28 April 2022, Dubai, UAE: The Wikimedians of UAE User Group is calling for entries for the Wiki Loves Earth photography competition. The annual international contest asks contributors to upload pictures of natural heritage sites in the UAE on the Wikimedia Commons website. The aim of the initiative is to improve Wikipedia’s database of free-to-use images and to increase the visibility of UAE’s natural heritage sites. 

The UAE edition of the contest is organised and managed by Wikimedians of UAE User Group, currently led by Ahlam Bolooki, Director of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Winners of the UAE competition will be awarded cash prizes of up to USD 250 for the best photographs submitted between 1st of May and 15th June. A panel of judges will choose the best ten pictures, which are also to be submitted as UAE finalists in the international Wiki Loves Earth contest. The top winners of the international contest will win online vouchers.

“Last year, 1,057 photos entered in the competition shared the beauty of Emirati heritage sites with the global Wikipedia community,” said Ahlam Bolooki. “There are some incredibly talented artists and photographers in the UAE and I can’t wait to see the entries this year.”