Representing Serbia at AccessAbilities Expo 2025 in Dubai
In October 2025, I had the honor of being invited to participate in one of the most meaningful international events I have attended so far — AccessAbilities Expo 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Expo took place from October 6–8, 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together people, organizations, companies and innovators from around the world with one shared goal: creating a more accessible and inclusive future for People of Determination.
For me, being there was special on many different levels.
I was incredibly proud to represent Serbia and, to my knowledge, to be the only participant representing a Balkan country at the event.
Standing there with the Serbian flag next to my name, thousands of kilometers away from home, was a moment I will always remember.
What Is AccessAbilities Expo?
AccessAbilities Expo is a major international exhibition dedicated to accessibility, inclusion, assistive technology, rehabilitation and solutions that can improve independence and everyday life for people with disabilities.
What makes the Expo particularly interesting is the incredible variety of people and ideas gathered under one roof.
You can discover new assistive technologies, mobility solutions, accessible vehicles, smart home technologies, digital accessibility solutions, education and employment initiatives, rehabilitation services and many other innovations.
But it is not only about technology.
It is also a place for meeting people, exchanging experiences, starting conversations and showing what is possible when accessibility and inclusion are taken seriously.
17,000 Visitors From Around the World
The scale of the event was impressive.
AccessAbilities Expo 2025 welcomed approximately 17,000 visitors from 70 countries, while 270 international companies, brands and rehabilitation centers from 50 countries showcased their work and innovations.
Walking through the Dubai World Trade Centre and seeing so many different solutions, technologies and initiatives dedicated to accessibility was fascinating.
Some things were completely new to me, and that was one of the reasons I enjoyed the Expo so much.
It was not simply an exhibition that you walk through and leave. There was always something new to see, someone to meet or a conversation to have.
Representing Serbia Through My Art
I came to Dubai as an artist, and naturally, the best way for me to introduce myself was through what I have been doing since childhood — painting with my feet.
Having an opportunity to create in front of an international audience made the experience even more special.
People stopped to watch me paint, ask questions, take photographs and talk with me about my art and my story.
What surprised me most was the reaction.
I was overwhelmed by how warmly people responded to my work.
Visitors came from many different countries and backgrounds, yet art created an immediate connection between us.
Some people stayed and watched the painting process for a long time. Others came back again later. I met so many wonderful people during those three days and had conversations that I still remember.
Those reactions reminded me once again why I enjoy painting publicly.
When someone sees only a finished painting, they see the final result. When they watch me creating it with my feet, they become part of the process.
More Than an Exhibition
One of the things I appreciated most about AccessAbilities Expo was its atmosphere.
Disability was not presented simply through limitations or challenges. The focus was much broader — on independence, innovation, accessibility, opportunity and participation.
As someone who has spent my entire life finding my own way of doing things differently, that perspective means a lot to me.
I paint with my feet. I drive with my feet. I have competed in sport, traveled around the world, become a mother and built a career around my art.
Technology and accessibility can make an enormous difference in giving people more possibilities to choose how they want to live their lives.
Seeing so many people and organizations working toward that goal in one place made the Expo particularly interesting to me.
A Special Memory From Dubai
When I look back at AccessAbilities Expo 2025, I don't remember only the exhibition stands or the paintings.
I remember the people.
I remember their reactions, their questions, the conversations and all the people who stopped to watch me create.
I also remember how proud I felt to see Serbia represented in Dubai through my art.
Being invited to participate in an international event of this scale was a wonderful experience, and I am grateful to everyone who made my participation possible and to every person who came to meet me during those three days.
And to everyone who follows my journey online and supports what I do — thank you for being part of it.
Every exhibition, every new country and every canvas becomes another chapter of this story.
— Dejana Nežić
Girl With Wings