112 female artists from 112 countries to exhibit artwork in Dubai

Their passports span the globe, from Bolivia to Bangladesh, Nigeria to New Zealand. What unites them is art, and this week, their work will share the same space in Dubai.

Art Connects Women 2025 opens on April 8 at DIFC Gate Village, bringing together 112 female artists from 112 countries in one of the region’s most ambitious exhibitions.

Held under the patronage of UNESCO, the four-day event centres on the theme ‘Leave a Legacy’, placing the spotlight on women’s contributions to arts and culture. The exhibition will be open to the public from April 9 to 11, turning DIFC’s Gate Village into an outdoor gallery of global perspectives through painting, sculpture, and mixed media.

The programme extends beyond the gallery. On April 9, participating artists will take part in a cultural tour of Abu Dhabi, curated by the Department of Culture and Tourism, with visits to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Public Art Biennale, and the Abrahamic Family House. That evening, a concert curated by Alliance Française Dubai will bring together international performers in a musical tribute to women’s creativity.

On April 10, during DIFC Art Night, the focus shifts to policy, finance, and impact with a conference titled 'From Finance to Sustainable Impact.' The event will explore the role of women in the creative economy through panel discussions covering financial literacy and sustainable investment, art as a tool for social impact, and strategies to accelerate action in the global creative landscape.

The exhibition concludes on April 11 with an award ceremony at the One&Only Royal Mirage, honouring the participating artists under the theme ‘We Are Legends: Women Leading the Way.’

Organised by ZeeArts Gallery in collaboration with DIFC, Art Connects Women is now in its eighth edition and has this year been officially recognised as a social impact initiative by Majra UAE.

Founder Zaahirah Muthy described the 2025 edition as a “transformative moment” for the platform, which continues to align with broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.