• Untitled, by Jandri Angelo Aguilor
    Untitled, by Jandri Angelo Aguilor
  • One UAE resident shares a photo of her son connecting with the window cleaner at their home. Instagram / @k.q1603
    One UAE resident shares a photo of her son connecting with the window cleaner at their home. Instagram / @k.q1603
  • Untitled, by Jandri Angelo Aguilor
    Untitled, by Jandri Angelo Aguilor
  • 'Though I'm not into a lot of coffee, this is my try at the Dalgona coffee, which went viral during the lockdown', by Winn Gomez
    'Though I'm not into a lot of coffee, this is my try at the Dalgona coffee, which went viral during the lockdown', by Winn Gomez
  • Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • 'Come to prayer, come to success (taken from the Azaan)'; a photo of Jumeirah Mosque, by Adnan Nisar
    'Come to prayer, come to success (taken from the Azaan)'; a photo of Jumeirah Mosque, by Adnan Nisar
  • 'The busiest interchange in Dubai now empty', by Haytham El Achkar
    'The busiest interchange in Dubai now empty', by Haytham El Achkar
  • A waiter waits outside his restaurant in Umm Al Quwain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A waiter waits outside his restaurant in Umm Al Quwain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • 'An empty Downtown Dubai with a lit Burj Khalifa always standing tall', by Haytham El Achkar
    'An empty Downtown Dubai with a lit Burj Khalifa always standing tall', by Haytham El Achkar
  • A photo of curd rice, by Winn Gomez. 'During the lockdown, I took my hobby indoors, trying to photograph whatever my wife cooks,' he says
    A photo of curd rice, by Winn Gomez. 'During the lockdown, I took my hobby indoors, trying to photograph whatever my wife cooks,' he says
  • Untitled, by Jandri Angelo Aguilor
    Untitled, by Jandri Angelo Aguilor
  • Artist Maitha Demithan has her work show all over Dubai to encourage people to stay at home. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Artist Maitha Demithan has her work show all over Dubai to encourage people to stay at home. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • 'Dubai view', by Mohamed Saquib
    'Dubai view', by Mohamed Saquib
  • Abu Dhabi Police bicycle patrol around the Mussaffah area. Victor Besa / The National
    Abu Dhabi Police bicycle patrol around the Mussaffah area. Victor Besa / The National
  • Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National
    Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National
  • Untitled, by Jandri Angelo Aguilor
    Untitled, by Jandri Angelo Aguilor
  • Covid-19 field hospital, set up next to the Ajman Saudi German Hospital. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Covid-19 field hospital, set up next to the Ajman Saudi German Hospital. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • 'Crossroads to nowhere', by Adnan Nisar
    'Crossroads to nowhere', by Adnan Nisar
  • Inked reopened its kitchen in Alserkal Avenue to cook meals for vulnerable communities and front-line healthcare workers. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Inked reopened its kitchen in Alserkal Avenue to cook meals for vulnerable communities and front-line healthcare workers. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • '3.331 million people, 200 nationalities, 4,114 km²... but all one people (Dubai Skyline)', by Adnan Nisar
    '3.331 million people, 200 nationalities, 4,114 km²... but all one people (Dubai Skyline)', by Adnan Nisar
  • People line up in Bur Dubai to receive an iftar pack from volunteers of the Kerala NGO Markaz. Reem Mohammed / The National
    People line up in Bur Dubai to receive an iftar pack from volunteers of the Kerala NGO Markaz. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Purehealth Covid-19 Screening Centre along Delma Street, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Purehealth Covid-19 Screening Centre along Delma Street, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • 'Deserted Sheikh Zayed road with an empty interchange', by Haytham El Achkar
    'Deserted Sheikh Zayed road with an empty interchange', by Haytham El Achkar

23 pictures of the UAE during the pandemic by local photographers reflecting their feelings on the crisis


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Quiet roads, empty mosques, deserted fairgrounds: these are the scenes that encapsulate the coronavirus crisis for photographers living in the UAE.

The National contacted a few budding artists across the Emirates, to see how they've been capturing the moment during the country's national disinfection programme.

While some have been incredibly active in their work, others have struggled to find inspiration. "I haven't picked up my digital camera for weeks now and it's impossible to send film rolls for processing, so that means I have to start from scratch," says Dubai resident Jandri Angelo Aguilor.

Still, his images taken around Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are particularly poignant and striking.

Haytham Achkar, on the other hand, has enjoyed capturing his excellent series of pictures that focus mainly on Sheikh Zayed Road and an empty downtown area. "They are all taken by a camera from rooftops," he explains.

Achkar, alongside Bachir Moukarzel, also worked on the video of drone footage showing the city's empty streets, which went viral online. "But photography has always been my passion," he says. "And it was different to be able to capture the silence of Dubai through my pictures."

Elsewhere, Winn Gomez started shooting his life indoors instead of looking outside. In particular, he worked on his food photography, as his wife began to cook up all sorts of new creations. "With a lot of time on our hands, we started going back to basics and cooking in earthen pots, using more natural ingredients, and not really ordering in any food," he says.

Look through the photo gallery above to see more on how the UAE's photographers are capturing the crisis.