'The Image as Witness' Photo Program to Document Abu Dhabi's Evolution

A new initiative centred on photography and visual storytelling has been unveiled by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre to document the cultural, social and urban evolution of Abu Dhabi and create a lasting visual archive.
Titled The Image as Witness, the programme brings together exhibitions, competitions, seminars, panel discussions and documentary publications aimed at expanding the role of photography within the UAE's cultural landscape.
Its inaugural edition includes a photography competition focused on Qasr Al Hosn, inviting participants to capture the historic landmark through four themes: architecture, black-and-white photography, light and shadow, and creative editing using artificial intelligence tools.
Digital Q&A sessions will also be held during the Qasr Al Hosn Festival to encourage reading and cultural engagement. According to the Centre, the initiative is designed to involve all segments of society, with a particular focus on young people in line with the Year of the Family.
Among the programme's highlights is Layers of Memory, an exhibition that will bring together historical and contemporary photographs tracing Abu Dhabi's development. The exhibition will combine still photography with visual projections and will be accompanied by a documentary book featuring selected images.
Outputs from the initiative will be showcased at the Arts Corner of the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, where workshops for youth and researchers interested in photography are also planned.
The project builds on the Centre's wider photographic initiatives, including the Illustrated Story category of the Sard Al Thahab Award and the Emirati Art – Pioneers Among Us series. Previous titles in the series include Between Shadow and Light, dedicated to Jassim Rabee Al Awadhi, and An Eye that Captures the Moment, focusing on photographer Karim Sahib. Five additional titles are expected to be announced.