Dubai: The UAE Journalists Association is organizing an exhibition at its headquarters in Dubai to mark its 26th anniversary, celebrating national journalistic heritage and showcasing the UAE's journey of development and achievement.

The exhibition, which opens on January 27, includes a visual axis based on comparing old and modern images of the same sites, in a visual narrative that documents the features of renaissance and progress, and highlights the urban, social and economic transformations that the country has witnessed, and the role of the press in conveying these stages professionally and responsibly.

The association invited journalists and media professionals to participate in the exhibition by submitting examples of their professional work published over the years, including investigations, reports, newspaper pages, or photographs that represent significant milestones in their careers. Selected works from various local newspapers and magazines, along with the Emirates News Agency, will be displayed in a single space that documents the history of Emirati journalism and celebrates its pioneers.

In a sustainable documentation dimension, the association is keen to preserve the participating works within its archive, by transforming them into permanent documentary murals that immortalize these journalistic contributions, and serve as a visual witness to the contributions of successive generations and a reference for members and visitors.

The exhibition provides journalists with an opportunity to showcase their most prominent professional achievements, in a collective celebration of creativity.

Fadila Al-Muaini, Chairperson of the Association’s Board of Directors, said that celebrating the 26th anniversary of the Association’s founding is a celebration of the memory of a nation whose press was one of its pillars, as it documented its journey and accompanied its achievements with words and pictures, so that this exhibition comes as a space for memory, pride and the continuity of the media message.

She emphasized that since its establishment, the association has formed a comprehensive professional umbrella for journalists and media professionals in the UAE, and has contributed to supporting national journalism and raising media performance according to the highest professional and ethical standards.

She explained that the importance of the association stems from its role in empowering journalists, enhancing their career paths, providing a supportive environment for creativity, in addition to representing Emirati journalism in regional and international forums, and building partnerships that contribute to the exchange of experiences and the transfer of advanced media practices.

She added that the association was keen to be an active partner in the comprehensive development process of the country, by establishing the concept of responsible media, promoting the values ​​of credibility and transparency, preserving the national identity, and documenting the Emirati journalistic memory, noting that journalism was and still is one of the main tools in creating awareness and keeping pace with developmental transformations.

She pointed out that organizing the photographic and documentary media exhibition embodies the association’s commitment to its national and professional role, and highlights the journey of national journalism as an integral partner in the development journey that the UAE has witnessed since the establishment of the Union until today.

She said that the visual focus of the exhibition reflects the importance of documenting the cultural transformations that the country has witnessed, through comparing old and modern images of the same sites, which highlights the extent of development in various sectors, and the role that the press played in conveying these transformations with awareness and responsibility.

Al-Muaini noted that the association has achieved significant accomplishments in recent years at the local, regional and international levels, through its active participation in media conferences and forums, and its representation of Emirati journalism in professional forums, in addition to being honored by a number of entities in recognition of its role in supporting responsible journalism and training media personnel.

She affirmed that the association is proceeding with its strategy aimed at empowering journalists, celebrating their creativity, preserving the history of Emirati journalism, and enhancing its regional and international presence, in line with the UAE’s vision of supporting responsible professional media and building a sustainable media future.The UAE Journalists Association was founded in 2000.