Dh250,000 up for grabs in UAE's World’s Coolest Winter Photography Competition

Amateurs and professionals are being invited by Hipa to highlight the UAE's attractions

Seagulls at the Jumeirah open beach near the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Families visit Abu Dhabi's salt lake flats at sunset, a popular place for photos and where cooler temperatures can be enjoyed. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A child enjoying the water feature at the Expo 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National.

Dhows unloading and loading items by Deira's Spice Market. For many people, the creek (Khor) with its dhow moorings, abra water taxis, and souks is the very essence of the old city - the place where many things have started. For decades, Dubai Creek has been a hub of activity as traders bring in goods and sell their wares at the bustling markets nearby. Reem Mohammed / The National

Mariam Mohammed Al Kabi, Sameha Ahmed Al Kabi, Nadia Khalifa Al Shamsi and Ateeja Al Mherbi; artisans at the Women's Handicraft Centre in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Emiratis practising falconry in the desert. Reem Mohammed / The National

Kids playing cricket in the parking area in Bur Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The mobility pavilion on the 11th day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The first Eid prayer is performed at the Eid prayer ground in Al Barsha, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A person walking in Dubai's Design District. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sunset at the Tal Mureeb dunes in Liwa, Empty Quarter, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The town of Qo'a, a Bidoon community on the Abu Dhabi-Oman border. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Near the Qutuf watchtower which guarded the southern approaches to settlements in the central part of the Liwa Crescent, inhabited by the Mahadhar, in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Sunrise at a camp set up in Dubai’s desert. Reem Mohammed / The National

The crescent moon lake in the Al Qudra Desert, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Near the Qutuf watchtower in the Liwa Crescent, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Al Madam buried ghost village, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Desert landscape at sunset in Ajman. Pawan Singh / The National

Beauty of the desert landscape in Ajman. Pawan Singh / The National

Early morning fog in the desert in Al Badayer, Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National

The landscape as seen from Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain. Pawan Singh / The National

Obaid Saeed Obaid's farm in Wadi Kub, Ras Al Khaimah. Reem Mohammed / The National

Off-road enthusiasts go dune bashing on a mountainside in Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The world's longest zip line at Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Maliha, Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National

At the top of the world's longest zip line at Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Rashed Naib, an employee on Abdullah Al Mazrooie's farm in Al Ghail. Reem Mohammed / The National

The sun sets over the mountains in Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Beautiful scenery and fresh water at Wadi Shis, a seasonal watercourse, in the Hajar Mountains of Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National

The mountains in Ras Al Khaimah against a typically clear blue UAE sky. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Heavy morning fog at Dubai Marina. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Fireworks light up the Yas Bay waterfront to mark Eid Al Fitr, in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The Dubai skyline at sunset. Reem Mohammed / The National

The interior of Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, one of the UAE's cultural landmarks. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The sun sets over a mosque in Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A bird flies between two mosques in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A view of the Al Taqwa Mosque at the Buhaira Corniche in Sharjah, during the evening. Pawan Singh / The National

A cabin on Ain Dubai, the observation wheel on Bluewaters Island. Ain Dubai opened to the public on October 21 this year. Visitors can see Palm Jumeirah and the JBR area from its cabins. Pawan Singh / The National

Pigeons fly on the creek in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The sun rises on a hazy morning along the corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Dozens of kite surfers make the most of favourable conditions at Jumeirah Beach, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The mountains can be seen from the Gulf of Oman in Dibba, Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Jubail Mangrove Park, Abu Dhabi, at dusk. Victor Besa / The National

People enjoying boat rides, kayaking and other adventure activities at Hatta Dam, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People spending time enjoying a spectacular sunset near the beach in Ras Al Khaimah. Pawan Singh / The National

Dhows unloading and loading items by Deira's Spice Market. For many people, the creek [Khor] with its dhow moorings, Abra water taxis and souks is the very essence of the old city. For decades, Dubai Creek has been a hive of activity as traders bring in goods and sell their wares at the bustling markets nearby. Reem Mohammed / The National

View of the beach near the Pink Lake, which was discovered in Ras Al Khaimah. Pawan Singh / The National

Fishing on a hazy New Year's Day morning overlooking the Burj al Arab, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak/The National

The sun sets on a mangrove forest area on Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

The coastline of Al Sila'a, a city 350 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi and 450km west of Dubai, consisting mainly of Emirati town houses. A sand plover is searching for worms during low tide along the Sila'a coastline. Victor Besa / The National

The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Awards (Hipa) has launched the World’s Coolest Winter Photography Competition.

A collaboration with the UAE Government Media Office, the initiative is offering Dh250,000 ($68,073) in prize money and is open to amateurs and professionals.

It is being held alongside the second season of the World’s Coolest Winter campaign, which aims to familiarise residents and tourists with the various activities on offer in the UAE during cooler months. To this effect, submissions will highlight the UAE’s entertainment, cultural and natural attractions.

There are two main award categories. One Photo is open to the public and covers five subcategories: Desert, Sea, Mountains, Valleys, and the Emirates from Above. The second category, Portfolio, is exclusive to professional photographers and includes four subcategories: Emirates in Your Eyes, Emirates Wilderness, Faces from Emirates, and Street Life in Emirates.

Participants must be over the age of 18 and submit their photos through the online registration page on the Hipa website.

The competition will run until Thursday, January 20 and conclude with an awards ceremony. Winners in each of the five subcategories of One Photo will receive Dh7,000, while Dh50,000 has been allocated for each of the subcategories in Portfolio. Participants must also share their photo under a One Photo category on their Instagram account, with the campaign hashtag #WorldsCoolestWinter.

“The UAE’s natural, touristic and cultural landmarks inspire viewers to see them through a new lens,” says Alia Al Hammadi, deputy chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office. “The World’s Coolest Winter Photography Competition, which is being organised in collaboration with Hipa, will capture the magnificence of these landmarks and put them centre stage. It will also familiarise residents and visitors from abroad with the beauty that the UAE holds.”

Submissions will be judged by an expert panel that includes John Stanmeyer, an American photojournalist who received the World Press Photo of the Year award, and Canadian Barbara Davidson, a three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer.

“Photographs strongly influence emotion and spark excitement, meaning they can make a significant impression on any audience,” said Ali Khalifa Bin Thalith, secretary general of Hipa.

“We are delighted to manage the World’s Coolest Winter Photography Competition, and strongly support the photography community here in the UAE, including hobbyists and professionals, to play a role in promoting UAE winter culture and tourism. I look forward to seeing their skills and talent competing for the prizes and also the experience and knowledge they have gained along the way.”

Secret UAE spots where photographers go for the best shots - in pictures: