Dubai: If you can’t stop yourself from taking pictures of the Flame Trees that are in bloom across Dubai, there’s some good news. Your picture could land you an AED 15,000 prize.

As the city's streets and parks continue to glow with the fiery red blossoms of the Flame Tree, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has launched the Flame Tree Season Photography Competition, inviting residents and visitors to capture the city in bloom.

Organised by Dubai Culture in collaboration with the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), the competition is offering cash prizes worth a total of AED 30,000.

Here are the details.

How to participate

  • Capture a photo related to Flame Tree Season.
  • Post the photo to your public Instagram account.
  • Use the hashtag #FlameTreeSeason.
  • Follow @dubaiculture, @hipaae and @flametreeseason.
  • Mention or tag @dubaiculture, @hipaae and @flametreeseason in the post.
  • Each participant is allowed to submit one entry only.
  • Previously posted content may also be re-uploaded or -reshared, provided participants use #FlameTreeSeason and tag all accounts.

Note: Ensure that your Instagram account is public.

Photo credit: Government of Dubai Media Office

Prizes announced

  • 1st place: AED 15,000
  • 2nd place: AED 10,000
  • 3rd place: AED 5,000

Deadline

11.59 UAE time, Friday July 31, 2026

A special Dubai season

The competition comes as part of Dubai's wider celebration of the Flame Tree season, which was officially announced earlier this year by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai through a video shared on social media.

The annual season, which starts just as summer begins in the UAE, marks the period when Flame Trees burst into bloom across the emirate.

During a recent meeting with Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Future Foundation, Sheikh Hamdan described the tree as a symbol of life and beauty in the city.

"In summer, when the Flame Tree blooms in Dubai, it brings life to every home, every majlis, every street, and every park," he said.

The initiative has also seen efforts to expand Flame Tree planting across the emirate and distribute seedlings to residents interested in planting them at home or on farms.

Originally from Madagascar, the Flame Tree, known botanically as Delonix regia, has become one of Dubai's most recognisable trees after adapting exceptionally well to the local climate. According to Dubai Municipality, tens of thousands of Flame Trees have been planted across Dubai over the years, making them a familiar sight in areas such as Jumeirah, Al Safa, Rashidiya, Deira and Bur Dubai.