Renowned UAE photographer Ramesh Shukla died on Sunday, his family said. He was 87. The Indian expatriate photographer is survived by his wife Tarun Shukla and son Neel Shukla.
According to his son’s post on LinkedIn, the renowned UAE photographer was recovering after a heart attack last week.
Who is Ramesh Shukla?
Ramesh Shukla was a pioneering photographer whose work became inseparably linked with the birth and early history of the United Arab Emirates.
Shukla was born in 1939 and arrived in the UAE in 1965, travelling by ship from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Sharjah. Armed with a Rolleicord camera gifted by his father when he was just 15, he began his career in Dubai, co-founding Neelkamal Studios and documenting everyday life at a time when the country was still in its formative years. Alongside his wife, he photographed weddings, community life, and cultural traditions, often developing photographs at home using makeshift tools due to the lack of proper facilities.
His life changed dramatically in 1968 when he was invited to photograph the Sharjah camel race, an event attended by the UAE’s rulers, including Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
By positioning himself at ground level to mirror the rulers’ stance, Shukla captured an iconic image. Sheikh Zayed personally acknowledged his work, signing one of the photographs, gifting him his pen, and calling him “Fannan” – Arabic for “artist”.
On December 2, 1971, Shukla was invited to Union House on Jumeirah Beach Road, where he photographed the historic signing of the agreement that unified six emirates to form the UAE. One of these images – showing Sheikh Zayed signing the unification document – later gained national prominence and now appears on the UAE’s commemorative AED50 banknote issued in 2021 for the country’s 50th National Day.
Often referred to as the UAE’s royal photographer, Ramesh Shukla is not just a documentarian but a visual historian. His photographs are preserved in institutions such as the Etihad Museum and displayed in metro stations and galleries worldwide.
A legacy to remember, honour
“Until the very end he was full of life, joyful and in high spirits,” Shukla’s son Neel told Lana exclusively.
“He had lived with a serious heart condition for over twenty years, but it never stopped him from working or staying physically active. In the past year, however, my father suffered four heart attacks, each requiring a four- to five-day stay in the hospital. The doctors advised him to limit his exertion, yet he remained devoted to being around people – something he cherished and would never have given up,” he said.
Shukla passed away in Rashid Hospital, Dubai. His son, Neel, recalled that he was so energetic that he would engage in conversations with hospital staff despite his heart ailment.
Shukla’s wife had a key role in his journey to become one of the most celebrated photographers in the nation. “My mother’s hard work preserved his legacy, she would keep all his photographs safely and made sure it was a story that never left the hearts of many who have heard it. She still hasn’t accepted that he has passed away.”
Shukla’s last rites will take place in Dubai. “This is his home,” Neel explained, adding that “he has left behind a legacy.”
“I want him to be honoured, to be remembered. He was all about telling a good story, and making sure art had a place in the world,” he concluded.
Today, Neel carries forward his legacy through the Four Seasons Ramesh Gallery, keeping alive the story of a photographer whose work evolved into a nation’s visual chronicle.
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan extends condolences
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai paid tribute to the veteran photographer Shukla, expressing his heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
“Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ramesh Shukla, who captured the early journey of the UAE and preserved defining moments in our nation’s history and visual memory. He devoted 6 decades to the Emirates and its people with deep loyalty and love,” he said via X.
