Sony Middle East and Africa (MEA) announced Donell Gumiran as United Arab Emirates National Award winner for the Sony World Photography Awards 2025.
The National & Regional Awards programme is an initiative set up by Sony and Creo under its photography strand the World Photography Organisation to support local photographic communities around the world, with 56 countries taking part this year. Across this year’s Awards over 419,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards 2025.
National and Regional Award winners were selected from the Open competition, which champions the best single images taken in the past year.
Donell Gumiran was anonymously selected by judges for his photograph ‘A Timeless Tradition,’ entered into the Lifestyle category of the Open competition.
This photograph captures a moment as an Emirati woman stands by the Corniche seaside in Abu Dhabi, with an old fisherman’s boat in the foreground, gazing thoughtfully at the horizon. Dressed in traditional attire, she exudes a sense of pride and strength. The photographer notes that she ‘embodies the rich heritage of Arab culture.’ The tranquil sea in front of her symbolises a deep connection to the land and the traditions that shape Emirati identity.
Donell Gumiran's acclaimed photographs and articles have been featured in esteemed publications such as National Geographic España, Forbes, BBC News, and Vogue. His photographic endeavors have led him around the world, showcasing his work in galleries and at international competitions in cities like London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, Madrid, New York, and Moscow.
Commenting on his win, Gumiran said: “I am truly grateful to be chosen as the UAE National Award winner for the Sony World Photography Awards 2025. Photography allows me to tell stories and capture moments that matter. ‘A Timeless Tradition’ is special to me because it reflects the rich culture and heritage of the UAE. I’m thankful to Sony and the World Photography Organisation for giving photographers like me a chance to share our work with the world.”
As UAE’s National Award winner, Donell Gumiran receives Sony digital imaging equipment and will be included in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book.
The overall winners in the Student, Youth, Open and Professional competitions of the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 will be announced on 16 April and will go on display as part of the exhibition at Somerset House, London (17 April - 5 May 2025).
This year’s National and Regional Awards winners from the Middle East are: Ahmed Abdallah (Egypt); Mohammad Mirza (Kuwait); Ridhwan Mohammed Rafi (Qatar); Mohammed Muhtasib (Saudi Arabia).
The internationally acclaimed Sony World Photography Awards is one of the most important fixtures in the global photographic calendar. Now in its 18th year, the free-to-enter Awards are a global voice for photography and provide a vital insight into contemporary photography today.
