Abu Dhabi Art returns in 2025 with 142 galleries from 34 countries, introducing two new Focus sectors: Focus: Nigeria Spotlight and Focus: Modern Türkiye. The Nigeria section, curated by Tola Akerele, features seven galleries including kò, SOTO Gallery, and O’DA Gallery, showcasing artists like Samuel Nnorom, Bara Sketchbook, and Rufus Ogundele. Focus: Modern Türkiye, curated by Doris Benhalegua Karako, presents modern masters such as Fahrelnissa Zeid, Burhan Doğançay, and Gülsün Karamustafa through Istanbul-based galleries including DG Art Gallery and Projects, Art on Istanbul Gallery, and BüroSarıgedik.
The Focus sectors highlight Abu Dhabi Art's commitment to expanding global art narratives beyond traditional Western centers. Nigeria's spotlight reflects its rapid emergence as an international art hub, supported by a landmark collaboration between Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy and Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism. Modern Türkiye offers a lens into 20th-century Modernism through Turkish artists, enriching art historical discourse. These curated platforms aim to foster lasting international interest in Nigerian and Turkish contemporary and modern art, making the global art scene more diverse and engaging.