Ali Zaraay

Ali Zaraay – على زرعى

Ali Zaraay (1994) Documentary Photographer in Cairo. He studied in Hochschule Hannover’s International Program of Documentary and Photojournalism, Ali did his residency in Cite Des Arts, Paris 2023. He has worked as a press photographer 2012-2016 in a variety of Egyptian newspapers. Since 2015, he has been working on his long-term documentary project “Crawling on Dust” with the Nomadic Bedouins of Egypt, which recently received a grant from the Culture Resource and AFAC’s ADPP,2024.  He was also selected in the World Press Photo’s “Joop Swart Masterclass” in 2024. And recently was selected as a Runner-Up for Foam Talents 2026. Ali currently is interested in interactive installations and public exhibitions, and has been engaged in curation, creative production and book-making His practice explores urban demolition, studio practices, archives, and movement.

In 2023, Ali founded “ Safeena 7” collective that engages critically and collectively with the image, photography and its practices through local and regional engagements. In Safena 7, Ali co-curates programs that show how to think about the image through different modes of publishing, exhibiting and programming.

A solo exhibition – “Crawling on the Dust” – 2026