If you thought events in Dubai were slowing down… are you sure you really thought that through? Because no. The creative life in Dubai never stops (well, except for summer). This week is packed: Secta Open Air, which is going to be huge; NOMAD Abu Dhabi, arriving in the region for the first time — so yes, a must-see. And plenty more.

Where? Green Art Gallery

A new exhibition at Green Art Gallery by Kamrooz Aram has just opened. In this series, Aram works with the idea of the home as a space where the decorative and the functional are constantly negotiating with each other. He builds “compositions” from ornament, architectural fragments, and everyday elements, turning them into quiet, almost ritual gestures.

The exhibition carries a feeling of close looking — where familiar forms suddenly become subtle markers of memory and cultural layering. Aram shifts and rearranges them, encouraging a slower, more attentive gaze, as if inviting the viewer into a space where the personal and the aesthetic breathe in the same rhythm.

Where? High Society at The Lana, Dorchester Collection

This season, High Society at The Lana, Dorchester Collection, has an update: a new menu with a clear Asian tilt — think fresh sashimi, signature rolls, and familiar favourites reworked with a bit more edge. Hamachi with citrus, Wagyu Katsu Sando, Croque Truffle, Lobster Arrabbiata, Miso–Orange Salmon, and A5 Wagyu.

There is also a new chef in the kitchen: Suraj Lal. He has worked everywhere — Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, Peru — and it shows. His whole approach is about precision and keeping things clean and intentional.

Where? Terminal 1, Zayed International Airport, Ad Diyafah Street, Abu Dhabi

Cancel everything and go to Abu Dhabi for NOMAD. First, because this unique fair has arrived in the region for the very first time. Second, because you will see remarkable works brought together by an equally strong group of artists and galleries. And third, because it all unfolds inside Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport — a location that completely shifts how you experience the fair.

NOMAD is open to the public from November 20 to 22, 1 pm to 9 pm. Time moves differently there: no excess, just rare objects, precise gestures, and the sense that you’re not walking through a “fair” at all, but through a particular state of space and things.

Where? Cinema Akil

Cinema Akil is launching Mitti: An Indian Independent Film Festival for the first time — a week-long programme running from November 21 to 27 at Alserkal Avenue. The festival brings together uncompromising, fiercely personal films from some of India’s most distinct voices. Presented by District by Zomato in collaboration with Alserkal Avenue and the Bagri Foundation, Mitti looks directly at the core of Indian independent cinema: stories shaped by memory, identity, and the emotional currents that define us.

Opening night comes with a major moment: Anurag Kashyap — one of India’s most influential and genre-defying filmmakers — will be there for the screening of Kennedy (2023), his film that premiered at Cannes. The evening includes a live performance by Malhaar, the screening itself, and a Q&A with Kashyap, joined by actor Rahul Bhat and producer Ranjan Singh.

Where? The Hangar

They did it once in April — now they are back, bigger and sharper. Secta launches its second Open Air, taking over a repurposed industrial complex in Jebel Ali and turning it into a three-zone playground for music, art, and the region’s creative crowd.

This edition introduces a new Art Hub + Alt Marketplace with Koshta Collective: an XXL metal installation, an exhibition, experimental sound, an alt-designer market, panel talks, and exclusive Secta merch and vinyls from Killa Cutz Amsterdam. Visuals come from regional creatives, including Cheb Moha, Zenim, and Almo.

Three stages split the energy:

The Warehouse (international acts Alarico, Laure Croft + resident Kirill Zhan),

The Water Tower (regional talent: Shalaby, Dea, Baby B, Sonchauni, Ju Lovett),

The Garage (vinyl-driven experimental sets inside the Art Hub).

Open Air brings the underground community together for a day built on experimentation and edge. Tickets are here.

Where? FORMA, Al Safa Art & Design Library, Jumeirah


After a sleepless night at Secta Open Air, a proper breakfast the next day is basically non-negotiable. For that, head to Forma — Jumeirah’s new go-to spot. From 8 am to 4 pm, FORMA’s new breakfast menu balances comfort with a bit of fresh creativity. Standouts include the Cloudy Egg Bun and FORMA’s Avo Toast with labneh, avocado, and red pepper oil on the warmest toasted sourdough. Exactly what you need to reset.

Last week was a lot, so on Monday, just take it easy. Do your thing, keep it light, and don’t force anything.