Start with Kojo Marfo’s new show in Alserkal, then give Wednesday over to pizza and Thursday to an artwork that doubles as a game. On Friday, we are driving to Abu Dhabi for BREDx. Back in Dubai, the weekend brings cosmic disco and vinyl sets before we end up right where we started, in Alserkal, for Art Week.

Where? FYND, Warehouse 64A, Alserkal Avenue

Beyond the Visible only just opened on November 5, so start your week at FYND with Kojo Marfo’s new solo exhibition. The Ghanaian-born, London-based artist draws on the Akan carvings and ceremonial objects he grew up around. In his paintings, human faces take on animal features, while horses and flowers turn up in scenes that feel familiar at first glance and stranger the longer you look.

Curated by Ali Dioun and presented by JD Malat Gallery with FYND, the show pairs Marfo’s canvases with sculptural furniture by UAE studio Contemporary Spaces. It runs until November 30 and is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm.

Where? Marsa Boulevard, Dubai Festival City

Abu Dhabi’s Marmellata opened a winter pop-up on Dubai Creek on October 30. If you’ve heard friends rave about the original in Souq Al Mina, here’s your chance to see what they mean. Bring someone who’s happy to split two pizzas.

Where? Gallery 10, Jameel Arts Centre, Al Jaddaf

What were Soviet picture books doing on bookshelves across India? Afrah Shafiq’s Nobody Knows For Certain, which opens on Thursday, turns that unlikely bit of Cold War history into a game. The artist draws on illustrated children’s books that were translated into Indian languages and became part of growing up for a generation of readers. Give yourself time to play and see where the story takes you.

Where? Etihad Live, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Here’s a good reason to drive to Abu Dhabi on Friday. BREDx kicks off with a showcase of UAE hip-hop featuring Saud G, Tayeb Santo and Bu Saleh, followed by sets from Zaid Khaled, Bu Kolthoum and Lege-Cy. Stick around for Shkoon’s blend of Middle Eastern melodies and electronic production, and for Nooriyah, whose sets bring sounds from across the Arab world to the dance floor.

Between sets, head to Neo Gallery for the launch of Forward, Forward, Forward, a limited-edition photography book made with Middle East Archive. You can also catch the Red Bull Half Court basketball finals or grab a slice from the Marmellata × Barbassi pop-up.

Where? The Flip Side

The day's first dance floor is in a store — The Flip Side. From 3 to 7 pm, Secta Collective gets together for an in-store session ahead of its Open Air party, with Baby B, Dea, almo١٠٠, Gabriel Green, Kirill Zhan and Rose End on the bill.

Where? Level 43, Media One Hotel

Disco Club is back in Dubai, this time 43 floors up. South Korean DJ Shubostar brings her cosmic disco and a few harder sounds, Biicla takes things into hyper-house and future bass, and Kasseta plays live. Mashkov, Ju Lovett and Kirill Zhan round out the bill.

Where? 25hours Hotel One Central

Spend Sunday moving between three venues at Vinyl Souk. The Plaza is home to the main stage, where the festival’s programme spans soul, funk, jazz, indie rock and electronics. Nomad Day Bar has live acts and vinyl DJ sets, while Cinema Akil hosts screenings, workshops, talks and audiovisual sets. There’s also a market and food pop-ups, so leave yourself some time between sets.

The festival runs on November 14 and 15, from 4 to 10 pm.

Where? Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz

Alserkal Art Week kicks off on Sunday. Make your Monday stop Concrete, where History Otherwise: Women Modernists from the Arab World looks at Arab modernism through works by women artists from the Barjeel Art Foundation’s collection.

Then head to Warehouse 46 for Promises and Scars, which spans five decades of work by Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour. On the way, look out for A Vigil by Iqra Tanveer and Ehsan Ul Haq on the mirrored façade of Alserkal Arts Foundation.