the Art Corner of the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF 2026), organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), the photographers taking part in ‘The Image as Witness’ competition switched off their cameras and waited for the winners to be announced and honoured.
The competition brought together 57 creative contestants from 24 different nationalities, all of whom focused on Qasr Al Hosn, the theme selected by the Centre for this year’s competition. The initiative aims to support the art of photography, encourage ambitious creative minds, discover new talent, and highlight the role of photography as a form of cultural documentation that complements the written word, while strengthening its presence in the cultural and intellectual sectors.
His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the ALC and Director of the ADIBF, honoured the winners of the competition, which featured four categories. Riyas Kader of India won the Documentary Photography Category (Qasr Al Hosn Architecture), while Charlie Villagracia from the Philippines won the Monochrome Photography Category (Black & White). Moreover, Sudanese photographer Mohamed Alsamany won the Light and Shadow Category, and Beno Saradzic of Slovenia won the Digital Editing Category.
His Excellency said: “Honouring the winners of ‘The Image as Witness’ competition marks the launch of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s cultural strategy, through which it seeks to broaden the concept of the text, positioning visual expression as an equal partner in knowledge creation and the preservation of collective memory. This, in turn, supports the modern publishing industry and enriches the Emirati cultural narrative.”
“I congratulate the winners on their achievements and creative work, and I applaud them for highlighting the beauty and richness associated with the Arabic language through their history-themed images,” H.E. Al Tunaiji continued. “Their photographs of Qasr Al Hosn not only document the landmark from different artistic perspectives, they also help preserve its oral and visual heritage and make it accessible to new generations.”
For her part, Nuha Abu Issa, Marketing Director at Grand Stores, said: “We believe photography is more than just an art form. It is a powerful means of preserving identity and heritage and documenting the stories that shape a nation’s character. With 45 years of experience in the photography sector in the UAE, and as the exclusive distributor of Fujifilm cameras, we are pleased to support this competition, which celebrates the diverse artistic perspectives through which photographers have captured the Qasr Al Hosn’s heritage, distinctive character, and enduring spirit”.
“Our contribution to this competition recognises the talents of the participating photographers and their creativity,” she noted. “It reflects our firm belief in the importance of supporting initiatives that preserve the UAE’s vibrant culture through the power of photography. In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, we are pleased to be partners in honouring the creatives who have worked to preserve and pass on the UAE’s rich heritage, keeping it alive in the collective memory of future generations”.
The strong response to the competition reflected the ALC’s commitment to engaging different segments of society, in line with the UAE leadership’s declaration of 2026 as the ‘Year of Family’. The choice of Qasr Al Hosn for this edition was equally significant: as Abu Dhabi’s oldest and most prominent landmarks, it has stood for decades as a symbol of leadership, heritage, and national identity. It is also one of the historic landmarks most deeply rooted in the collective Arab memory, offering photographers a compelling subject and drawing their creative eye.
Recognising the winners’ contributions is an acknowledgement of their visual interpretation of Arab heritage, while the competition itself has shown that national memory never fades as long as there is an eye to capture it, a centre to nurture it, and a photograph to bear witness.
