Abu Dhabi Majalis, under the Office of Citizen and Community Affairs at the Presidential Court, has announced the winners of the 'Family Portrait' award in collaboration with the Creative Lab of the Creative Media Authority. The award is a photography competition launched as part of the 'Family Portrait' initiative organised by the Authority to celebrate the Year of the Family in the United Arab Emirates.
The award aims to highlight the value of photography as a powerful medium for storytelling and cultural expression, contributing to the documentation of moments, values, and human bonds that unite family members and reflect the social identity of the UAE.
The award attracted around 1,300 participants, of whom 45 advanced to the final shortlist following a comprehensive evaluation process. The winning entries were selected by a judging panel comprising a distinguished group of experts and specialists in photography, media, and visual storytelling.
The 'Family Portrait' award invited members of the UAE community to document authentic family moments reflecting the strength of family bonds, the warmth of relationships, and intergenerational connection. The photographs submitted to the competition embodied values of belonging, shared experiences, and the importance of family in cementing social values, preserving cultural identity, and fostering community cohesion.
The award falls within the Creative Community Projects implemented by the Creative Media Authority, contributing to the empowerment of content creators, the promotion of creative participation, and the encouragement of storytelling and community engagement through the arts and creative media.
The initiative supports the Authority's vision of establishing Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for creativity, content production, and cultural expression. The awards ceremony was held at Al Shamekhah Majlis in Abu Dhabi.
At the ceremony, Dhiab Al Nuaimi was announced as the first-place winner for a photograph documenting a multigenerational family gathering inspired by authentic Emirati traditions, reflecting how simple everyday moments contribute to strengthening family bonds and transmitting customs and values across generations.
Hamda bint Abdullah took second place for a black-and-white photograph documenting the traditional Arabic greeting between an elderly citizen and a young child, in a scene embodying the meanings of affection, respect, and intergenerational connection.
Ana Backhaus won third place for a photograph showing the hands of an older person guiding a child in the preparation of dough, in a scene reflecting the transmission of knowledge, customs, and life experiences from one generation to the next.
Salwa Al Hadrami, Head of Creative Content and Creative Community Projects at the Creative Media Authority, said: