E-Paper
Sign In
Wed, Jan 14, 2026 | Rajab 25, 1447 | Fajr 05:45 | DXB 
23.2°C
iPhone | iPad
Android
With only quarter of her vision, how this Emirati artist uses camera as her ‘second eye’
Living with a rare eye cancer, Abu Dhabi–based cinematographer Aldana Alhashmi has turned vision loss into a powerful creative lens
For Aldana Alhashmi, the world is not defined by what she can’t see, but by what she chooses to capture. The Emirati cinematographer, filmmaker, and designer has built a career in some of the most highly visual industries — a striking paradox for someone who has only a quarter of her sight remaining.
Alhashmi was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, at just six months old. The condition, which even now affects only a handful of people in the Emirates, first took her entire right eye before progressively attacking her left. After four rounds of chemotherapy and intense radiation, she is left with just 25 per cent vision in one eye.
Recommended For You
Yet, this challenging start was the unexpected blueprint for her creative life. “My childhood was very challenging because I had to spend a lot of my time in the hospital. I received many of my medical treatments in the US and in the UK because of my rare condition,” Alhashmi recalls, crediting her family for nurturing her initial interest in art during those long, difficult periods.
“Ever since I was very young, whenever my family took me to hospital appointments, they would bring along a sketchbook, an art book, crayons and paints so I could entertain myself while waiting,” she adds. “These appointments were very long — the scans, the blood tests, and everything else. I started painting from there onwards, and then I improved my skills into many different art forms.”
This early passion led her to be announced as the youngest Emirati fashion designer at the age of eight by Sheikha Jawahar in Sharjah. But it was the intersection of her condition and her love for storytelling that led to her passionate pursuit of cinematography. “From a very young age, I realised that nobody was telling my story,” says Alhashmi. “So, I learned storytelling through learning how to tell my own story.”
Finding her ‘second eye’
The choice of visual arts seems counterintuitive given her vision loss, but Alhashmi sees the camera not as a challenge, but as a technological extension of herself. Having recently completed her master’s degree in cinematography and filmmaking, she has already worked as an assistant director on three Netflix TV series filmed in the UAE.
Explaining the powerful, almost spiritual connection she feels with her camera, she adds, “When I started taking photos, I felt like the camera became the eye that I don’t have. I would take a picture and later realise many details in the image that I hadn’t noticed in real life.”
The mechanics of the equipment itself seem tailored for her unique vision, she adds. “Even though I can’t see very well, the camera felt like it was made for me. When you look through a viewfinder, you only use one side of your eye. In old vintage cameras, you look through a very small viewfinder. I felt like it was my second eye — a way for me to see more of the world. That’s why I really enjoyed it.”
The schooling of resilience
Alhashmi acknowledges that her challenging path had a silver lining: it created the fierce advocate she is today. Her early school years, coinciding with the beginning of society-wide inclusion efforts in the UAE, were marked by daily battles for acceptance, largely fought by her and her mother.
“My schooling was extremely challenging,” says Alhashmi. “My mother had to advocate for me every single day. She was at the school so often that people thought she worked there, making sure I received the right materials and support.”
But it was a specific interaction with a senior member of her school’s staff that became the crucible for her drive. “The principal at my school never believed in my abilities,” she recalls. “We had regular sessions where students could step onto the stage to recite pieces they had prepared. Every time, I would spend the night before practising, full of hope, only to be denied the opportunity. I watched every other student get their moment in the spotlight, but my chance never came. She didn’t believe in me. She saw only my disability and decided I was incapable.”
This rejection, she says, forced her to mature quickly as compared to her peers. “I wanted to show her that I could stand up for myself and do things that even able-bodied students couldn’t do. This is why I advocate today — for myself and for others who don’t receive that fair chance, whether from teachers, colleagues, or society.”
The Dome of Inclusion
Alhashmi’s advocacy recently found a physical, tangible form when she was asked to be a contributing artist for the Dome of Inclusion project, developed in collaboration with Canadian University Dubai, Dubai Holding Entertainment and ImInclusive. The installation was a sensory marvel designed to represent multiple disabilities through art and texture.
Working alongside two other people of determination, Radi Charafli and Ashar Hussain, Alhashmi’s contribution was centred on touch and visual storytelling. “My contribution focused on touch and visual storytelling. I added fabrics representing Emirati culture... Sadu-inspired textures, flowing materials symbolising sea, sun, sand, desert. These fabrics were chosen so even completely blind visitors could experience the installation through touch.”
For Alhashmi, the ultimate highlight was presenting the project to a leading cultural figure in the UAE. “When Sheikha Latifa walked into the dome and had a tour, that moment was unforgettable for us. She’s a role model for her advocacy and support of the arts and it was an honour for us to have her witness our efforts.”
The final, multi-sensory space — which included 3D tactile artworks by Radi and sign language gestures by Ashar — became a physical embodiment of their message. “I always bring my disability into my art, not for sympathy, but for empathy,” says Alhashmi. “I want people to understand disability and inclusion, not feel sorry for me. I’m independent. I do this to empower others, and I hope that message stays with anyone who visited the installation.”
Somya Mehta
Somya Mehta is a Senior Features Writer at Khaleej Times, who contributes extensively to the UAE's arts, culture, and lifestyle scene. When not engrossed in writing, you'll find her on the hunt for the next best solo travel destination or indulging in podcast binges.
Don’t just scroll. Know it all. Sign up for your daily UAE news fix.
Get the top stories of the day right in your inbox.
