where glowing lava fragments contrasted against pristine white snow under a star-filled sky. The image mesmerized attendees with its vivid depiction of nature’s raw force.

Special Recognitions

The ceremony also honored distinguished contributors to photography. American photographer Rick Smolan received the Appreciation Award for his decades-long influential career, while Mark Smith, a leading bird photographer and environmental activist, was presented the Content Creator Award. HIPA Photographer of the Year went to Omani artist Salem Al-Hajri, recognized for his work celebrating Omani and Arab cultural heritage.

Category Winners Across the Globe

The ‘Power’ category winners included Syrian photographer Hashem Dardowra in first place, with India’s Deepak Singh Dogra and Australia’s Scott Portelli completing the podium.

In the ‘General - Colour’ category, American photographers Karine Aigner and Jack Zhi won first and second, while Marcin Giba from Poland took third. The ‘General - Black and White’ honors went to Australian Ted Grambeau, South African Chris Fallows, and Emirati Yousef Bin Shakar Al Zaabi.

For the ‘Portfolio’ category, Palestinian photographer Ali Jadallah claimed first place, with Marek Biegalski (Poland) and Emirati Ammar AlSayed Ahmed following. Sports Photography awards went to Vladimir Tadić (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Laci Perényi (Germany), and Masatoshi Ujihara (Japan). Drone (Video) awards saw American Karim Iliya take the top spot, with Norway’s Chrisander Bergan and India’s Shantha Kumar Nagendran completing the rankings.

With over 87,000 submissions from 50,000 photographers worldwide, HIPA 2025 reinforced Dubai’s role as a global hub for photography. The event not only celebrated technical skill and artistic vision but also highlighted photography’s power to connect cultures, tell impactful stories, and inspire audiences across continents.