In the GCC, Saudi is leading in terms of submissions followed by the UAE and then the rest of the Gulf. The competition is open with entries accepted until August 10, 2019.
National Geographic Abu Dhabi (NGAD) and Almarai’s Middle East and North Africa’s annual regional photography competition, “Moments” has attracted vast interest from the region in the submissions phase.
In the GCC, Saudi is leading in terms of submissions followed by the UAE and then the rest of the Gulf. The competition is open with entries accepted until August 10, 2019.
“Moments” has established itself as one of the region’s major competitions that promises to provide talent with exposure and the chance to learn from National Geographic photography experts.
The competition is held in partnership with Almarai, who has been a strategic supporter of this platform for the last 6 years as part of a shared vision of nurturing youth & talent from the Middle East.
Organised under the theme of “Souqs of the Middle East”, the 2019 ‘Moments’ edition invites photographers from the region to capture the diversity and stories of markets from around the Arab world, which have been at the heart of the region’s culture and history.
Saudi photographers took a journey across the Kingdom, revealing the diversity of markets in the different regions.
At the Bab Makkah Souq in Jeddah, photographers’ captured fruits and vegetable merchants.
In Al Qaysariyah Souk in Al Ahsa, one of the oldest souks in the Eastern part of the Kingdom, featuring a multitude of traditional Arabian Gulf garments, images captured agricultural products and tools, as well as a wide array of local incense and oud.
Images also captured the Tarout market in the ancient island of the same name, which lies to the Northeast of Dammam and is considered to be one of the earliest inhabited sites in the Arabian Gulf. Images also captured markets in the Southern Cities of Jazan and Najran, home to traditional markets of sesame and Janbiah dagger making.
Emirati photographers captured the country’s market offerings across the nation: from generation-old coffee roasting methods in Sharjah market to picturesque images of Dubai’s Old Souq, to the Abu Dhabi market featuring classic Arabian Gulf boat-making.
The fish markets in Fujairah and Khorfakkan are captured.
A diverse array of souqs from the rest of the Gulf were also captured. These included images of the traditional Nizwa souq in Oman, featuring produce stalls, butcher shops, hunting equipment sellers, and traditional date shops as well as an ancient fort.
Bahrain images highlighted the Muharraq souq, which displays a plethora of jewellery shops, spices vendors, coffee shops, and offers visitors Halwa, a traditional Arab confectionary.
Meanwhile, in Kuwait, stunning images captured the “Birds Market”, which features a multitude of shops displaying different species of birds, including pigeons, canaries, and parrots among others.
Almarai, the GCC’s leading dairy industry, has been a partner of National Geographic Abu Dhabi’s “Moments Competition” since 2014 and for the sixth year in a row, with a shared vision and commitment to support Arab budding photographers, through offering them exposure and the possibility to be discovered on a platform that has seen over 200,000 participants.
“Moments” will feature a returning category this year for photographers aged 13-17. Submissions for the Moments competition are open until August 10.
