• 90 photographs from across the region have been shortlisted over both the adults and kids categories
• More than a third of the shortlisted images featured GCC souqs

Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 11, 2019 - National Geographic Abu Dhabi (NGAD) and Almarai have announced today the shortlisted entries for the 9th edition of ‘Moments’ its annual regional photography competition to nurture the talent of aspiring regional photographers. 
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.

A total of 90 images were shortlisted in the 2019 edition from among over 50,000 total entries received this year from Morocco all the way to Saudi Arabia. While the bulk of shortlisted images came from adult participants, with 60 images, there was a notable number of entries in the kids’ category as well, with 30 short-listed images. 

Moreover, there was a marked increase of entries from the GCC this year, with more than a third of all shortlisted photographs coming from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman. 

Held under the theme of ‘Souqs of the Middle East’, the 2019 ‘Moments’ edition captured the diversity and stories of markets from around the Arab world, which have been at the heart of the region’s culture and history. Each photograph carries with it an authentic, detailed and complete description of the story behind the image, which aims to add geographic, social and cultural context to the photo. 

Each of the shortlisted images sheds light on the diversity and beauty of souqs around the Arab World. The photos captured the essence of the souqs, from the hardworking smiles of craftsmen, to the Arabesque architecture of the Arab markets, in addition to the mesmerizing array of colors showcasing the region’s vegetables and spices as well as the natural picturesque beauty of the souqs.

The selection was made by the competition’s judging panel, Mr. Hussam R. Abdulqader, CMO of Almarai and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and National Geographic photographer Mohammad Muheisen.

The Grand Prize winners of this year’s ‘Moments’ competition will be announced at an unveiling event in November in Dubai.  Winners will have their photograph printed in the National Geographic magazine Arabic edition and earn a trip of a lifetime, a 10-day expedition Trip, worth $10,000, where they will be mentored by National Geographic expert photographers, in addition to $5,000 photography equipment. The winner in the kids category will receive photography equipment worth $5,000.

‘Moments’ was held for the sixth consecutive year in partnership with Almarai, the largest vertically integrated dairy company in the world and MENA’s largest food production and distribution company. 

National Geographic Abu Dhabi’s ‘Moments’ competition has attracted over 250,000 entries over the last nine years, from across the Arab world. ‘‘Moments' was held for the sixth 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.