Feb 20, 2026 3 min read

News Business Dubai Culture Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve Ali Khalifa Bin Thalith

Al Marmoom: The Living Wild virtual exhibition goes live after 10,000+ visitors

Dubai's viral drive-through wildlife photography exhibition transforms into a free virtual experience with AR features. Over 10,000 visitors explored Al Marmoom's desert wildlife in 10 days before the digital launch.

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has concluded its groundbreaking 'Al Marmoom: The Living Wild' drive-through photography exhibition after attracting over 10,000 visitors in just 10 days. According to a Dubai Culture and Arts Authority announcement, the exhibition has launched as a virtual experience featuring augmented reality and AI technologies, accessible until 18 March.

What made Al Marmoom: The Living Wild unique?

The first-of-its-kind exhibition allowed visitors to explore 24 photographs documenting wildlife at Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve from their vehicles. Organised in collaboration with Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, Secretary General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award, the exhibition transformed a simple drive into an immersive cultural journey.

Architectural structures inspired by the desert environment were powered entirely by solar energy, ensuring minimal environmental impact. QR codes throughout the exhibition provided access to innovative interactive videos produced using artificial intelligence, offering detailed information about the animals and birds inhabiting the reserve.

How does the virtual exhibition work?

The virtual edition enables audiences worldwide to explore the featured photographs through interactive experiences designed using augmented reality technologies. According to Dubai Culture, this digital transformation aligns with their commitment to making art accessible to all, promoting sustainability, and safeguarding local cultural heritage.

Unlike traditional online galleries, the virtual experience maintains the immersive quality of the original drive-through format. Visitors can engage with the same 24 photographs that documented various species of animals and birds, now enhanced with AR features that bring desert wildlife to life on-screen.

Competition winners recognised

Dubai Culture honoured the winners of the 'Al Marmoom: The Living Wild' competition, which encouraged community engagement with the exhibition's creative content. Hazel Arnold secured first place, receiving a GoPro camera and a signed special edition of 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' by photographer Ali bin Thalith.

The book features 100 colour images documenting marine life across remarkable global locations. Nayef Alhosani placed second, winning an exploratory tour of Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve with the photographer, plus a signed book edition. Third-place winner Yousaf Hussain received a signed special edition of the same publication.

Environmental storytelling through photography

Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, described the exhibition as redefining the relationship between people and nature through contemporary visual approaches. "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," she said.

Al Suwaidi emphasised Dubai Culture's commitment to investing in local talent, such as photographer Ali Khalifa bin Thalith. The collaboration showcases Emirati creativity whilst capturing the beauty of local environments and their cultural value, thereby strengthening the UAE's global presence in the arts scene.

Al Marmoom as tourism destination

Ali Khalifa bin Thalith noted that the exhibition reinforced Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve's position as a distinguished tourism destination. "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 explained.

The participating photographs were selected based on artistic criteria including visual composition quality, ability to express the reserve's essence, and depiction of diverse habitats and wildlife. This careful curation ensured each image contributed to a broader narrative about conservation and natural beauty.

How to access the virtual exhibition

The virtual edition of 'Al Marmoom: The Living Wild' is accessible free of charge at https://app.almarmoomthelivingwild.ae/ until March 18, 2026. The platform offers augmented reality features and interactive elements designed to replicate the immersive experience of the original drive-through exhibition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'Al Marmoom: The Living Wild'?

It was a drive-through photography exhibition by Dubai Culture, showcasing the biodiversity of Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve through 24 photographs. The exhibition attracted over 10,000 visitors and is now available as a virtual experience with AR technology.

How can I access the virtual exhibition?

The virtual edition is accessible free of charge at https://app.almarmoomthelivingwild.ae/ until March 18, 2026. It features augmented reality technologies and interactive elements that replicate the original drive-through experience.

Who organised 'Al Marmoom: The Living Wild'?

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority organised the exhibition in collaboration with Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, Secretary General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award.

What makes this exhibition environmentally friendly?

The exhibition used solar-powered architectural structures and was designed to respect the desert environment without interfering with its natural components. The virtual edition further promotes sustainability by making the content globally accessible.