Mermaid of the UAE becomes an internet sensation

Khawla Al Shehi, a well-known Emirati diving instructor and freediver known as Mermaid of the UAE, has caused quite a sensation with a unique piece of underwater art.

Photographed by American-Iraqi underwater documentary filmmaker Arwa Mohammed, the piece captures Khawla in traditional Emirati attire underwater. The work was created in honour of Emirati Women’s Day.

The work, described as a ‘tri-national collaboration’, also includes a poem by Saudi poet Hammam Al Ahmadi, whose lines pay tribute to all UAE women. His words add depth to the image, redefining the image, and painting with lines the emotions and stories lurking beneath the surface.

Khawla revealed in an interview, ‘It was an amazing experience. I am a freediver who was able to show Emirati traditions, heritage and culture in one work.’ She said, ‘Every Emirati woman should be proud of and celebrate her achievements. Every woman in the UAE is a resident of an exceptional country that preserves its rich heritage as it moves into the future.’

‘Khawla embodies the grace and strength of Emirati women. Known as the ‘Mermaid of the UAE’, she feels at home in the depths of the ocean where she moves with fluid elegance, and defies the natural limitations of the human body. In the photograph, her eyes tell a story of tranquility and strength, as if she is part of the water, radiating beauty. Simultaneously ethereal and down-to-earth,’ said Arwa Mohammed.

Source: Gulf News