Dubai Pride

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos

We all know of Dubai's devastating fall from grace as a result of the financial meltdown. From being a kingdom brimming with opulence and ambition to begging their neighbour Abu Dhabi to bail them out, Dubai's fortunes have swung fast and furious. In the recent past the kingdom found fame for building the biggest, tallest, fastest and finest with no regard to cost.

What isn't widely known, however, is that that till the mid-90's Dubai was one of the least impressive kingdoms in the Middle East. With no oil wealth, they were the stepbrother to their wealthier Arab brothers like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. This meant that even though Dubai metamorphosed into a financial superstar over the last two decades, the average Dubai citizen is still very much in touch with a time of less pomp and splendour. They're still very connected to their Bedouin past and the love for their country, their religion and monarchy runs through the tapestry of everyday Dubai life.

I was born in the Middle East and lived there for the first thirteen years of my life. This series of pictures was taken on my return to the Gulf after 20 years. I've chosen a set of pictures that showcase the pride the people of Dubai have for their flag, their Sheikh and their religion. Everywhere you go in Dubai you see the flag flying, Sheikh Maktoum beaming down on you or a the minaret of a grand mosque on the horizon. This is Dubai, a land of wealth and luxury, but also a land of culture and tradition.

I'm a self-taught amateur photographer and a full-time radio producer. I've developed my passion for photography over the last two years and I'm looking to make the leap to full-time editorial and travel photographer in the next two years. I know assisting an experienced veteran will help me massively.