#MyDubai Initiative Attracts One Million Instagram Submissions

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s initiative to create the world’s first autobiography of a city has crossed the one millionth use of the hashtag #MyDubai on Instagram, less than six months since its launch, and in doing so created a fascinating portrait of the lives of Dubai’s residents and visitors.

To mark the achievement and to showcase a selection of the photographs submitted to date, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Elevision Media have donated space on the longest digital out of home space in the region. Known as the ‘DIFC Ticker’, the 96 meter long LED screen in front of the DIFC Gate Building will sequentially feature images contributed on Instagram since the beginning of the year, rewarding the artistry of the photographers.

As the initiative moves into the second half of the year Elevision Media will also donate more than 300 screens installed in over 75 buildings across the emirate, with #MyDubai photographs featuring daily on each digital screen. The donations join that of the Burj Al Arab – which rewards contributors by projecting five images on to its famous sail on the last Thursday of every month – to create a citywide gallery of unique platforms, exhibiting the photographs to hundreds of thousands of people per month.

Speaking on the occasion of surpassing one million photos, Raja Al Mazrouei, Head of Operation at DIFC Authority said; “The #MyDubai initiative has provided an amazing opportunity for the world to see a different side of Dubai: a side that reflects a life full of contemporary culture, historical heritage and unique experiences. The DIFC becomes another chapter in the #MyDubai story and we are very proud to support His Highness Sheikh Hamdan and his vision for a multi-media archive of life in the emirate as told by its citizens, residents and guests. In addition to exhibiting images submitted on Instagram, during the next six months we look forward to encouraging further participation by using the screen to share #MyDubai stories that use the hashtag on Twitter and Instagram.”

Niall Sallam, CEO and Founder of Elevision Media adds; “The DIFC’s Gate Building is an iconic landmark and is often featured as context for photos uploaded to Instagram. As such It seems appropriate that the DIFC Ticker celebrates the millionth photo by featuring images from the past six months and encouraging the #MyDubai initiative to hit two million posts in the next six months.”

Every day, a selection of images hashtagged #MyDubai on instagram are chosen to represent life in Dubai on the #MyDubai e-Museum, which can be viewed on Instagram @MyDubai. In the coming months, residents and visitors will also be encouraged to share their experiences of the emirate in the forms of tweets – a selection of which will be retweeted by @MyDubai on Twitter and shown on the DIFC ticker.

IssamKazim CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing which manages the e-Museum as part of its support for the initiative, said: “To date over 1,018,952 images have been displayed on #MyDubai, and when collectively viewed they create a fascinating portrait of life, each image chosen showing a human experience of our emirate. When His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the initiative, he said that #MyDubai will provide the opportunity for each resident to share the exciting, diverse and remarkable lives they lead. We are delighted that DIFC and Elevision have joined #MyDubai, initiating the start of a citywide gallery which exhibits these submissions and will no doubt expand as other entities follow their lead.”

A range of other organisations within the city have also joined the initiative since its launch, amongst them Dubai Police promoting the hashtag on its fleet of supercars; sporting events encouraging participants to share their event experience by featuring the hashtag on signage – and even a horse at the Dubai World Cup; local designer Caliente Caps launching an exclusive line of #MyDubai baseball caps; and Audi Al Nabooda’s fleet of marketing cars being branded with #MyDubai to attend events across the city.

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Jul 2, 2014

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