Dubai has lost one of its most iconic visual storytellers. Ramesh Shukla, the Indian expat widely known as the “royal photographer who chronicled the UAE’s history,” died on Sunday at age 87 at Rashid Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest, his family confirmed.Shukla had been battling heart problems over the past year and endured several attacks, yet he continued working passionately until his final days. His son, Neel Shukla, recounted that even in the hospital, his father remained upbeat, energetic, and still talked about his work before suddenly going into cardiac arrest.https://x.com/HamdanMohammed/status/2023294473384648928?s=20
HH Sheikh Hamdan’s tribute
Tributes poured in across the UAE, led by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who praised Shukla’s dedication and contribution to preserving the country’s defining moments.Shukla was more than a photographer. He was a witness to history. His images shaped how Emiratis remember their past and how the world sees the UAE’s evolution.Even in his later years, despite heart problems, he continued working and organising his archive. According to his family, he wanted to keep documenting until his final days, and he did.
Who was Ramesh Shukla?
For over six decades, Ramesh Shukla quietly documented the transformation of the United Arab Emirates from desert towns into a global powerhouse. On Sunday, the man many called the UAE’s “royal photographer” passed away in Dubai at the age of 87 after suffering cardiac arrest.Shukla arrived in the Emirates in 1965, travelling by boat from Mumbai with little money and a single Rolleicord camera. At the time, the UAE had not yet been formed. Roads were limited, skyscrapers did not exist, and oil wealth had not fully transformed the region.His early break came while photographing a camel race in Sharjah attended by Sheikh Zayed and other rulers. His talent and dedication quickly earned him trust and access to historic state occasions.Over time, Shukla became a familiar presence at official gatherings, always discreet but always present. He documented not just royalty, but the story of a nation in motion, construction sites rising from sand, ports expanding, children growing up in a new country, and leaders shaping a shared future.Though never officially titled, the phrase “royal photographer” was first used by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who recognised Shukla’s extraordinary role in chronicling the nation’s leadership and defining milestones.Shukla is survived by his wife Tarun Shukla and son Neel Shukla. His death marks the end of an era in UAE visual history.
Historic images defies the UAE’s memory
Ramesh Shukla captured some of the most powerful images in Emirati history.Among them was the iconic photograph of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan signing the declaration of the Union on December 2, 1971, the day the UAE was officially formed.Another legendary image, often referred to as the “Spirit of the Union,” shows the founding fathers standing together beneath the UAE flag. That very photograph is now featured on the country’s Dh50 currency note, making Shukla’s work part of everyday Emirati life.His archive spans decades of leadership events, national celebrations, camel races, official ceremonies and everyday scenes of a country rapidly changing before his lens.Today, his photographs are preserved at institutions such as the Etihad Museum and the Zayed National Museum, ensuring future generations can see the UAE’s journey through his eyes.
A legacy in UAE history
Few expatriates have left such a lasting imprint on the Emirates. Through wars, celebrations, leadership transitions and national milestones, Ramesh Shukla stood behind the camera, capturing moments that now define a nation.His photographs live on in museums, official collections, metro displays, books and even currency. But more importantly, they live on in the collective memory of the UAE.The man behind the lens may be gone, but the nation he helped document will always remember him.
