An image by photographer Riyadh Abdulelah Al Malahi, who was named winner of the Kingdom Photography Discovery Competition in the Nature Along the Coast category. All photos: Visual Arts Commission / the photographer
Al Malahi was one of three emerging Saudi photographers to win the competition
The competition was segmented into three categories
The three winners of the Kingdom Photography Discovery Competition receive $5,500 along with vouchers worth $5,000 for equipment
The Nature Along the Coast category showcases the beaches and mountainous coast of Al Wajh
Osama Ali Abusunnon was the winner of the Underwater category
A diver since 2009, Abusunnon began photographing the marine life of the Red Sea five years ago
The competition had 450 entries from across 14 countries
Mohamed Abdulrahman Lahi was the winner of the Urban Environment category
The photographs in this category reveal the architectural beauty of Al Wajh, an area along the Red Sea coast in north-west Saudi Arabia
While the first year of the competition focused on Al Wajh, Alofi says it is only the beginning, with each iteration of the competition exploring a new aspect of Saudi Arabia’s culture and natural environment
Launched by the Visual Arts Commission of the Ministry of Culture, the $106,000 award is the first annual photography competition to be held in Saudi Arabia
The winning works are on display at Hayy Jameel in an exhibition
