As the city shifts into its cooler season, the pace changes — evenings stretch a little longer, and new openings start to pop up everywhere. This week brings a mix of things worth stepping out for: an anniversary exhibition at 421 Arts Campus in Abu Dhabi, the return of Cinema Akil’s open-air screenings, VOX Moonlight lighting up the skyline again, and a few quieter discoveries — like a hidden record gallery tucked inside Efie. Plus, there is always something good to eat along the way: from hot dogs under the stars to croissants fresh out of the oven.

Where? Laughing Bread Bakery, Al Quoz

If you haven’t visited that spot yet and you are a fan of good bakeries, check out Laughing Bread Bakery. It opened in Al Quoz back in September and has already become a local favourite. Think fresh croissants and cinnamon rolls, fluffy pancakes with maple syrup, and seriously good sandwiches. Start your Tuesday here, and your day is off to a great start.

Sevil Dolmacı Dubai presents Unfolded Layers, a solo exhibition by Ahmet Oran, one of the foremost figures in contemporary art. The show features a new series of works that delve into his ongoing exploration of layer, surface, and memory — ideas central to his practice. Layers of paint are added, erased, and rebuilt, creating a rhythm between making and removing, presence and absence.

Unfolded Layers runs from October 27 to November 20, 2025.

Where? Cinema Akil

Starting October 30, Cinema Akil returns for its third season with evening screenings every Tuesday to Sunday. The season opens with a Halloween special featuring A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Addams Family, followed by a line-up of cult classics, indie gems, and festive favourites through the months ahead.

Screenings start between 7:30 and 8 pm, accompanied by a new in-house menu with signature hot dogs, truffle popcorn, loaded fries, mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, and cinnamon churros — perfect for long movie nights under the stars.

On October 30, catch A Nightmare on Elm Street to kick off the season, and check the full schedule here.

Where? Efie Gallery, Rekord Gallery

Wait, did you know that inside Efie Gallery, there is a hidden spot called Rekord Gallery, with shelves of vinyl from around the world?

It is tucked behind what looks like a regular wall — no signs, no Google Maps pin, no social media trail. Inside, you will find perfect acoustics, a few tables, and a 32-meter wall lined with over 2,000 original vinyl and shellac records dating from the 1940s to today. The sound system is a full Hi-Fi 360°, so every record feels alive.

The collection drifts across decades and continents — from Ebo Taylor’s Twer Nyame and Oum Kalthoum’s Alf Laila Walaila to Soliman Gamil’s Prism Music Unit, Brainticket’s Celestial Ocean, and Ben Harper’s The Will to Live.

Good reason to go to Abu Dhabi this Saturday! 421 Arts Campus in Abu Dhabi marks ten years of shaping the UAE’s creative scene. What began as a converted port warehouse has grown into one of the city’s most vital cultural spaces — supporting more than 1,500 emerging artists and transforming Mina Zayed into a hub for art, design, and community festivals.

The anniversary season opens with Rays, Ripples, Residue (Nov 1, 2025–Apr 26, 2026), a landmark exhibition curated by Munira Al Sayegh, Nadine Khalil, and Murtaza Vali. Bringing together video, performance, installation, and multimedia works, the show traces a decade of UAE art practices — revisiting the past, reflecting on the present, and imagining what is next.

VOX MOONLIGHT returns to the rooftop of Galleria Mall, Al Wasl Road, turning the space into a cozy garden under the Dubai skyline.

This season’s lineup includes Regretting You, Tron: Ares, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, Wicked: For Good, Zootropolis 2, and Avatar: Fire and Ash, plus plenty more from Hollywood, Bollywood, and Arabic cinema.

VOX MOONLIGHT runs daily through winter, with two sessions Monday to Thursday (starting around 6:30–7 pm) and three on weekends. The first screening on weekends is family-friendly.