Some of the family photographs chosen for the new Zayed University project, called Lest We Forget, where Emirati students turned their personal family photos into a book. Courtesy Zayed University
Some of the family photographs chosen for the new Zayed University project, called Lest We Forget, where Emirati students turned their personal family photos into a book. Courtesy Zayed University

Family snaps of UAE's past



There are black and white portraits of loved ones who had long parted this world, Polaroids showing? precious memories of a new car or new clothes for Eid, and family ?studio images frequently embellished with backgrounds of flowers, hearts or landscapes from foreign countries.

Each photo tells a different story.

When a group of Emirati students at Zayed University dug into their own boxes and searched for these family photos, they found all kinds of buried treasures depicting forgotten snapped moments that had shaped their family's story.

"This is a photo of my father when he was about nine months old. I wonder why he is wearing a dress and a gold necklace?" writes Aya Al Hamra next to a black and white portrait photo of Dhaher, her? father, taken in Al Ain in 1963.

This photo is one of several baby snaps, some of whom were photographed with heavily lined eyes with kohl, or wearing funky sunglasses, in traditional clothing or overdressed with gold chains with babies' dummies dangling at their ends.

They comprise just one of the themes captured in a new book compiled from a student project at Zayed University.

Called Lest We Forget, the book is one of the first in-depth studies of amateur photographs taken by Emirati families. It offers rare insights into the private images of local life and culture. Running from 1958 to 1999, the book contains more than 150 photos carefully selected from a pool of nearly 400 snapshots.

Some capture simple moments, such as a colour photo dated 1979, showing a child on the floor on a blanket. Student Wadima Al Mazouri puts it into context by saying: "Every Emirati family had the same fuzzy tiger blanket because in the past choices were limited in the stores."

A photo provided by Mariam Al Thahab is dated 1970, from Mecca. We see her grandfather, Hafedh, and her grandmother, Fatima, at a pay phone, where they were "calling up their children after performing Haj. They would keep in touch like that".

Marwa Dalak contributed an undated colour photo of her sister as a child wearing a gutra. She was photographed "pretending to be a young man flirting on the phone",  holding a bright blue dial phone.

Besides offering a view into their homes, there are photos capturing the sentiments and politics of the time, such as a snap contributed by Mariam Al Thahab. The black and white image shows her father's uncle in Qatar in 1960, wearing sunglasses and a blazer with his kandura, holding a photo of the late pan-Arab Egyptian leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser.

The project came out of a conversation between Michele Bambling, the assistant professor of art history at the university, and Karen Davies, the multimedia editor of The ?National.

They were "lamenting the dearth of published vernacular photography in the UAE", says Ms Bambling.

"I decided to ask students in my curatorial practices course if they would like to embark on a study of photographs taken by Emirati people over the course of the second half of the 20th century," she explains. "Published photographs of the UAE have largely been taken by non-local, professional photographers or by missionaries, oil companies, the media and the Royal family for purposes quite different that those of ordinary citizens."

The project began with a class of eight students in the spring term of 2011 and was developed over the next two and half years by four subsequent classes, with nearly 50 students involved.

"But the project is far from complete, as the story continues to be told with each new photograph," Ms Bambling says.

A limited number of books will be printed and given to the families, contributors and the sponsor of the project, the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation.

There are plans to release the book for sale to the general public within the year.

"The book is designed as an artists' book, not an academic volume," Ms Bambling says. "The photographs are precious family heirlooms, thus in the book they are treated as three-dimensional objects rather than flat images – each photographed, rather than scanned for the book.

"The photos are also carefully archived, shown in their exact size without alteration on photoshop and empirical data pertaining to each rigorously recorded.

"The students devised visual narrative devices aimed at guiding the reader through the images and narratives, while encouraging a sense of discovery and involvement by the reader."

Circles cut in the preceding page reveal incidental details before the page is turned to show the complete photograph. Notations on the back of photos also appear on the pages preceding the images they are taken from.

Private memories are inscribed in calligraphy on tracing paper with the photo just visible beneath, while narratives have been painstakingly typed on typewriters of the same vintage as the photographs.

Some photographs show the different types of passports Emiratis once needed to travel and of trips across the desert, often across ?Saudi Arabia. Others were snapped from aircraft as they travelled across the Gulf.

One photo, with a touch of humour, shows a teenage Emirati boy standing next to a poster of John Travolta in his bedroom.

"What struck me the most about the photos is the humour of candid shots, the universality of human interests, the fervent desire to make portraits and record family events for posterity, and the unexpectedly large number of photographs taken of women during the first decades of popular photography in the UAE," says Ms Bambling.

There also photos submitted of the founding President, Sheikh?Zayed, on hunting trips with his sons, including Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed.

A contribution from Sheikha Mariam bint Sultan bin Zayed captures her father in Pakistan, sitting with a falcon on his arm, drinking from an Arabic coffee cup.

"After the falcon gets the houbara bird, my father cuts the prey bird's heart out and gives it to the falcon as a prize. After the falcon had eaten the heart, my father fed it water in an Arab coffee cup," writes Sheikha Mariam.

"Usually my father or brothers would cut out the heart. But my nephews are learning the process. Only an expert at this would be allowed this privilege."

Each of the students who researched and collected their family photos was inspired by the project to look for more images and?investigate the stories behind them.

"These photos are special as they showcase our private lives. They show what our culture and life is really like," says Mira Al Awadi, 25, from Ajman.

"I advise every Emirati to look through their photo albums. Now during the summer vacation, I will go through the digital photos we have forgotten about and rediscover them and write the stories behind them."

For Safeya Al Maskari, 22, from Abu Dhabi, she was inspired to collect all her baby photos and do a timeline of the changes.

"I liked to see the changes to me. How almost everything changed except my eyes," she says.

She also discovered a photo of grandfather while searching for photos at home.

"It was a special moment to see that photo. I have never met my grandfather and when I found the photo of him, the stories told about him came alive."

Thikra Al Suwaidi, 23, from Abu Dhabi, wrote the poem about Sheikh Zayed that features in the book, his vision and how its effect can be felt today.

"I felt like I was going back in time and then moving forward to today," she says.

"I saw Sheikh Zayed's influence everywhere and so was inspired to write a poem dedicated to him and include it as part of the photos project."

As for her favourite photo, it was one of her uncle holding a phone connected via wire in an old car.

"I really liked it, as that is what we still do today, we talk on our phones in our cars," she says. "We discover so much about ourselves when we go back and look through our?photos."

rghazal@thenational.ae

Fixtures

Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am

Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am

Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am

Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight

Saturday's results

West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley

Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm 

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 4 (Mount 18',Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85')

Morecambe 0

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')

Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')

Women%E2%80%99s%20Asia%20Cup
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%202%2C%20v%20Sri%20Lanka%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%204%2C%20v%20India%3Cbr%3EWed%20Oct%205%2C%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EFri%20Oct%207%2C%20v%20Thailand%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%209%2C%20v%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%2011%2C%20v%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EChaya%20Mughal%20(captain)%2C%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Priyanjali%20Jain%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Natasha%20Cherriath%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Rishitha%20Rajith%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Mahika%20Gaur%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Armen Sarkissian
Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

Results

4pm: Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

4.35pm: Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m; Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

5.10pm: Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Canvassed, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

5.45pm: Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

6.20pm: Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O’Meara

6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

7.30pm: Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Final Song, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

The Year Earth Changed

Directed by:Tom Beard

Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough

Stars: 4

FIXTURES

UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
 

The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5

Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder /  3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km

The bio

Who inspires you?

I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist

How do you relax?

Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.

What is favourite book?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times

What is your favourite Arabic film?

Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki

What is favourite English film?

Mamma Mia

Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?

If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.  

 

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

'Joker'

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix

Rating: Five out of five stars

The biog

Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.

Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.

Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.

Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.

Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

Date started: May 2021 

Founder: Mamta Arora 

Based: Dubai 

Sector: Clothes rental subscription 

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded 

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips from the expert

Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
  2. It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
  3. Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
  4. Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Genesis G80 2020 5.0-litre Royal Specs

Engine: 5-litre V8

Gearbox: eight-speed automatic

Power: 420hp

Torque: 505Nm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L/100km

Price: Dh260,500

The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster

Price, base: Dh708,750

Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power: 374hp (total)

Torque: 570Nm (total)

Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km

Ireland v Denmark: The last two years

Denmark 1-1 Ireland 

7/06/19, Euro 2020 qualifier 

Denmark 0-0 Ireland

19/11/2018, Nations League

Ireland 0-0 Denmark

13/10/2018, Nations League

Ireland 1 Denmark 5

14/11/2017, World Cup qualifier

Denmark 0-0 Ireland

11/11/2017, World Cup qualifier

 

 

 

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Grubtech

Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi

Launched: October 2019

Employees: 50

Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)