Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Ramesh Shukla, UAE’s ‘Royal Photographer,’ Dies at 87

His images helped define the UAE’s visual memory.

Overview

  • He died on Sunday, February 15, 2026, after a cardiac arrest at age 87, according to family accounts reported by UAE media.
  • Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan posted a video tribute praising him as “one of the most loyal and devoted patriots,” while India’s embassy called him a “true bridge between India and the UAE.”
  • He captured the rulers soon after the 1971 union in the frame later known as the ‘Spirit of the Union,’ with his work displayed nationwide and featured on the Dh50 banknote.
  • Arriving from India in 1965 with a Rolleicord camera, he spent six decades documenting the Emirates’ formation, gaining close access to leaders and national milestones.
  • His legacy includes museum installations, multiple books, and a vast archive that reportedly holds thousands of undeveloped film rolls now expected to be preserved by his family and institutions.