Kuwaiti photographer wins first place in the global 'Siena' photography competition

Kuwaiti photographer Abdullah Al-Bunyan won first place in the Siena Awards 2026, a global photography competition held in Italy, in the urban drone photography category, for an artistic image of the Kuwait Towers. The winners were announced two days ago, amid widespread international participation in the competition, which is among the most prestigious international photography contests, attracting approximately half a million entries from more than 150 countries around the world.

In a statement to KUNA, Al-Bunyan emphasized that winning first place in this global competition with an image of the Kuwait Towers is a source of pride for him, given the towers’ national symbolism and their prominent place in Kuwait’s visual identity. He added that his participation was not limited to the first-place winning image; two other works by him received a “commended” distinction from the competition’s jury.

This achievement reflects the strong presence of Kuwaiti photographers at international artistic forums and their ability to compete in global competitions while showcasing Kuwaiti landmarks through innovative artistic and creative visions.

The competition is held annually in Siena, Italy, as part of the Siena Photography Festival, attracting professional and amateur photographers from various countries. Awards ceremonies and photo exhibitions are held at the Teatro dei Rinnovati and other venues in the historic city of Siena. Winners receive a Panja crystal statue along with other prizes. The competition includes multiple categories such as Travel and Adventure, Faces and Portraits, Nature and Wildlife, Underwater Life, Sports, Documentary, Street Photography, as well as categories for short documentary films and photo essays.

Winning works are displayed in special exhibitions in the city and published in the renowned annual book “Beyond the Lens.”