Khaleej Times

Resident honours Sheikh Mohammed with stunning Dubai timelapse

- Keith Pereña Imagine Dubai keith@khaleejtim­es.com

dubai — A Dubai-based Indian national has released a time-lapse film called Imagine Dubai, which was inspired from a quote of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. A part of the film was shared by Emirates airline on its Twitter handle on Friday. The full version is available on YouTube.

The stunning time-lapse shows several parts of Dubai engulfed by clouds. Against the backdrop of the night sky, Dubai’s city lights shine bright from the Burj Khalifa all the way to the Creek. Other landmarks that can be seen in the film are the Sheikh Zayed Road, The Dubai Mall, Dubai Festival City, Dubai Marina and Dubai Canal. The film is a love-letter to the emirate.

The film was created by 29-yearold Indian national Sachin Ramdas, who works as a software engineer for Emirates. “I was inspired to do (the film) after reading a quote by Sheikh Mohammed: ‘They say the sky is the limit for ambition, but we say the sky is only the beginning.’ After reading the quote, I wanted to show Dubai rising above the clouds.”

The filmmaker said there are two parts to the film — one is a view from above the clouds, and the second half is from below. The city is beautiful from both angles, Ramdas said.

He said was his biggest project to date. It is the product of 150,000 images and over two years of filming. The film not only captures the amazing transforma­tion of the city, but also shows the world how Sheikh Mohammed envisioned the city of Dubai and passionate­ly pursued that vision until it became real. The film is also a salute to the Dubai Ruler’s 50 years of service to the UAE, Ramdas said.

Ramdas, who’s been in Dubai since he was one, said he feels “completely at home” in the emirate. “I never felt like an outsider in the UAE and I like to call it my home.”

Ramdas said he has “one great wish”: To show his film to Sheikh Mohammed. “Being recognised by Sheikh Mohammed is my only desire from this work.”

I was inspired from a quote by Sheikh Mohammed: ‘They say the sky is the limit for ambition, but we say the sky is only the beginning’.

Sachin Ramdas

 ??  ?? Screengrab­s from Imagine Dubai show the two parts of the film: One from above the clouds, and the other from below. The film, which took two years to make, is an ode to the vision of the Dubai Ruler.
Screengrab­s from Imagine Dubai show the two parts of the film: One from above the clouds, and the other from below. The film, which took two years to make, is an ode to the vision of the Dubai Ruler.
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