A Dh10 camera and seven decades of memories: UAE’s first female photographer

Dubai witnessed the advent of photography in the 1950s through the lens of Sheikha Jassim Al Suwaidi, who captured the essence of the city with a camera that cost her merely Dh10. This pioneering spirit marked the beginning of a visual record that would later document a society on the brink of significant transformation. Initially focusing on family, children, and neighbors, Al Suwaidi's work gradually expanded to include traditional homes, old neighborhoods, markets, the sea, and nature, painting a vivid picture of Dubai's past.

Though she did not initially consider photography a formal historical project, the passage of time imbued her work with increasing historical and social value as places changed, buildings disappeared, and routines evolved. Al Suwaidi's archive serves not only as a visual document but also as an informal record of daily life, capturing moments away from official ceremonies and major events.

Her contributions to UAE photography are not only recognized for being the first but also for initiating a lineage of Emirati photographers. Known as "Mother of Photographers," her pioneering role paved the way for others, earning her national acclaim in 2014 under the UAE Pioneers initiative.