Sony World Photography Awards announces NATIONAL AWARDS 2022 UAE Winner

EXHIBITION: 13 APRIL - 2 MAY 2022 l SOMERSET HOUSE, LONDON

© Salem Alsawafi, United Arab Emirates, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2022

The World Photography Organisation and Sony Middle East & Africa are delighted to reveal Salem Alsawafi as United Arab Emirates’ National Award winner for the Sony World Photography Awards 2021. 

The National Awards program is an initiative set up by the World Photography Organisation and Sony to support local photographic communities around the world, with 61 countries taking part this year. 

Over 340,000 images from 211 territories were submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards 2022 and over 170,000 were entered to the Open competition (from which the National Awards winner was selected).

Salem Alsawafi was anonymously selected by judges for his photograph Movement and Stop, entered into the Motion category of the Open competition. Taken with a drone, the winning picture showed a group of flamingos moving and coming to a stop. 

Born in Al Ain, UAE, Salem Alsawafi started photography in 2015. He considers himself as a photographer who contributes to documenting the lives of people and society in general, inside and outside the UAE. He is also interested in photographing nature and landmarks in the UAE, especially those with traditional aspects. 

Commenting on his win Alsawafi said: “I’m happily proud of myself and has shared the good news with my mother. She deserves to be happy and proud of me. I am very thankful and grateful to all of those who have supported me. This award is a testimony of the hard work that I have been done.”

As UAE’s National Award winner, Salem Alsawafi receives Sony digital imaging equipment and will be included in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book.