This photographer is creating surreal, dramatic images of Dubai’s stunning skyline

By Nadia Leigh-Hewitson, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 5:09 AM EDT, Mon May 1, 2023
Dubai-based artist Baber Afzal captures the beauty of his home city in surreal combinations of photography and visual art. Pictured here: Visionary, 2017.
Dubai-based artist Baber Afzal captures the beauty of his home city in surreal combinations of photography and visual art. Pictured here: Visionary, 2017.
Baber Afzal
Afzal creates work that showcases the spirit of Dubai through its vistas and iconic landmarks. Pictured here: Luminous, 2016, a collaboration with digital artist Michal Klimczak.
Afzal creates work that showcases the spirit of Dubai through its vistas and iconic landmarks. Pictured here: Luminous, 2016, a collaboration with digital artist Michal Klimczak.
Baber Afzal & Michal Klimczak
Afzal incorporates technology into his practice, producing stunning images and also dynamic NFTs. Pictured here: Reflecity, 2017.
Afzal incorporates technology into his practice, producing stunning images and also dynamic NFTs. Pictured here: Reflecity, 2017.
Baber Afzal
"Having the fog roll into the city during the evening hours is an extremely rare phenomenon in the UAE and I was fortunate to capture this incredible event when I was standing near the Burj Khalifa," says Afzal. Pictured here: Clairvoyance, 2017.
"Having the fog roll into the city during the evening hours is an extremely rare phenomenon in the UAE and I was fortunate to capture this incredible event when I was standing near the Burj Khalifa," says Afzal. Pictured here: Clairvoyance, 2017.
Baber Afzal
Most of Afzal's<strong> </strong>works capture sunrise or sunset over the city of Dubai. Pictured here: Lustrous, 2019.
Most of Afzal's works capture sunrise or sunset over the city of Dubai. Pictured here: Lustrous, 2019.
Baber Afzal
He also depicts the natural landscapes that encapsulate the character of the UAE. Pictured here: Outshine, 2019.
He also depicts the natural landscapes that encapsulate the character of the UAE. Pictured here: Outshine, 2019.
Baber Afzal
Afzal has used his work to capture versions of the Dubai skyline that no longer exist, thanks to the ongoing and fast-paced urban development of the city. Pictured here: Iconic, 2014.
Afzal has used his work to capture versions of the Dubai skyline that no longer exist, thanks to the ongoing and fast-paced urban development of the city. Pictured here: Iconic, 2014.
Baber Afzal
"Art provides a powerful means of expressing human emotion and experience, and it can be used to communicate complex ideas and feelings that might otherwise be difficult to express," says Afzal. Pictured here: Legends, 2017.
"Art provides a powerful means of expressing human emotion and experience, and it can be used to communicate complex ideas and feelings that might otherwise be difficult to express," says Afzal. Pictured here: Legends, 2017.
Baber Afzal