Dubai Culture concludes ‘Al Marmoom: The Living Wild’ and launches its virtual edition

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has concluded ‘Al Marmoom: The Living Wild’, organised in collaboration with His Excellency Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, Secretary General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award. The exhibition aimed to spotlight Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, highlighting its natural beauty and distinctive features as an integral part of the local environment and cultural landscape.

Dubai Culture also announced the launch of the exhibition’s virtual edition via https://app.almarmoomthelivingwild.ae/, which will remain accessible until 18 March. The virtual experience enables audiences to explore the featured photographs and enjoy a range of interactive experiences designed using augmented reality technologies. This aligns with Dubai Culture’s commitment to making art accessible to all, promoting sustainability, safeguarding local tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and strengthening its presence on the global cultural map.

The first-of-its-kind exhibition attracted more than 10,000 visitors over ten days, offering them a rich learning opportunity to explore the environment and biodiversity of Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve through 24 photographs documenting various species of animals and birds that inhabit the reserve. Visitors also enjoyed a series of innovative experiences organised by Dubai Culture using augmented reality technologies, allowing audiences of all ages to discover the reserve’s wildlife through a visual approach that enhanced engagement with the artworks within their natural context.

Visitors were also able to access detailed information about the animals through QR codes featuring innovative interactive videos produced using artificial intelligence.

In parallel, Dubai Culture honoured the winners of the ‘Al Marmoom: The Living Wild’ competition, which aimed to encourage community members and visitors to engage with the exhibition and its creative photographs and videos. Hazel Arnold secured first place and received a GoPro camera along with a signed special edition of ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’ by photographer Ali bin Thalith, featuring 100 colour images documenting life across some of the world’s most remarkable marine locations. Nayef Alhosani came second and won an extensive exploratory tour of Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve with photographer Ali bin Thalith, in addition to a signed special edition of the book. Yousaf Hussain placed third and received a signed special edition of the same publication.

Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, affirmed that the exhibition’s notable success reflects its strong appeal and impact on the cultural landscape, describing it as an exceptional experience that highlights Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve and redefines the relationship between people and nature through a contemporary visual approach. She said: “The exhibition presented a unique model that brings together art and the environment, encouraging visitors to explore and reflect on the details of nature while strengthening their sense of responsibility towards protecting ecosystems. It also underscored the importance of photography and its role in preserving wildlife, and documenting the local environment through a powerful visual language that raises awareness of sustainability concepts.”

Al Suwaidi added that Dubai Culture’s collaboration with Emirati photographer Ali Khalifa bin Thalith reflects its commitment to investing in the development of local talent and showcasing their creativity to the public. The initiative also highlights their ability to present distinctive visual narratives that capture the beauty of the local environment and its cultural value, strengthening their global presence.

Ali Khalifa bin Thalith noted that ‘Al Marmoom: The Living Wild’ marked a significant milestone in highlighting Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve as a vibrant space where nature and knowledge converge. He said: “Through its diverse collection of images, the exhibition reinforced the reserve’s position as a distinguished tourism destination. The works presented a comprehensive panoramic perspective that reflects the uniqueness of an experience combining environmental exploration with artistic engagement.” He added that the participating photographs were selected based on a set of artistic criteria, including visual composition quality, the ability to express the essence of the reserve, and the depiction of its diverse habitats and wildlife.

‘Al Marmoom: The Living Wild’ stood out for its exceptional concept, allowing visitors to explore the exhibition using their private vehicles and transforming the drive into a fully immersive cultural journey. Its design aligned with the nature and sensitivity of the reserve, with photo display locations carefully selected to ensure smooth traffic flow and a safe, comfortable viewing experience that respects the environment without interfering with its components. The exhibition also featured architectural structures inspired by the desert environment, designed to withstand climatic conditions and powered by solar energy.

The virtual edition of the exhibition can be visited at: https://app.almarmoomthelivingwild.ae/