Photographs in Dialogue UAE – 1971 – UK

The photo exhibition hosted at the Etihad Museum in Dubai retraces the historical path of diplomatic exchanges between the country and the UK, which led to the birth of the UAE in 1971. “Photographs in Dialogue UAE – 1971 – UK” collects pictures from the 1960s and 70s lent both from the National Portrait Gallery, London, and collections in the UAE, along with archival materials and objects.
The display tells visitors about the political relationships between the two countries, highlighting the special nature of their bond which led them to work together to end the UK’s presence in the so-called Trucial States and to give birth to a new country, the UAE. The photos on show capture key moments, such as the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Cecile Beaton or the series showing Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum (then Ruler of Dubai) taken by Rex Coleman for Baron Studios in 1961, among the others.