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UAE's 'royal photographer' Ramesh Shukla passes away
The octogenarian, who captured the iconic 'Spirit of the Union' photograph, had been recovering from a heart attack
- PUBLISHED: Sun 15 Feb 2026, 5:01 PM UPDATED: Sun 15 Feb 2026, 8:45 PM
Dubai has lost one of its most iconic visual storytellers. Veteran photographer Ramesh Shukla, renowned for capturing the rulers of all seven emirates shortly after the signing of the Union Agreement at the Union House in 1971, passed away on Sunday (February 15) at the age of 87.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, his son Neel Shukla confirmed the death was due to cardiac arrest, recalling that even as his father’s health declined, his dedication to photography never wavered.
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“Despite his heart condition life kept him going. He was a person of passion and fire, and his camera always had its way. So, he would not stop to pursue his passion for camera. He would exert himself everywhere — it took a toll on his body,” Neel said.
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For decades, Shukla documented the UAE’s transformation through his lens — from the early days of the nation’s formation to milestone state visits and defining national moments.
Work took centrestage
But until his final hours at Rashid Hospital in Dubai, it was not legacy or recognition that consumed him. It was work. “He wanted to work till the last day of his life — working. Even yesterday, he was working, going through his pictures and writing and documenting,” Neel added.
There was little indication that the end was near. “Yesterday he was feeling well. He was fine. And then at one point, almost around 9pm, I saw something unusual behaviour in him. His eyes were rolling. It was lack of oxygen going to his brain or his heart,” his son recalled.
Rushed to the hospital, Shukla remained composed despite the distress. “Immediately he was talking, and he was like, ‘They gave me this glucose, it can take four hours. Please go home. Don’t wait up for me. Come in the morning.’ I said, ‘Dad, I’m by your side. I’m not going anywhere. How are you feeling?’ And he said, ‘No, I’m fine. I’m fine.’”
Even from his hospital bed, Shukla shared his life’s work. “He was giving his business card to everybody — his famous logo — all the nurses, giving them all the 50 mm note, which is his famous picture of Sheikh Zayed signing.” That image — Sheikh Zayed signing the UAE’s founding document — also remains one of the most recognisable photographs associated with the country’s birth.
In a rapidly modernising UAE, Shukla’s photographs became a bridge between generations, preserving the grit, ambition, and vision that shaped the nation.
‘The final day’
Neel fondly recalled childhood memories intertwined with his father’s work. “There are hundreds of special moments for me. It would be actually getting an autograph from Sheikh Rashid and my father photographing me at the age of seven."
"Every time we would be documenting important pictures. Every time we would come (home)… we had a small lab… and my mother would develop the negatives and print the photographs. Every single important picture that were taken, I would be part of the journey of understanding what the exposure was," he added.
Even towards the end, Shukla remained inspired by the world around him. “He was always inspired by nature — seeing sunsets, trees, something he always enjoyed photographing. But he understood light very well. That was the most pivotal element. Every time you see his pictures, you see light,” Neel said.
He added, “We spent hours going through thousands of pictures from his collection—documenting, writing, taking notes. Even yesterday, we printed 50 pictures of the Federation of the UAE; all seven rulers are standing. He was there signing all of them, putting a date. These are actual pictures, printed from negatives, not digital. He looked dapper, elegant before he was taken to the hospital.”
