Muscat – Omani photographer Turki bin Ibrahim al Junaibi claimed a gold medal at the Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA) in December 2025 in a category themed ‘Street Life’. The competition attracted 1,432 photographers from around the world.
Founded in 2011 under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, HIPA is among the world’s leading photography competitions, offering a prize money of US$400,000 annually.
The latest win marks Junaibi’s third HIPA award. He first received the honour in 2022 in a category themed ‘Eyes’, followed by a second win in early 2025 in the ‘Once Upon a Time’ category. The three recognitions place him among a select group of photographers with sustained success at the competition.
The gold-winning image highlights everyday life through street photography, a category that emphasises spontaneous human moments and visual storytelling. HIPA is recognised for its rigorous judging process and high submission standards.
Speaking to Muscat Daily, Junaibi said the photograph was taken in 2019 during a visit to Shiraz, Iran as part of a street photography tour. He said the image was taken shortly after rains, while documenting scenes of daily life in the city.
He said the award holds particular significance being his third recognition from HIPA, adding that it serves as motivation to continue developing his craft and participating in international competitions.
Junaibi said the achievement represents both a personal milestone and an opportunity to represent Oman on a global platform.
Addressing young photographers, he said success in photography should be measured by the lasting impact of an image and its ability to convey genuine emotion, rather than by awards alone.
