ola allouz
a Dubai-born Emirati visual artist, who focuses on capturing the beauty of everyday life and culture in her pictures. Her unique perspective has won her awards and international acclaim.
She believes that photographs has a special impact on our culture. They tell stories, show emotions, and bring people together in new ways. Through photography, we can learn more about our world and our culture.
In addition to her photography work, Ola is a Fujifilm brand ambassador and the founder of @foto.uae, where she organizes events for creative individuals in the UAE, helping them connect and build a supportive artist community.
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Archiving The now
an initiative dedicated to curate a visual collection that captures our cultural legacy, focusing particularly on the archiving of daily life’s ordinary moments.
Photography has a strong impact on our society and the way we think. It serves as a portal for narrative articulation and emotional expression. Photographs afford us the opportunity to envisage the world through a novel lens and foster connections amongst ourselves in unprecedented modalities. It is through the prism of photography that we can enhance our comprehension of both our global environment and the cultural tapestry that binds us.
We are of the conviction that the photographic depictions of today constitute the heritage of tomorrow. Their significance in chronicling our history, safeguarding the intrinsic cultural worth, and their transmission to successive generations cannot be overstated. These visual records stand as a testament to our times, ensuring that the essence of our present is preserved for posterity.
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fotoUAE
It is a photographic platform launched in November 2016, aiming to support passionate photographers in the UAE by publishing and republishing photos taken in the country to reach all those interested in artistic photography that reflects the spirit of the UAE in its details.
Through the platform, various events were organized that address the requirements of the passionate photographer, which aims to create relationships between the participants and help develop their abilities and love for this field.
Projects
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Pressure Cooker
Photographed the ‘Pressure Cooker’ exhibition for the National Pavilion UAE at La Biennale di Venezia — a powerful reflection on architecture, food, and sustainability, curated by Azza Aboualam.
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Year of tolerance
Visual Stories — a portrait photography series in collaboration with Gulf Photo Plus, capturing the faces and voices of people from diverse backgrounds, nationalities, and passions, each frame a story of its own.
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Social Experiment
During the isolation of COVID-19, I reimagined connection — photographing family and friends through virtual calls, projected into my space. A social experiment in adapting to distance, and finding new ways to feel close.
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Before the Call
For five years, I’ve documented the heart of Iftar — capturing stories, hands, and heartfelt moments as volunteers prepare meals in public spaces across the UAE and beyond. A journey of generosity, faith, and shared humanity.
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Finding Balance
In 2019, I teamed up with Apple for the 2019 ‘Finding Balance’ campaign. 'Finding Balance' campaign brought quiet moments to life on massive canvases across Sheikh Zayed Road and beyond.
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Sincere Love
Shot entirely on iPhone, ‘Sincere Love’ captures a quiet truth: across the UAE, shopkeepers — unprompted — display heartfelt portraits of the rulers, a reflection of deep respect for those who shaped the City of Gold.
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Year of the 51
In 2021, I collaborated with She Films Middle East to capture visual stories from across the Emirates, celebrating the UAE’s 51st year through portraits and moments that reflect identity, pride, and everyday life.
