The Cultural Foundation is currently holding The UAE is Beautiful, a group photo exhibition that explores the United Arab Emirates through the eyes of photographers who have made the country their subject, inspiration, and home. Inspired by the words of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, “The UAE is beautiful; the UAE is a role model”, the exhibition celebrates the nation’s landscapes, people, heritage and aspirations while offering a nuanced reflection on the many stories that shape contemporary Emirati identity. Curated by Khalid Al Hammadi, the show will be open to the public until 31 August 2026.
Bringing together thirteen creatives, the exhibition reveals the UAE through a diversity of photographic approaches. Some artists focus on dramatic landscapes and environmental phenomena. Others turn their attention to architecture, cultural traditions, or fleeting moments of everyday life. Their images form a collective portrait of a country where heritage and modernity coexist in dynamic and often unexpected ways.
At the centre of the exhibition is Khalid Al Hammadi, one of the UAE’s most recognised contemporary photographers. Known for his striking images of architecture, cityscapes, and landmarks, Al Hammadi has spent more than a decade documenting the country’s evolving visual identity. His photos capture iconic sites from unexpected perspectives and often use atmospheric conditions such as fog, dramatic light, or unusual vantage points to transform familiar scenes.
His recent projects have focused on landmarks including the Zayed National Museum and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; they reflect his ongoing interest in the relationship between place, memory, and national identity. In The UAE is Beautiful, Al Hammadi’s photos connect themes of heritage, faith, ambition and belonging, establishing a visual framework for the exhibition as a whole.
Among the participating artists, Ola Ibrahim Allouz brings a distinctive documentary sensibility rooted in daily life and cultural observation. Her images of Emirati culture, street life, and social traditions have earned international recognition and numerous awards. The work of Allouz balances careful composition with an instinct for storytelling, revealing the human dimensions of public spaces and communal rituals. As founder of the photography community platform Foto UAE and a Fujifilm ambassador, she has also played an important role in fostering photographic culture across the Emirates.
Hamed Badr Musharbek contributes a perspective shaped by the UAE’s environmental richness. His work highlights landscapes that are frequently overlooked by those who associate the country mostly with urban development. In the exhibition, one of his featured images captures lightning striking above the desert in Sharjah, demonstrating both the drama and ecological diversity of the Emirates. Through such photographs, Musharbek encourages viewers to appreciate the natural beauty that exists alongside the country’s celebrated architecture and infrastructure.
The show also features Alia Sultan Aljoker, whose practice merges the nation’s rich heritage with its modern advancements, and Reem Ali Abdullah, who specialises in land- and cityscape, time-lapse, and aerial photography. Also featured is Rami Escandar Abboud, who contributes his widely known photos, including a photo of lightning over the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. He managed to capture it after repeated visits and hours spent waiting through storm conditions.
Other participating creatives include Salem Sarhan Alsawafi, Shoaib Ahmed, Abdulla Ibrahim Alhattawi, Yousuf Ahmed Al Qasimi, Mohammed Khaled, Aisha Alhammadi, and Noora Alhammadi. Together, they reveal how photography can serve simultaneously as artistic expression, historical record, and social observation.
An especially engaging aspect of The UAE is Beautiful is its participatory dimension. Developed in collaboration with Emirates Post, the show invites members of the public to contribute their own photos of the UAE. Selected images become part of a community display, extending the exhibition beyond the contributions of established photographers and transforming it into a collective project. This initiative reinforces the exhibition’s main message: the story of the UAE belongs to everyone who experiences, documents, and shares it.
The UAE is Beautiful moves beyond picturesque representation. While the show undoubtedly showcases the country’s visual splendour, it also reflects on resilience, aspiration, cultural continuity, and human connection. Through a wide variety of photographic voices, it offers viewers an opportunity to reconsider what makes a place meaningful. The exhibition becomes not only a celebration of the Emirates as a nation, but also a meditation on the power of photography to preserve memory, foster understanding, and reveal beauty in both the monumental and the everyday.
To get more information about The UAE is Beautiful, please go to the exhibition’s official web page.
You might also be interested in visiting Photographic Encounters along the Gulf Coasts.
To stay connected with the latest art news, you should follow our Telegram channel.
