The Arab Documentary Photography Program (ADPP) funds documentary photography projects on social issues and realities in the Arab region. It is run jointly by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), the Prince Claus Fund and the Magnum Foundation.
Grantees start a new project or continue an existing one in their country of residence over 10 months, with mentors and three workshops. The 2026 cycle closed on 10 December 2025; the next call has not been announced.
Benefits & funding
- Up to 8 photographers per cycle each receive a US$7,000 production grant for artist fees, equipment, research and travel.
- Up to 10 months, of which at most 9 are mentorship.
- Three workshops (two in person in Beirut or another Arab city, one online) are mandatory; ADPP pays workshop travel and accommodation.
- Grantees keep copyright but grant the three partners a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to the images.
Eligibility
- Photographers from the Arab region, i.e. a League of Arab States member (Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen), who live and work there; living partly or fully outside the region bars you.
- Exception: those forced to flee their home country since 2012 by political unrest may apply if the project relates to the region.
- AFAC also accepts nationals without citizenship, such as stateless Palestinians or Kurds.
- Technical photography skills and full copyright of the project are required; journalists or activists with no photography experience are ineligible.
- Barred: past ADPP grantees, holders of an open AFAC grant, recipients of two consecutive AFAC grants until two years have passed, Prince Claus Fund 2025 Seed Award or Mentorship Award recipients, and AFAC staff, trustees and current jurors.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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“Photographers from and working in the Arab region are invited to submit proposals that touch on social issues and realities relevant to the region. Applicants who have had to flee their home countries since 2012 due to political unrest are also eligible so long as their proposed projects are related to the region.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
Algeria · Bahrain · Comoros · Djibouti · Egypt · Iraq · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon · Libya · Mauritania · Morocco
+ 10 more
Oman · Palestine · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Somalia · Sudan · Syria · Tunisia · UAE · Yemen
Residence required
Algeria · Bahrain · Comoros · Djibouti · Egypt · Iraq · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon · Libya · Mauritania · Morocco
+ 10 more
Oman · Palestine · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Somalia · Sudan · Syria · Tunisia · UAE · Yemen
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Application process
- 1When the next annual call opens (last cycle: 10 October), create an AFAC profile.
- 2Complete the online form with a project budget; the Magnum call and AFAC FAQ say English, while AFAC’s ADPP page also links an Arabic form.
- 3Attach 10–20 images from the proposed project and one earlier body of work; incomplete applications are not considered and AFAC will not ask for missing material.
- 4Submit online by the deadline (5 pm Beirut time last cycle); mail and email are refused.
Program timeline
2026 cycle deadline
Dec 10, 2025, 5 pm Beirut
First week of April 2026
2026–27 grantees announced
first workshop
Second week of May 2026
third workshop
First week of March 2027
final work due
First week of May 2027