Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Through landscapes, heritage, weather and everyday moments, “The UAE is Beautiful” exhibition at the Cultural Foundation offers a portrait of the country through the eyes of photographers inspired by the words of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan: “The UAE is beautiful; the UAE is a role model.”
Presented by the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi under the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and curated by Khalid Al Hammadi, the exhibition brings together works by Hamed Musharbek, Ola Allouz, Reem Ali Abdullah, Abdulla Alhatawi, Yousuf Al Qasimi, Salem Al Sawafi, Rami Escandar Abboud, Shoaib Ahmed Jan, Alia Bent Sultan, Mohammed Almessabi, Aisha Alhamadi, and Noora Alhammadi in a visual journey celebrating identity, diversity and human stories.
Running from May 14 to July 14, the exhibition extends beyond gallery walls through a community initiative with Emirates Post, inviting visitors to contribute their own photographs and become part of a shared portrait of the UAE.
Aletihad spoke to photographers participating in the exhibition, whose different artistic styles converge around a shared idea: showing the UAE through unexpected perspectives and deeply personal stories.
Leading artist Khalid Al Hammadi’s participation combines themes of heritage, identity, faith and aspiration. His images range from scenes at Wahat Al Karama to panoramic views of Dubai.
Summarising the message behind his works, he said: “The Emirates is beautiful, and a role model. It is a place for achieving dreams.”
Nature photographer Hamed Musharbek focuses on environmental landscapes, presenting a dramatic image of lightning over the desert in Sharjah. “There is not a specific message other than highlighting the aesthetics and nature in the Emirates,” he said. “Our desert nature is very rich and diverse.”
For Salem Al Sawafi, the exhibition is an opportunity to merge heritage and landscape through drone imagery and carefully planned compositions. His works feature camels, palm trees, forts and cycling scenes framed through unusual perspectives. “When they told me they wanted an exhibition about ‘The Beautiful Emirates’, I felt I had to participate,” he said.
He explained that from the beginning of his photography journey, “I loved heritage and old buildings and always tried to highlight them beautifully”.
Photographer Rami Escandar Abboud, who has spent more than 20 years in the UAE and over 15 years working professionally, presents the images he is widely known for, particularly his moon photography.
One featured the moon aligned with an airplane after two years of attempts, while another captured lightning over the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque after repeated visits and hours spent waiting through storm conditions. “This photo is very special to me because it took me two years to be able to capture it this way,” he said.
Reflecting on his broader approach, he explained: “I like to show people the missing angle,” he said, adding: “The Emirates is beautiful in all its aspects, its people, its culture, the way it manages things.”
Photographer Shoaib Ahmed Jan approached the exhibition from another perspective, focusing on the human side of military aviation.
Rather than photographing aircraft themselves, he wanted to focus on the people behind them. “I wanted to show the people behind the machines,” he said. “They are also human, they are also like us.”
He described photography as a form of contribution to the country he calls home. “We call UAE our home. If there is any way to contribute for the wellness of this country, we will go for that,” he said.
Meanwhile, photographer Ola Allouz depicts Dubai as a dreamy city, an image of Dubai’s Abra Creek Crossing captured in fog shortly after sunrise. She explained that the image reflected a city that continuously inspires larger ambitions and dreams.
“The Emirates is beautiful in its details, its ideas and its identity,” she said. She added: “We as photographers try to reflect this beauty through our lenses and cameras.”
