Judges:
Ahmed Al Khaja
CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment
Ahmed is responsible for running all facets of the world-class festivals and events organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), aimed at positioning Dubai as a leading family tourism destination, offering unique shopping experiences throughout the year.
Prior to joining DFRE, Ahmed held key positions at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). He was appointed Vice President of DWTC’s Venues department in 2010 and was promoted to Senior Vice President in January, 2013.
Ahmed has a BS in Aircraft Engineering and an MBA from Embry Riddle Aeronautical, USA.
Kara Watson
Lifestyle Festival Director, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment
Kara was born in Australia but has enjoyed calling Dubai home for the last 12 years. She is the Lifestyle Festival Director of DFRE and has been responsible for the delivery of Dubai Fitness Challenge, Dubai Food Festival and the annual gastronomy program - all of which have successfully contributed to Dubai Being a happy, healthy and active city.
She is looking forward to seeing the city of Dubai come alive through your food stories pictures! Prior to joining DFRE, Kara was a senior manager at Red Bull Energy Drink for almost 16 years, so she understands and enjoys the power of storytelling through visual content.
Raz Hansrod
General Manager at Gulf Photo Plus
From Johannesburg but raised in Dubai, Raz has worked as a photo-journalist and commerical photographer (including local food clients!), as well as a digital marketing expert for UAE foodtech startups.
He brings his marketing expertise and varied photographic experience to the community and business-oriented services that Gulf Photo Plus has offered since 2007, including: designing and producing regionally-focused exhibitions; printing and framing artists' and hobbyist work; educating some of the 13,000+ GPP alumni; or expanding the widest film and processing services in the region.
He has a soft spot for analog photography — and can't wait to see your food on film!
Andrea Salerno Jácome
Food Photographer & Instructor
Andrea Salerno is a professional photographer and photography instructor based in Dubai. She is a member of Diversify Photo (NY) studied photography at the Institut d'Estudis Fotogràfics de Catalunya in Barcelona.
In 2009 she went to Argentina as a jury member of the Rosario Latin American Film and Video Festival and for the next eleven years she worked there as a professional photographer where she ran her successful photo studio and as a photography instructor at audiovisual schools.
Her work has been exhibited and published in galleries, cultural centers, magazines, billboards, newspapers, and books across the globe.
Abdallah Elabry
Photographer, Dubai Tourism
Abdallah is a talented photographer and Dubai Tourism's lead photographer for 5 years, and part of numerous key photography content projects across the various destination pillars.
He has a keen eye across various photography verticals including food, fitness, landscape, events and more!
He brings energy, a unique style and finesse to all he works on, and a big Dubai food scene advocate.
