Art & Culture

Discover UAE's Untold Stories Through The Lens of Ramesh Shukla at Jumeirah Mina A'Salam

As the nation gears up to celebrate the UAE’s 51st National Day, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam in collaboration with royal photographer, Ramesh Shukla, is inviting residents and tourists to reminisce the country’s humble beginnings through a specially curated photography exhibition.

Young Ramesh Shukla, receiving his first autograph on a picture of Sheikh Zayed which he took in 1968

Showcasing from 2^ndto 9^th December at Madinat Jumeirah’s luxury boutique retreat that pays homage to the seafaring heritage of the UAE, the exclusive exhibition will give visitors the chance to embark on a historical journey of the Emirates. Through a rare collection of ‘never before seen’ photos dating all the way back to 2^nd December 1971 - the day that marked UAE's formal nationalisation - award-winning photographer Ramesh Shukla’s work aims to show the intimate aspects of life in the UAE.

His photography has been commended by the UAE government with his iconic portrait of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan appearing in the EXPO 2020 Dubai passport and in the 50-dirham banknote introduced last year, to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the nation’s founding.

Jaime Simpson, General Manager of Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, said: “We are excited to be hosting Ramesh Shukla’s photographic collection on the occasion of UAE National Day. Over the last five decades, Ramesh has beautifully captured the essence of the country through his iconic photographs, and we are looking forward to hosting this one-of-a-kind exhibition that will give visitors a chance to travel back in time to the early days of the nation.”

Royal photographer, Ramesh Shukla commented: “I am eternally grateful to the founding fathers of the UAE for allowing my camera to capture the historical moments of this nation. Showcasing these cherished images brings back nostalgic memories of the time I captured five decades of the country’s history, photographing its leaders, the changing landscape and its people.”

In addition to the photographic collection, Ramesh Shukla who has received several awards, the most distinctive tribute being a gold plate presented to him on the twenty-sixth Accession Day of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, will also be displaying the camera he used to take all the historic photos.

Exhibition details: 2^nd – 9^th December at Jumeirah Mina A’Salam

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