There is a lot happening right now on Saudi Arabia’s photography scene — much of it flying quietly under the radar. While headlines tend to focus on the country’s rapid development and cultural shifts, a growing number of photographers are turning their lenses toward stories both personal and profound. Two new exhibitions in Jeddah offer a chance to see this movement up close.

Hay Ainek – In a New Light and When the Fog Whispers are running side by side at Hayy Jameel as part of the third edition of the Kingdom Photography Award. Together, they present a diverse and evolving picture of the Kingdom through the eyes of talented photographers from Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Hay Ainek showcases this year’s award-winning entries and finalists, selected from over 1,300 submissions by both professional and amateur photographers across the country. The images range from breathtaking natural scenery to intimate glimpses of daily life. With 106,000 USD in prize money, the award continues to support and celebrate creative visual storytelling.

This year’s judging panel featured Kholood Saleh Al-Bakr, Sara Al-Mutlaq, Rola Khayyat, Roi Saade, and Shannon Ghannam. Their selections focused not only on technical skill, but also on emotional impact and narrative strength.

Complementing Hay Ainek is the more introspective When the Fog Whispers, which focuses on the Aseer region. Five artists from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco were commissioned to create original photographic projects inspired by their personal connections to the area. The results offer a poetic and human-centered exploration of this unique part of the Kingdom.

Highlights include Abdulmajeed Al Roudhan’s documentation of vintage gas stations, Elham Al Dawsari’s generational dialogue blending archival and contemporary images, and Mohamed Mahdy’s tender portrayal of the bond between people and land. Lina Geoushy’s tribute to the women preserving Al Qatt art and Hicham Gardaf’s quiet journey through juniper forests add further depth to the exhibition.

Both exhibitions are accompanied by public programs featuring interactive workshops and expert-led discussions aimed at engaging photographers and enthusiasts alike.

According to Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission, the award plays a key role in empowering artists and preserving Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage through a contemporary lens. Artistic Director Mohamed Somji noted that photography in the Kingdom has evolved into a dynamic form of cultural storytelling, capable of offering new perspectives on social and environmental change.

With these exhibitions, the Visual Arts Commission continues to chart the expanding landscape of visual arts in Saudi Arabia, affirming photography’s power to document, inspire, and connect across cultures and generations.