Mohammed Juraybi 

‘Saudi Symphony’ 

For the second iteration of the Kingdom Photography Award — an initiative launched by the Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Commission — Saudi, or Saudi-based, photographers were asked to enter a series of images that went “beyond mere landscapes or heritage-inspired imagery” to give “an insight into local communities, practices and philosophies.” Juraybi submitted a series of “evocative images of traditional Saudi dance rituals,” including this shot, taken in Riyadh. 

Abdullah Alshaikh 

‘I’m from this land’  

“Recognized as the largest oasis in the world, Al-Ahsa is home to 2.5 million date palms,” Alshaikh writes in his artist’s statement. His series “traces the journey of the date palm,” the award’s brochure says, thereby fulfilling the organizers’ vision that “by placing an emphasis on narrative and concept, photographers are encouraged to tell nuanced visual stories … that may not be possible through single-image submissions.” 

Amna Alhayik 

‘The Women from Al-Qatif’ 

Alhayik concentrated on the Kingdom’s Eastern Province, particularly the city of Al-Qatif, for her series of snapshots of women. Her series, she writes, “is a record of everyday rituals of shopping in the street markets, walking to work in the morning, or buying bread or other groceries. Women interact with the city, both alone and in community. In this act of being public, (wearing) the traditional headscarf, this project builds an intimate record of public life.” 

Nather Alsayf 

‘Ibrahim Almilad — Life in Colors’ 

Like Alhayik, Alsayf took inspiration for his series from the city of Al-Qatif, specifically the 65-year-old artist Ibrahim Almilad and his creative practice. Almilad, Alsayf writes, uses “every surface” of his home as a canvas for his unique style of ‘dot painting.’ “Almilad is a true example of someone who lives and breathes his craft, with the hope that the colors from his art translate into joy for him and others,” Alsayf adds. 

Zuhair Altraifi 

‘Al-Ain Aljawhariyah’   

Altraifi’s winning series focuses on Al-Ahsa and “its rich heritage of underground springs,” according to the award brochure. “In capturing how these springs serve as a space for community, the photographer transports the viewer into not just the physical space of the (spring), but also its emotional value in the hearts of the locals.” Altraifi writes of this spring: “No longer being used for irrigation — which used to be the main purpose of the springs — it developed into a community space for swimming, entertainment, and also for washing clothes.”