A major cultural moment is unfolding in Jeddah as ‘Jameel Prize: Moving Images’ which is the world’s leading award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic culture and society makes its debut in the city. Presented by Art Jameel and the V&A, the exhibition brings together works by the winner and shortlisted artists of the Prize’s seventh edition.
Running from November 19, 2025 to April 15, 2026, the showcase offers Saudi audiences an immersive look into how artists across the Middle East and South Asia are using film, digital media, and moving image to explore themes of faith, environment, identity, and community.
What is Jameel Prize: Moving Images?
This seventh edition of the Jameel Prize shifts its focus toward moving image and digital practices, featuring works that span film, photography, installation, sound, animation, virtual reality, and performance.
The exhibition includes works by:
- Khandakar Ohida (Winner)
- Sadik Kwaish Alfraji
- Jawa El Khash
- Alia Farid
- Zahra Malkani
- Marrim Akashi Sani
- Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh & Hesam Rahmanian (collective)
Curated by Rachel Dedman, Jameel Curator of Contemporary Art from the Middle East at the V&A, the exhibition arrives in Jeddah following presentations in London and Bradford as part of an ongoing international tour.
Why this edition of Jameel Prize matters
‘Moving Images’ examines pressing questions around ecology, political landscapes, spirituality, and the social fabric of the Middle East and South Asia. Many works investigate how histories are told and whose stories are preserved, while others offer deeply personal reflections on belonging and resilience.
From Palmyra to Karachi, Detroit to Tehran, the exhibition takes audiences across geographies, memories, and imagined futures.
Jameel Prize winning work spotlight: Khandakar Ohida
At the heart of the exhibition is Dream Your Museum (2022), the award-winning film by Khandakar Ohida. The intimate work captures her uncle’s extraordinary 50-year personal collection of everyday objects once housed in a traditional mud home.
Through this portrait, Ohida offers a quiet yet powerful commentary on cultural heritage, museums, and the overlooked objects that shape identity and memory. At Hayy Jameel, the film is accompanied by a site-specific installation of objects transported in metal trunks, an unconventional, portable “museum” that challenges formal institutional structures.
Jameel Prize: Moving Images location
The exhibition is hosted at Hayy Jameel, Jeddah’s dedicated hub for arts, creativity, and culture.
Jameel Prize: Moving Images dates and times
The exhibition runs for nearly five months, giving visitors ample opportunity to explore: November 19, 2025 – April 15, 2026 Admission: Free
Opening week highlight
On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, curator Rachel Dedman hosted a captivating public talk with artists Jawa El Khash and Khandakar Ohida, exploring their creative journeys and artistic visions.
For those who missed the event, watch our exclusive interview with the artists below.
In this exclusive interview, the artists discuss their inspirations, techniques, and the stories behind their latest works, offering a rare glimpse into the minds shaping today’s contemporary art scene.
A milestone for Jeddah’s arts scene
This marks the first-ever Jeddah showcase of the Jameel Prize, 15 years after its inaugural presentation in Riyadh in 2010. Over the years, the Prize has:
- Received 1,700+ applications
- Showcased 63 artists and designers
- Toured to 20 venues worldwide
Its arrival in Jeddah underscores the city’s growing importance as a cultural capital and highlights Saudi Arabia’s expanding engagement with global contemporary art.
If you’re exploring more creative spaces around the city, check out our guide to Jeddah’s must-visit art spaces.
