Prize Terms and Conditions

1. Registration for participation opens on August 10, 2025, and submissions must be made through the Prize's official website (www.qpc.qa).

2. The deadline for receiving submissions is 19:00 (11:59 PM) Doha time on October 2, 2025.

3. Shortlisted candidates will be notified and requested to send high-resolution files in TIFF or RAW format. These files will be used for confirmation purposes before the final announcement of the winners.

4. A maximum of three images may be submitted for each category of the Prize, with the exception of the Story category which allows for 6 to 10 images. Each image in the Story category must include a title.

5. Submitted images must be in JPEG or JPG format, of high resolution and quality suitable for publication, with the longest side of the image being not less than 3000 pixels and a resolution of no less than 300 DPI.

6. Black and white images are permitted in all competition categories, except for the colored sub-category under the general category.

7. All submissions must be taken with a camera; photos taken with a mobile phone are not permitted.

8. The same image may not be submitted for participation in more than one category. Any image submitted for participation in more than one category will be completely disqualified from the competition.

9. Submitted images must not contain any logos, signatures, names, frames, borders, symbols, other marks added by the participant, or date/time stamps. Basic technical adjustments to the images are allowed, provided they do not affect the credibility and/or authenticity of the image. Advanced adjustments used to add tricks, visual illusions, or manipulations, including composites and creative modifications, are prohibited. The Prize Committee reserves the right to evaluate and disqualify any images it deems, in its sole discretion, if the above rules are violated.

10. Any images that represent or contain inappropriate and/or offensive content, including nudity, violence, or any other content deemed inconsistent with the public morals, customs, and religious and cultural traditions of the State of Qatar, will be disqualified.

11. Images generated entirely or partially using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will be immediately disqualified from the competition without stating reasons. Participants must declare that they have not used AI technologies and tools in the images they submitted.

12. Submitted images must be a single work consisting of original material captured by the photographer himself/herself and must not contain any material owned or controlled by third parties that has not been licensed to the photographer.

13. Submitted images must not infringe upon the copyrights, intellectual property rights, trademarks, entities, moral rights, privacy rights, or publicity rights of any person or entity. The participant must obtain all necessary waivers and consents to allow the display and use of the image in the manner stipulated in these rules without additional compensation, prior to submission.

14. If your images reach the final stage of the Prize, you agree to grant the Prize a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, and sub-licensable right and license to use, publish, reproduce, display, modify, create derivative works from, distribute, sublicense distribution of, print, and promote those images or any part thereof in any form and by any means for any purpose related to the competition and for publication in the Prize's printed and digital promotional materials, such as Prize magazines, brochures, printed newsletters, the Prize's website, other publicly accessible websites, promotion of subsequent competitions, and general promotion of the Prize's work.

15. In the event a participant commits any violation regarding the competition, and their violation of these rules is discovered after they have received the prize, we shall have the right to withdraw the prize and demand that the participant reimburse all costs incurred regarding the images submitted by you and your participation in the competition. Our decision on all matters related to the competition is final and binding, and no negotiations regarding these decisions will be considered. We will not engage in any future or subsequent correspondence related to these decisions.

16. This Prize is subject to the laws and regulations of the State of Qatar, and the courts of the State of Qatar shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear any matters or disputes arising out of or relating to the competition and/or submissions.

17. By accepting these rules, the participant undertakes to indemnify, hold harmless, and release the Prize, its partners, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their employees, officers, and representatives from all liabilities, claims, judgments, demands, disputes, agreements, damages, actions, and causes of action of any kind whatsoever, arising out of or in any way related to the competition or the conduct of the competition, or the acceptance, use, misuse, or possession of any prize awarded, whether under law or principles of equity. You also waive any claims that may be brought or raised by you against the Prize in connection with the competition or any accompanying, related, or resulting activities, even if the harm or claim arises wholly or partially due to negligence or gross negligence committed by the Prize. You also agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Prize against any claim arising from your participation in the competition, including – without limitation – all claims brought, raised, or asserted by third parties based on any breach or harm that may occur to you or them in connection with your participation in the competition.

18. Under no circumstances shall the Prize be liable for:
a. Any error, omission, defect, malfunction, or delay in any operation or transmission, or malfunction in communication lines, or theft, damage, unauthorized access, or modification of submitted images.
b. Any problems, damages, or technical malfunctions that may affect any network, telephone lines, computer systems, internet servers, computer equipment, software, email, operators, or internet browsers, resulting from technical problems or increased internet traffic on any website, or from any synchronization of more than one of the problems mentioned above.
c. Any incorrect or inaccurate information arising from any equipment or software related to or used in the competition, or that may arise from any technical or human error during the processing of images and/or submissions.

19. The right to cancel or suspend the competition if, for any reason, the competition cannot be completed as planned, due to computer viruses of all kinds, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical malfunctions, or any other cause beyond the control of the organizers that would affect or corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this competition. The Competition Committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the submission process, in its sole discretion, and/or to cancel, postpone, modify, or suspend the competition.
 

About the Doha Photography Award Categories

Competition Overview
The Doha Photography Award is a testament to Qatar's vibrant role in the creative arts, with a special focus on highlighting the art of photography. Photographers of all ages and experience levels are welcome to participate. Participation in the award is free,

1-Qatar Category
The Qatar category of the Doha Photography Award welcomes submissions from all photographers, both inside and outside of Qatar. This category aims to highlight the aesthetics of the State of Qatar through creative and distinctive artistic works across various fields.
This category offers three prizes:
• First Place: QAR 300,000
• Second Place: QAR 200,000
• Third Place: QAR 150,000

2- General Category (Colors)
The "Colors" section within the general category of the Doha Photography Award is an open space for all photographers to unleash and use colors as a powerful artistic medium to convey a message or create a unique visual impact. We welcome submissions that demonstrate a deep understanding of colors and their diverse uses, and we invite all photographers to submit creative and distinctive works in various fields that highlight the power of colors in storytelling and documenting moments.
Prizes for each section are as follows:
• First Place: QAR 150,000
• Second Place: QAR 100,000
• Third Place: QAR 75,000

3- General Category (Black and White)
The "Black and White" category in the Doha Photography Award is an open space for all photographers to unleash their creativity. We welcome photos that use black and white as an artistic medium to create a unique visual impact.
Prizes for each section are as follows:
• First Place: QAR 150,000
• Second Place: QAR 100,000
• Third Place: QAR 75,000

We invite photographers to submit creative and distinctive works in various fields that demonstrate a deep understanding of the use of black and white and its power in storytelling and documenting moments in an authentic artistic style.

4- General Category (Under 18)
We believe that creativity knows no bounds, which is why we have dedicated a general category for young Qatari photographers under the age of 18. This category is a space for young talents to showcase their artistic creativity across all photography themes. We have made sure to create this section to provide a fair opportunity for young people, allowing them to compete only among themselves, which encourages them to develop their skills in a healthy environment that supports the gifted.
This category offers three prizes:
First Place: QAR 30,000
Second Place: QAR 20,000
Third Place: QAR 10,000
 
5- Special Category (Emotions)
Launched to honor and showcase the finest local and international talent, the Doha Photography Award's first edition is a powerful ode to visual creativity and the timeless art of photographic expression. In this special "Emotions" category, we invite photographers to shed light on genuine human moments that touch the soul and express a wide range of human emotions such as love, sadness, joy, loneliness, hope, fear, nostalgia, anger, triumph, awe, and many more.
We invite participants to use their lenses as tools for storytelling, where the image is more than just a snapshot—it's a window into the depths of the human soul. We believe that every scene carries a feeling, every face tells a story, and every photograph has the power to touch the spirit.
This category offers three prizes:
First Place: QAR 150,000
Second Place: QAR 100,000
Third Place: QAR 75,000

6- Story Category
The "Story" category is a space to showcase a photographer's skill in telling stories through a unique visual style. This category requires photographers to submit a series of 6 to 10 cohesive photos that tell a clear and well-defined story with a specific theme. It is an artistic challenge that combines the power of the individual image with the ability to build a sequential narrative, highlighting the photographer's capacity for documentation and impact through visual storytelling.
Prizes for each section are as follows:
• First Place: QAR 150,000
• Second Place: QAR 100,000
• Third Place: QAR 75,000

Doha Photography Award – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


1. What is the Doha Photography Award?

An annual award designed to support and encourage photographers from Qatar and around the world. It features a competition across multiple photographic categories, with total prize money reaching QAR 2,000,000.

2. Who can participate?

The competition is open to all professional and amateur photographers, both from within Qatar and internationally.

3. What are this year’s award categories and themes?

Qatar Theme: Images that reflect life, nature, and culture in Qatar.

Color Theme: Photographs showcasing creative use and harmony of colors.

Black & White Theme: Artistic photography using black-and-white gradients.

Story Theme: A series of images narrating a complete story.

Emotion Theme: Images that clearly convey human emotions.

Youth Category (under 18): Open to Qatari nationals in all themes.

4. Can I submit work to more than one category?
Yes, participants may submit entries to multiple categories, provided they adhere to the submission limits for each category as specified in the guidelines.

5. Are there any entry fees?
Participation is completely free of charge.

6. How do I submit my work?
Through the official website of the Qatar Photography Center. Participants must complete the entry form and upload their images according to the specified requirements.

7. What are the technical specifications for submitted images?
File format: JPG or JPEG
Minimum resolution: 3000 pixels on the longest side
Maximum file size: 5MB per image
Basic edits (lighting, color correction, cropping) are allowed, but excessive manipulation or unrealistic composites are not permitted.

8. Must the photos be taken with a professional camera?
Yes, images must be captured using a professional camera to meet the technical standards. Photos taken with tablets or similar devices will be disqualified.

9. Can I submit photos that have already been shared on social media?
Yes, provided that you are the original photographer and the images meet the technical and eligibility criteria.

10. What is the deadline for submissions?
The final deadline to upload entries via the official platform is October 2, 2025.

11. How are winners selected?
Entries are judged by a professional jury composed of local and international photography experts.

12. When will the results be announced?
Winners will be revealed during the closing ceremony of the award, held as part of the Doha Photography Festival.

13. Will submitted images be returned to participants?
No. Submitted images will remain in the award’s archive, while intellectual property rights remain with the photographers.

14. Will submitted images be published?
Outstanding images may be featured on the official platforms of the Ministry of Culture and Qatar Photography Center, with proper credit given to the photographer, if opportunities allow.

15. Can winners from outside Qatar attend the award ceremony?
Yes. Cash prizes will be transferred to international winners, and they may be invited to attend the ceremony if circumstances permit.

16. Can I submit an image that was used for commercial purposes?
No. Images that have been used for commercial purposes are not eligible.

17. Must images be captured with a digital camera?
You may submit images taken with either film or digital cameras. However, film photographs must be scanned by the participant and uploaded digitally via the award website.


18. Is there a time frame within which the photos must have been taken?
No, there are no restrictions on when the photos were taken.

19. Can I submit black-and-white photos in any category?
Yes, except for the Color Theme, which specifically requires color photography.

20. Can I submit the same photo to multiple categories?
No, this is not allowed.

21. Where can I find more information?
Visit the official website of the Qatar Photography Center or follow its official accounts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms.

Technical & Legal Questions – Doha Photography Award
1. Are drone-captured images allowed?
Yes, provided the images meet all technical requirements.

2. Are AI-generated images accepted?
No. AI-generated images are strictly prohibited.

3. Can I submit a photo that’s part of a long-term project?
Yes, as long as the image can stand on its own for judging—except in the Story category, where a series is allowed.

4. Can I include a watermark, logo, or signature on my photos?
No. Images must be submitted without any watermarks, logos, or photographer signatures.

5. How can I ensure the EXIF data stays intact in my photos?
Avoid using apps or tools that compress or strip EXIF metadata. This information may be used to verify image authenticity.

6. Do I need a written release if people appear in my photos?
Yes, if the subjects are recognizable and the image focuses on them, a Model Release Form may be required depending on local laws.


7. Are panoramic or 360-degree images allowed?
Yes, as long as they meet the competition’s format and resolution standards.

8. What happens if a winner is found to have violated the rules?
Their entry will be disqualified and the prize withdrawn, even after the results have been announced.

9. Will the submitted photos be displayed in a public exhibition?
Yes. Winning and shortlisted images will be exhibited and may also be used in future promotional materials, with credit to the photographer.

10. Can media or journalists attend the award events?
Yes, but prior coordination with the award’s media team is required.

11. What if there are technical issues or delays on the submission platform?
In case of technical problems, an extension may be announced, and alternative methods for submission will be provided.