Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre Celebrates Winners Of The 8th Spaces Of Light Photography Award Promoting Peace

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) recently revealed the winners of the 8th 'Spaces of Light Photography Award'. This year's theme was "Peace". The ceremony, held at the mosque, was attended by dignitaries and community members. Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, presented awards to winners from nine countries including the UAE, Egypt, and India.

Throughout its eight editions, the award has embodied SZGMC's vision of fostering communication and human values. Photography is seen as a universal language that resonates across cultures. The theme "Peace" was chosen to visually convey this message, aligning with the UAE's role in promoting peace as a lifestyle embraced by all communities.

The awards were divided into four categories with a total prize pool of AED 850,000. In the Main Category: Mosques and Masjids, Anvaar Abdul Jabbar from India won the grand prize. Wael Ansi from Egypt took second place. In the General Technical Photography Category, Saeed Nasouri from the UAE claimed first place, followed by Ahmed Badwan from Palestine and Salem Al Sawafi from the UAE.

In the Digital Art Category, Donnell Gumiran from the Philippines secured first place. Abdul Shakoor from India came in second. The Life at The Mosque Category had three themes: Narratives saw Yousif Musa Al Abadi from Sudan winning first place; Time-Lapse was led by Majed Al Junaibi from the UAE; and Video Films had Maxim Petisor from Moldova as its winner.

Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of SZGMC, highlighted that since its inception, "The ‘Spaces of Light Photography Award’ has embodied the Centre’s mission of promoting the values of peace, tolerance, and coexistence." Over 12,300 participants have contributed nearly 30,000 works across eight editions. This year alone saw over 2,000 participants from more than 60 countries submitting 3,070 artistic works.

The event also featured an exhibition showcasing winning photographs alongside other exceptional submissions. Located next to Souq Al Jami’ Dome, it will remain open beyond Eid Al Fitr. Visitors can explore diverse cultural expressions through photography.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre aims to enrich UAE's cultural landscape by encouraging creativity through generous financial prizes and commemorative shields for winners. This initiative not only celebrates artistic talent but also strengthens international cultural ties.

With inputs from WAM