Sacred script, spiritual art: Sadia Fahad's therapeutic calligraphy

UAE-based Pakistani visual artist Sadia Fahad blends Arabic calligraphy and abstract expression. She has developed a personal style that weaves together sacred texts, emotion-evoking brushwork and vibrant palettes, rooted in spiritual and cultural symbolism and her own meditations. Her art practice centres around the transformative power of words particularly verses from the Holy Qur'an. She reinterprets traditional calligraphy through contemporary techniques, using colour - earthy greens, golds, and muted tones, among others - and form and rhythm to invoke introspection and connection.

- Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

She is particularly proud of Woman of Resilience, a deeply personal artwork that departs from her usual focus on calligraphy. “This painting celebrates the strength, courage, and silent power of women in our society,” Sadia says. “With her head raised and eyes closed in quiet determination, the figure represents every woman’s journey through struggle, healing, and self-worth. It is my tribute to the inner battles women fight daily, often unseen, yet fiercely transformative.”

Having lived in the UAE for over a decade, her work also draws inspiration from the region's rich Islamic heritage and architectural beauty. Sadia's paintings have been exhibited in various galleries and wellness initiatives in the UAE. She also conducts workshops and private sessions, using art as a medium of healing, self-expression and cultural dialogue. She speaks to Gulf Today

Why does calligraphy attract you?

My connection to calligraphy began in childhood. The first painting I created, back in Pakistan when I was just in Grade 9, was of the name "Allah", done on a multicoloured background. At the time, I didn't know much about art or calligraphy - but something in me was drawn to expressing divine names visually. Years later, in 2017, when I began painting again in the UAE, the first expression my brush formed was "Alhamdulillah", again in vibrant, rainbow-inspired hues. It felt like coming full circle. Calligraphy, for me, is a form of remembrance, gratitude, and emotional healing - it is where my art and my faith truly meet.