National Geographic Abu Dhabi and Almarai Announce Winner of 10th Annual ‘Moments’ Photography Competition

National Geographic Abu Dhabi and Almarai Announce Winner of 10th Annual ‘Moments’ Photography Competition 

Salem Sarhan, age 27, becomes first Emirati to win competition in its ten-year history

Salem’s winning image captures his brothers performing their devotion at home, following the closure of places of worship during the pandemic

The two runner-up entries depict a Palestinian barber cutting relatives’ and neighbors’ hair in the street, and a calligrapher in Jordan working alone after the pandemic closes his shop

National Geographic Abu Dhabi (NGAD) and Almarai announced today the winner of the 10th annual ‘Moments’ competition, one of the largest photography competitions across the Middle East and North Africa, designed to nurture the talents of aspiring photographers. 

Salem Sarhan, age 27, from Al Ain, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, was named the winner of this year’s competition, in recognition of his talent and creative interpretation of this year’s theme of ‘2020 Moments - A Year Lived Differently.’ His image captures his brothers performing their devotion at home, following the temporary closure of the places of worship, due to the pandemic. 

‘Moments’ judge two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and National Geographic photographer 

 Mohammad Muheisen was drawn to the image’s portrayal of a tradition lived differently during the pandemic. He also praised the quality and color composition of the image.

Salem will have his photograph released in the National Geographic Alarabiya Magazine, and receive $10,000 worth of professional photography equipment. 

In second place, Ahmed Alazzam, age 29, from Jordan, photographed Jordanian Calligrapher Mr. Mohamed Hendy, who has practiced calligraphy since the 1950’s. In the photo, Mohamed is enjoying his craft alone after the pandemic closed his workshop. 

In third place, Palestinian Samar Abu Elouf, age 36, captured the image of a barber, Sameh, cutting the hair of relatives and neighbors in the middle of the street. 

Marking its tenth anniversary in 2020, National Geographic Abu Dhabi’s ‘Moments’ competition has attracted over 275,000 entries over the last decade from across the region, making it one of the largest photography competitions of its kind. It was held for the tenth year in 2020, and the eighth consecutive year in partnership with Almarai, the largest vertically integrated dairy company in the world and MENA's largest food production and distribution company. 

The company has been a strategic partner of National Geographic Abu Dhabi and the ‘Moments’ Competition since 2014, with a shared vision and commitment to support Arab budding photographers, through offering them exposure and the possibility to be discovered on such a prominent platform.

About the Moments photography competition

In 2010, National Geographic Abu Dhabi launched a photography competition in the Middle East and North Africa to bring forth the collective and rising talent of the growing photography culture in the region. The ‘Moments' Award was created, and participants were asked year after year to capture and inspire audiences and judges through a single image based on a chosen theme.

Reflecting National Geographic and Almarai’s commitment to youth development, ‘Moments’ will feature a new category this year for photographers aged 13-17.

 Since 2014 and for the sixth year in a row, Almarai, the GCC's leading dairy industry, has been a strategic partner, with the same vision of supporting Arab talent year on year, through a platform that has seen over 200,000 accumulated participants over the last nine years.

About National Geographic Abu Dhabi

National Geographic Abu Dhabi, the first free-to-air Arabic documentary channel, was established as the result of a partnership between Abu Dhabi Media and the National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) in 2009. National Geographic Abu Dhabi has provided viewers in the UAE and the Middle East with an opportunity to see the world through smart, innovative programing dubbed into Arabic. Its programing is smart and fact-based with an emphasis on popular science, technology, natural history, archaeology and natural mysteries.

National Geographic Abu Dhabi was awarded the ‘Best Arabic Language Media Award’ for 2015, in recognition of its commitment to the production of credible and authentic Arabic scientific and educational programs and content. It was also honored with the Arab Social Media Pioneers Award for the 2015 corporate environment category.

About National Geographic Partners

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic Society and Disney, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivalled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, Nat Geo People) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of the world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 131 years, and now it is committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for consumers… all while reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month. NGP returns 27 percent of its proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education.