Doha, Qatar: The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs has announced the launch of the seventh edition of the “Waqf and Photography” competition, organised under the Waqf Fund for Scientific and Cultural Development.
The initiative continues the directorate’s efforts to use photography as a powerful universal language to promote the message and values of waqf, or Islamic endowment, and highlight its humanitarian and developmental impact while strengthening awareness of the culture of endowment within society.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at the General Directorate of Endowments yesterday where officials outlined the new edition’s themes and invited photographers and creative professionals from Qatar and around the world to participate. The deadline for submitting entries and uploading competition files is December 3, 2026.
The competition aims to use art and photography to highlight the role of waqf and its contribution to serving people and communities. It also encourages photographers to produce creative works reflecting the values of giving, sustainability and shared responsibility, thereby contributing to greater awareness of waqf and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals through themes such as resource conservation, community and environmental service, and preserving benefits for future generations.
Speaking at the press conference, Director General of the General Directorate of Endowments Hassan bin Abdullah Al Marzouqi (pictured) said the “Waqf and Photography” competition has continued to evolve since its launch in 2018, both in terms of its themes and the scope of participation.
He explained that the competition began as a local initiative before expanding, from its third edition onward, into separate local and international categories. It has since attracted hundreds of photographers from Qatar and various countries around the world.
The development has extended beyond the competition’s geographic reach to the subjects it has explored. Previous editions have featured themes including the Holy Quran, mosques, healthcare, volunteer work, nature and the environment, and science. According to Al Marzouqi, this diversity reflects the broad range of areas in which waqf can contribute to society while providing photographers with different opportunities to translate these values into compelling visual works.
The growing international profile of the competition was particularly evident in its participation figures. The fifth edition attracted 694 photographers from 49 countries, demonstrating the competition’s expanding reach and its ability to communicate its message to audiences both inside and outside Qatar.
This momentum continued during the sixth edition, which focused on “Science and its institutions.” A total of 655 photographers from 21 countries participated, with 30 contestants winning prizes across the local and international categories. The total cash prize pool reached QR203,000, further reflecting the competition’s continued development and growing impact.
Al Marzouqi said the seventh edition builds on this progression, with sustainability selected as the theme for the international category, while the local competition will focus on sustainability and teamwork. He said the two themes are closely connected to the mission of waqf, which is based on sustaining charitable giving, serving society, and promoting cooperation and shared responsibility.
