Tasneem Alsultan is a visual storyteller, investigative photographer and global mentor whose work focuses on social issues in the Arab Gulf region and challenges stereotypical perceptions of the Middle East. She is a regular contributor to National Geographic, National Geographic Travel and the New York Times. Her passion for photography developed through photographing weddings and love tails, which she still does today. Her work has been published in numerous influential international publications and featured in over 20+ exhibitions worldwide. 


Tasneem became the first Arab female Global Ambassador for Canon in 2018, a Catchlight fellow in 2019, was voted the ‘Princess Noura University Award for Excellence’ in the Arts Category and received honourable mention for the Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism. In 2020, she cofounded Ruwa Space, a platform to support visual creatives and offer education and consultation across the Middle East & North Africa. She’s a member of Rawiya women’s Middle Eastern photography collective.


Selected as one of the 10 grantees of the Magnum Foundation/ Prince Clause/ AFAC grant in 2015, she began working on her project Saudi Tales of Love which was published in Time’s Lightbox, and later exhibited in Paris Photo,  PhotoKathmandu, and among the slideshow at the prestigious Visa Pour L’Image, Perpignan in 2016. Tasneem was selected by British Journal Photography among the best 16 emerging photographers to watch, and PDN’s 30 photographers to watch in 2017. She is a finalist in the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards in Contemporary Issues. She soon joined Rawiya, the first all-female photography collective from the Middle East. In 2018 she was selected as as one of the 12 recipients of the Joop Master Class, part of the World Press Photo, Netherlands. In 2019, Tasneem was selected as a recipients of the Catchlight Fellowship to continue her work on Saudi women. She has also received honorable mention for the Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism.


Having focused her research on anthropological studies of Saudi women, Tasneem holds a Master of Art in Social Linguistics from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Linguistics from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi.


PRESS/AWARDS/EXHIBITIONS/TALKS

2020

2019

2018

  • Selected as one of the 12 recipients of the Joop Master Class, part of the World Press Photo, Netherlands.
  • Joined the Canon Ambassador Program, as the first Arab Female photographer.
  • Solo exhibition; Saudi Tales of Love; East Wing Gallery, Dubai UAE
  • Group exhibition: Through Her Eyes Photo Festival, Berlin, Germany
  • New York Times: Front Page: Saudi Women Can Drive, but Here’s the Real Roadblock
  • New York Times: Front Page: A Moment to Savor: A Saudi Woman Rejoices as Driving Ban Ends
  • New York Times: Front Page: With Weddings in Cyprus, Israelis and Lebanese Bridge a Divide.
  • National Geographic: 12 Female photographers explain the importance of diversity in storytelling.
  • Selected as one of the participants in the Joop Swart Masterclass, 25th edition annual program, at the World Press Photo Foundation headquarters in Amsterdam.
  • New York Times front page print: Saudi Arabia Lightens Up, Building Entertainment Industry From Scratch
  • New York Times Cinema Ban Lifts as ‘Black Panther’ Is Screened for Saudi Audience
  • National Geographic: To celebrate International Women’s Day, Emma Watson took over the National Geographic Instagram account, and selected Tasneem‘s image, among 8 women photographers.
  • New York Times: ‘Oh My God’ Turns to ‘Yay Me’ as Saudi Women Practice Driving
  • CNN: Photographer challenge Middle East stereotypes
  • New York Times: New Sound at Saudi Soccer Game: Women Cheering From the Stands
  • Joined the National Geographic Instagram account contributor.
  • Joined the National Geographic Travel Instagram account as a contributor. 

2017

  • Speaker: National Geographic Summit; Speaker as an Emerging Photographer
  • Saudi Tales of Love wins 1’st prize in Contemporary Issues ‘Professional’ at the Sony World Photography Awards and exhibited in Somerset House, London, UK
  • Speaker: Taking Measure, Women in Photography. Panel discussion with Maggie Steber, Tamara Abdul Hadi and Sara Lando. Gulf Photo Plus, UAE
  • Speaker: More than just the Hijaab, stories from women in Saudi. Gulf Photo Plus, UAE
  • Long-form storytelling from the Middle East to Texas: Representation, Othering, Agency & the rise of “New Documentary” Practices. A masterclass co-teaching with Tanya Habjouqa. Fort Worth Contemporary Arts, US
  • Exhibition: Saudi Tales of Love exhibited at Institut du Monde Arabe
  • Photographing the Female, Focus Photo Festival, Sun Mill Studios Compound Lower Parel, Mumbai, India
  • ‘Saudi Tales of Love’ Gulf Photo Plus, UAE
  • Rawiya Photo Collective: ‘We Do Not Choose Our Dictators’, Fort Worth Contemporary Arts, Texas, USA
  • Middle East now, Florence, Italy
  • Rawiya Photo Collective: ‘We Do Not Choose Our Dictators’, Aperture, New York, USA
  • La Quatrieme Image, Paris, France
  •  
  • New York Times: As Prince Accelerates Changes for Women, Saudis Adapt at Varied Pace
  • British Journal of Photography: Woman Paper Visa journal celebrates female photojournalists.
  • New York Times: Saudi Prince, Asserting Power, Brings Clerics to Heel.
  • New York Times: Saudi Arabia Is Open for Business, but Not Everybody’s Buying
  • New York Times: Saudi Arabia’s Grand Plan to Move Beyond Oil: Big Goals, Bigger Hurdles
  • New York Times: Once Shunned as ‘Drivers,’ Saudi Women Who Fought Ban Now Celebrate
  • Stern Grant , endowed with 10,000 euros, was awarded to Tasneem Alsultan this year. Alsultan, in collaboration with a STERN reporter will realize the theme “Between tradition and modernity – the youth and the upheaval in the Arab world”.
  • 1’st prize in Contemporary Issues ‘Professional’ at the Sony World Photography Awards
  • Photo District News (PDN) – 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch.
  • Saudi Tales of Love doc! photo magazine vol. Q3 issue #38 (pp. 162-179) docphotomagazine.com/?p=5786
  • “Saudi Tales of Love” Cover and 2 spreads in Wordt Vervolgd by Amnesty International
  • Washington Post: An ambitious young prince wants to reimagine Saudi Arabia — and make it fun.
  • Erodoto108 n20
  • CBC: Saudi Women International Women’s Day

2016

  • Exhbition: ’Saudi Tales of Love’ Photo Kathmandu Festival, Nepal
  • Where Are We Now?, East Wing presentation at Paris Photo
  • Tiblisi Photo Festival, Georgia
  • Slideshow at Visa Pour L’Image
  • Time’s Lightbox Personal Tales of Love, Divorce and Guardianship in Saudi Arabia.
  • National Geographic In Historic Saudi Elections, These Women Stepped Up as Voters and Candidates
  • National Geographic Proof Enter the Spectacular World of Saudi Weddings
  • Wall Street Journal Oil Change: Affluent Saudi Arabia Goes to Work
  • British Journal Photography – ‘Ones to Watch’ / Selected as on of 16 emerging photographers of note.
  • Magnum Foundation / AFAC / Prince Claus Fund – Recipient of the second year and mentorship program for grantees from across the Arab region for their Emerging Arab Photographer Documentary Fund.
  • NewYork Times Lens Blog – ‘The Hidden Stories of Arab Women’ / Interview with Tasneem.
  • New York Times – “Saudi Tales of Love”, photo essay selected for New York Times Portfolio Review
  • Vogue Italia: ‘Vogue Fashion Experience Jeddah, la giornata delle designer’ / Feature Shoot (in Italian).
  • Presentation: More than just the Hijaab, stories from women in Saudi, Photo Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Taught art therapy photo workshops with Syrian refugee children in collaboration with Voice of the Children, Jordan
  • Taught art therapy photo workshops with Syrian refugee children in collaboration with Malaak, Lebanon

2015

  • Photoville Photo Festival – Honorary Mention & Print exhibited by Getty / Instagram, New York, USA
  • National Geographic – ‘In Historic Saudi Elections, These Women Stepped Up As Voters and Candidates’/feature.
  • Burn Magazine – ‘Protectors of the Mosque‘ – issue feature.
  • Joined the Every Day Middle East photographers / Instagram Blog

2014

  • Burn Diary – Burn Magazine Instagram / Contributor
  • Arab News – “Behind the Camera – the Story of a Wedding Photographer” / Interview with Tasneem

2013

  • Khaleejesque Print Magazine (Issue 8) – Recognized as one of the young influentials in the GCC.

2010

2019

2018

  • Selected as one of the 12 recipients of the Joop Master Class, part of the World Press Photo, Netherlands.
  • Joined the Canon Ambassador Program, as the first Arab Female photographer.
  • Solo exhibition; Saudi Tales of Love; East Wing Gallery, Dubai UAE
  • Group exhibition: Through Her Eyes Photo Festival, Berlin, Germany
  • New York Times: Front Page: Saudi Women Can Drive, but Here’s the Real Roadblock
  • New York Times: Front Page: A Moment to Savor: A Saudi Woman Rejoices as Driving Ban Ends
  • New York Times: Front Page: With Weddings in Cyprus, Israelis and Lebanese Bridge a Divide.
  • National Geographic: 12 Female photographers explain the importance of diversity in storytelling.
  • Selected as one of the participants in the Joop Swart Masterclass, 25th edition annual program, at the World Press Photo Foundation headquarters in Amsterdam.
  • New York Times front page print: Saudi Arabia Lightens Up, Building Entertainment Industry From Scratch
  • New York Times Cinema Ban Lifts as ‘Black Panther’ Is Screened for Saudi Audience
  • National Geographic: To celebrate International Women’s Day, Emma Watson took over the National Geographic Instagram account, and selected Tasneem‘s image, among 8 women photographers.
  • New York Times: ‘Oh My God’ Turns to ‘Yay Me’ as Saudi Women Practice Driving
  • CNN: Photographer challenge Middle East stereotypes
  • New York Times: New Sound at Saudi Soccer Game: Women Cheering From the Stands
  • Joined the National Geographic Instagram account contributor.
  • Joined the National Geographic Travel Instagram account as a contributor. 

2017

  • Speaker: National Geographic Summit; Speaker as an Emerging Photographer
  • Saudi Tales of Love wins 1’st prize in Contemporary Issues ‘Professional’ at the Sony World Photography Awards and exhibited in Somerset House, London, UK
  • Speaker: Taking Measure, Women in Photography. Panel discussion with Maggie Steber, Tamara Abdul Hadi and Sara Lando. Gulf Photo Plus, UAE
  • Speaker: More than just the Hijaab, stories from women in Saudi. Gulf Photo Plus, UAE
  • Long-form storytelling from the Middle East to Texas: Representation, Othering, Agency & the rise of “New Documentary” Practices. A masterclass co-teaching with Tanya Habjouqa. Fort Worth Contemporary Arts, US
  • Exhibition: Saudi Tales of Love exhibited at Institut du Monde Arabe
  • Photographing the Female, Focus Photo Festival, Sun Mill Studios Compound Lower Parel, Mumbai, India
  • ‘Saudi Tales of Love’ Gulf Photo Plus, UAE
  • Rawiya Photo Collective: ‘We Do Not Choose Our Dictators’, Fort Worth Contemporary Arts, Texas, USA
  • Middle East now, Florence, Italy
  • Rawiya Photo Collective: ‘We Do Not Choose Our Dictators’, Aperture, New York, USA
  • La Quatrieme Image, Paris, France
  •  
  • New York Times: As Prince Accelerates Changes for Women, Saudis Adapt at Varied Pace
  • British Journal of Photography: Woman Paper Visa journal celebrates female photojournalists.
  • New York Times: Saudi Prince, Asserting Power, Brings Clerics to Heel.
  • New York Times: Saudi Arabia Is Open for Business, but Not Everybody’s Buying
  • New York Times: Saudi Arabia’s Grand Plan to Move Beyond Oil: Big Goals, Bigger Hurdles
  • New York Times: Once Shunned as ‘Drivers,’ Saudi Women Who Fought Ban Now Celebrate
  • Stern Grant , endowed with 10,000 euros, was awarded to Tasneem Alsultan this year. Alsultan, in collaboration with a STERN reporter will realize the theme “Between tradition and modernity – the youth and the upheaval in the Arab world”.
  • 1’st prize in Contemporary Issues ‘Professional’ at the Sony World Photography Awards
  • Photo District News (PDN) – 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch.
  • Saudi Tales of Love doc! photo magazine vol. Q3 issue #38 (pp. 162-179) docphotomagazine.com/?p=5786
  • “Saudi Tales of Love” Cover and 2 spreads in Wordt Vervolgd by Amnesty International
  • Washington Post: An ambitious young prince wants to reimagine Saudi Arabia — and make it fun.
  • Erodoto108 n20
  • CBC: Saudi Women International Women’s Day

2016

  • Exhbition: ’Saudi Tales of Love’ Photo Kathmandu Festival, Nepal
  • Where Are We Now?, East Wing presentation at Paris Photo
  • Tiblisi Photo Festival, Georgia
  • Slideshow at Visa Pour L’Image
  • Time’s Lightbox Personal Tales of Love, Divorce and Guardianship in Saudi Arabia.
  • National Geographic In Historic Saudi Elections, These Women Stepped Up as Voters and Candidates
  • National Geographic Proof Enter the Spectacular World of Saudi Weddings
  • Wall Street Journal Oil Change: Affluent Saudi Arabia Goes to Work
  • British Journal Photography – ‘Ones to Watch’ / Selected as on of 16 emerging photographers of note.
  • Magnum Foundation / AFAC / Prince Claus Fund – Recipient of the second year and mentorship program for grantees from across the Arab region for their Emerging Arab Photographer Documentary Fund.
  • NewYork Times Lens Blog – ‘The Hidden Stories of Arab Women’ / Interview with Tasneem.
  • New York Times – “Saudi Tales of Love”, photo essay selected for New York Times Portfolio Review
  • Vogue Italia: ‘Vogue Fashion Experience Jeddah, la giornata delle designer’ / Feature Shoot (in Italian).
  • Presentation: More than just the Hijaab, stories from women in Saudi, Photo Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Taught art therapy photo workshops with Syrian refugee children in collaboration with Voice of the Children, Jordan
  • Taught art therapy photo workshops with Syrian refugee children in collaboration with Malaak, Lebanon

2015

  • Photoville Photo Festival – Honorary Mention & Print exhibited by Getty / Instagram, New York, USA
  • National Geographic – ‘In Historic Saudi Elections, These Women Stepped Up As Voters and Candidates’/feature.
  • Burn Magazine – ‘Protectors of the Mosque‘ – issue feature.
  • Joined the Every Day Middle East photographers / Instagram Blog

2014

  • Burn Diary – Burn Magazine Instagram / Contributor
  • Arab News – “Behind the Camera – the Story of a Wedding Photographer” / Interview with Tasneem

2013

  • Khaleejesque Print Magazine (Issue 8) – Recognized as one of the young influentials in the GCC.

2010

  • Hijab, Sex and Language: An Ethnographic Study”; Presentation at Egyptesol, Egypt 2009
  • “More Than Just the Hijaab: Saudi Women’s Experiences of Cultural Adjustment to US ESL Classrooms.”; Presentation at the American Association for Applied Linguistics, Colorado, USA


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