ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi has partnered with Zayed University’s College of Arts and Creative Enterprises (CACE) this Emirati Women’s Day to honour and showcase the work of distinguished female Emirati artists.

From Thursday, the hotel’s lobby and Crystal Lounge will be transformed into a gallery space, featuring 10 artworks by the university’s most talented Emirati artists.

Presented under this year’s national theme of “Hand in Hand, We Celebrate 50 Years”, the exhibition invites guests to experience a showcase of artistry that blends heritage, identity and creative expression.

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi’s General Manager Karim Gharbi said: “At The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, we are deeply committed to celebrating the heritage and creativity of the UAE. Emirati Women’s Day is a meaningful occasion for us to honour the extraordinary contributions of women in shaping culture and society.

“Through this exciting collaboration with Zayed University’s College of Arts and Creative Enterprises, we are proud to open our doors as a platform for Emirati artists to share their vision with our guests and the wider community. It is a privilege to showcase such remarkable talent within our hotel and have our space be a celebration of art, identity and innovation.”

The exhibition offers a diverse selection of artworks from sculptures and paintings to digital installations. Among the featured artists are:

Sara Alahbabi: A conceptual artist and educator whose work includes installation, sound and sculpture, exploring visibility, memory and belonging in the UAE’s urban and cultural landscape.

Ameena Aljerman Alali: An artist who explores Afro-Emirati history through personal and collective memory. Working across video, sculpture, photography and text, she reimagines oral and visual histories to address themes of trauma, identity and heritage. Her work has been exhibited in the UAE and internationally, creating space for alternative narratives within broader Indian Ocean histories.

Zainab Alhashmi: A multidisciplinary artist and curator working across mediums to examine the layers of human behaviour and experience, with exhibitions at major cultural venues across the UAE.

Asayel Abdalla: A visual artist specialising in photography, mixed media and printmaking, whose practice blends cultural narratives with experimental techniques.

Dean Professor, Janet Bellotto of CACE, added: “The College of Arts and Creative Enterprises – Zayed University is proud to partner with the St. Regis Abu Dhab in celebrating Emirati Women’s Day. This panel reflects the full arc of artistic growth – faculty as mentors, students as emerging voices, and alumni like Afra Aldhaberi, whose journey from student to mentee to faculty embodies the strength of continuity and community.

“Collaborating with partners in our wider community is essential to presenting and celebrating initiatives like this, which honour the women who paved the way while shaping a future of creativity, resilience, and vision through the arts.”
The exhibition in The St. Regis Abu Dhabi’s lobby and Crystal Lounge will run from August 28 to September 3, and will be open all day.