About Muhammed Muheisen
Muhammed Muheisen is an internationally acclaimed, world-renowned photographer. A two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner, a National Geographic photojournalist and Explorer, founder and chairman of the Dutch non-profit organization Everyday Refugees Foundation, Global Ambassador for Jordan Tourism Board and Canon.
“Muhammed Muheisen: Finding the Light,” a captivating and eye-opening episode of National Geographic documentary series “PHOTOGRAPHER”, is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Finding the Light premiered on National Geographic and Apple TV on April 1. With “Finding the Light,” viewers are immersed in the world of the founder and chairman of Everyday Refugees Foundation and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Muhammed Muheisen.
Muheisen is a Jordanian national who was born in Jerusalem in 1981, graduated with a B.A. degree in journalism and political science. Since 2001 he has documented major events around the world, in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the United States of America. For over a decade and a half he has been documenting the refugee crises around the world.
In 2015, Muheisen established the Dutch non-profit organization Everyday Refugees Foundation based in Amsterdam. The foundation’s mission is to document, educate, help and empower refugees, local communities and internally displaced people by conflict, poverty, discrimination and natural disasters in different parts of the world.
Muheisen received numerous International Awards, including:
- Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner.
- National Geographic Wayfinder Awardee.
- UNICEF Picture of the Year.
- TIME Magazine’s Best Wire Photographer.
- Emerging Person in Photography Special Award by the Hamdan bin Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award. - POYI, Picture of the Year International.
- The Oliver S. Gramling Award for journalism.
- The John L. Dougherty Award.
- Multiple prizes in the National Headliner Awards.
- Multiple prizes in the YIPPA Awards.
- Multiple prizes in the NPPA Best of Photojournalism.
- Multiple prizes in the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar.
- Multiple prizes in Asian Media Awards, best in photojournalism.
- Multiple Awards in the China International Press Photo Contest.
- Multiple Awards in the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.
- Multiple Prizes in Xposure International Photography Festival Award.
- Multiple prizes in: the APME News Photos Award.
- The MCF Engaged Journalist Award.
- Festival Du Scoop Award.
As a public speaker, Muheisen delivered lectures, seminars and motivational speeches to live audiences across the world, among others:
- Speaker during the 2024 United Nations SDG Action Awards Ceremony in Rome, Italy.
- Leading a photography masterclass in January 2025 to Ukrainian youth in Kyiv.
- Speaker at National Geographic headquarters during the 2023 Explorers Festival in Washington D.C.
- TEDx Speaker at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus, followed by a standing ovation.
- Master of Ceremony at the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award Ceremony in Dubai Opera, Dubai, UAE.
- Guest speaker at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, USA.
- Lecturer at the Missouri School of Journalism, Colombia, Missouri, USA.
- Speaker during the UNICEF Picture of the Year Ceremony along with the First Lady of Germany, Mrs. Elke Büdenbender in Berlin, Germany.
- Speaker at Isala theater in Capelle aan den Ijssel, the Netherlands.
- Speaker at the iTechTalk Conference by iTechCapital in Limassol, Cyprus.
- Speaker at Apple Inc. “Composing Narratives” in Dubai, UAE.
- Speaker at the Greek Ministry of Digital Policy addressing members of the Greek cabinet and the International Diplomatic Mission on International Migrants Day in Athens, Greece.
- Speaker at Festival des Libertes in Brussels, Belgium.
- TEDx Speaker at the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA.
- Speaker at Cegerxwin Cultural Center in Kayapinar, Diyarbakir, Turkiye, “Making a Difference”.
- Speaker at “City Talk” forum Kalam Madina at the Dead Sea in Jordan.
- Speaker at Teatro San Carlino prior to the official opening ceremony of “Untold Stories” in Brescia, Italy.
- Thrice lecturer at XPosure International Photography Festival in Sharjah, UAE.
- Twice lecturer during the World Press Photo Awards Days in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Mentor for the Canon Student Development Programme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024
- Lecturer and mentor at XPosure International Photography Festival in Sharjah, UAE in 2023 and 2025.
- Educator Canon Young People Programme “Leaders Taking Action” for the 2023 UN SDG Action Awards finalists in Rome, Italy.
- Muheisen provided Masterclass Live Webinar Sessions by Canon Academy and online portfolio reviews part of Canon Student Development Programme.
Muheisen is a member of the Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award advisory committee at the International Women Media Foundation, in Washington D.C. and a member of the Advisory Panel of the Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant.
Muheisen served as a jury member, among others, the 2013 Visa D’Or for Visa pour L’Image in Perpignan, France, the 2015 World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the 2016 Picture of the Year International in Columbia, Missouri, USA, the 2017 LensCulture Emerging Talent Awards, the 2019 FotoEvidence Book Award, the 2019 International Film festival in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2019 the main judge of the National Geographic Abu Dhabi contest “Moments” as well a judge of National Geographic’s 100 Million Instagram Contest. In 2020 a nominator for the “Best Press Photo in Government” for the International Government Communication Award in Sharjah, UAE, in 2020 the main judge of the National Geographic Abu Dhabi contest “Moments”.
In 2021 a judge in the annual competition AKTASHIF Program in Dubai, UAE, a judge for the Estação Imagem Award in Coimbra, Portugal and the main judge for Miso Association’s photo contest “Untold Stories” in Brescia, Italy. A judge of the Independent and Freelance Photojournalist Awards in Sharjah, UAE, and a judge of Canon’s Moments that Matters Competition-EXPO Dubai. In 2022, 2023 and 2024 Muheisen served as a jury member for the Independent and Freelance Photojournalist Awards and International Photography and Film Awards for Xposure in Sharjah, UAE. In June 2023, Muheisen served as a jury member for the United Nations SDG Action Awards. In August 2024, for the second time, Muheisen served as a jury member for the United Nations SDG Action Awards. In September 2024, he judged the Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant. Early 2025, Muheisen served as a jury member for the SIPA contest.
Among other exhibitions, a collection from a decade of his work about “Life in War” was exhibited in the French photo festival Visa pour L’Image in Perpignan. His work about refugees was exhibited at Festival des Libertes in Brussels, Belgium, his photographs about displaced people was exhibited at THE FENCE in Brooklyn, Atlanta, Boston and Houston, USA, “Faces of War” was displayed at MidExpo in Moscow, Russia, also a selection of his work “Pursuit of Happiness” was exhibited at the Angkor Photo Festival in Siem Reap, Cambodia and for two-year in a row, his work “Victims of War” and “Faces of Sharjah” was exhibited at Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah, UAE. In October 2018, his exhibition “Light on the Move” was displayed at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, Greece with an official opening ceremony. In March 2019 “Light on the Move” was on display during the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. In September 2019, a selection of his images was displayed by the UNDP at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York at Photoville.
In November 2020 his photo exhibition “Lest We Forget” organized by the Jordanian Embassy in Japan was displayed at the JICA Global Plaza in Tokyo and in February 2021 “Lest We Forget” traveled to Noshiro City. From 10 – 13 February 2021, his photo exhibition “Voices” was displayed at the Expo Centre in Sharjah, UAE, during Xposure International Photography Festival. Muheisen’s photo exhibition “Voices” traveled from Sharjah, UAE, to Coimbra, Portugal and was displayed at Museo Municipal Coimbra from 29 May until 25 July 2021. His photo exhibition “Untold Stories” was on display from 13 – 26 November 2021 at Image Academy Gallery in Brescia, Italy, organized by Miso Association. Muheisen’s photo exhibition “Life and War” was displayed at Sharjah Expo Center during Xposure International Photography Festival from Feb. 9 – Feb. 15, 2022, in Sharjah, UAE, as well, at GalleryX at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah, UAE from April 2 – April 30, 2022. Since June 2021, Muheisen’s photo exhibition “Voices” has been traveling in Portugal, from Coimbra to Porto and Valongo and from September 17th until October 22nd, 2022, “Voices” was on display at Galeria de Arte do Convento do Espírito Santo in Loulé, Portugal.
In August 2022, for the first time in Jordan, Muheisen led the “Canon Young People Programme”. Thirty students, 15 Jordanians and 15 refugees between the age of 12-18 years were selected to take part in this six week program. To celebrate their achievements, a ceremony was held where HRH Princess Alia Bint Hussein and Muhammed Muheisen presented each student with a certificate of completion and a printed portfolio of their work.
In June 2023, Muheisen received the National Geographic Wayfinder Award, dedicated to individuals who are pushing the boundaries of science, exploration, education and storytelling to transform our world. During the UN SDG Action Award Ceremony in Rome, Italy, in July 2023 Muheisen took the stage to present an Honourable Mention to Sabrina Dhowre Elba and Idris Elba.
In December 2023, the photo exhibition “Bearing Witness” by Muhammed Muheisen and Howard G. Buffett was displayed in Athens, Greece, in March 2024 the exhibition was exhibited in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in June the exhibition travelled to the international city of peace and justice, The Hague. In September 2024, “Bearing Witness” photo exhibition was on show in Bucharest, Romania.
“Bearing Witness” photo exhibition is set to be displayed in several European capitals.
Early 2025, Muheisen led a photography masterclass for Ukrainian youth in Kyiv, Ukraine. On January 31, Muheisen will launch the photo exhibition World Unseen with a press conference and a masterclass on February 1 for visually impaired children in collaboration with Canon in Dubai. On March 11, Muheisen will take the stage in Berlin for the 25th anniversary of the UNICEF photo contest, and on April 15 he will speak at the National Geographic Summit in Amsterdam.
More about Muhammed Muheisen on his social media platforms:
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Everyday Refugees Foundation
We document, educate, help and empower refugees, local communities and people displaced internally by war, natural disasters, discrimination and poverty.
Our goal is to raise public awareness by documenting and sharing their stories with the world. Through our website and social media platforms, we tell hundreds of untold stories, raising the voice of thousands of unheard voices, spreading awareness to millions of people around the world. Learn more about Everyday Refugees Foundation here: www.everydayrefugees.org
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