Huawei Launches XMAGE UAE Social Media Competition, Offering Photography Enthusiasts a Global Platform
Huawei has announced the launch of the HUAWEI XMAGE UAE Social Media Competition, inviting photography enthusiasts, content creators, and Huawei smartphone users across the UAE to showcase their creativity through compelling visual storytelling.
The competition runs alongside the global HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2026, which is open to smartphone photographers worldwide from March 23 to August 16, 2026. The initiative celebrates mobile photography and encourages participants to capture meaningful moments, cultural experiences, and everyday stories through the lens of Huawei devices.
The announcement follows the success of the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2025, which concluded with an award ceremony at the Grand Palais in Paris during the prestigious Paris Photo exhibition. The previous edition attracted more than 740,000 submissions globally, with 100 outstanding images selected as winners. Among them were two photographers from the UAE, Grace Montives and Mark Anthony Agtay, whose work earned international recognition.
Building on that success, the UAE edition of the competition aims to inspire participants to capture the country’s unique landscapes, culture, architecture, people, and daily life. Huawei is encouraging photographers to share their personal perspectives on the UAE through creative and impactful imagery.
The competition will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of photography and visual storytelling experts, including Mohammed Moustafa Aldaou, Photography Curator and BIPP Judge; Dr. Ali Mohamad, Photography Expert; and Mubarak Mahboub, Professional Photography Coach and Filmmaker.
Commenting on the initiative, Mohammed Moustafa Aldaou said the UAE offers a rich visual environment where heritage and innovation coexist, creating opportunities for photographers to tell compelling stories that resonate across cultures and borders.
Dr. Ali Mohamad highlighted the country’s diverse visual identity, noting that the competition provides photographers with an opportunity to document unique perspectives and share them with a global audience.
Mubarak Mahboub added that the judging panel would focus on originality, emotional impact, storytelling, and creativity, alongside technical excellence.
Participants in the UAE competition will have the opportunity to win exclusive local prizes while also gaining exposure through the global HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2026. The international competition will recognize 100 winners, including three grand prize recipients who will each receive USD 10,000, while 97 additional winners will receive USD 1,500 and electronic certificates.
