Dubai has its own distinct identity after dark. Life in the city doesn’t slow down when night falls; rather, its evening entertainment venues burst to life and welcome all those who want to party in a happy and joyous atmosphere. Thursdays and Fridays are when the employees of the city’s huge multi-national companies let their hair down, flocking to Dubai’s fashionable clubs for a night of fun and luxury.
- Dubai’s atmosphere at night
- Party districts in Dubai
- Dubai’s best nightclubs
- Nightlife in Barceló hotels
Most of the nightclubs and evening entertainment venues are located close to the city’s luxury hotels, as these are the only places with a licence to sell alcohol at night. However, finding the right club can often be a tricky task. With this in mind, we’re going to help you find the venue that best matches what you’re looking for. Choosing the right pub can often depend on the type of people you would like to mingle with. Bumping into local people who are looking to relax after a long day at work isn’t the same as mingling with those who live lives of luxury and flaunt clothes from renowned international fashion houses. Regardless, don’t expect too much social interaction in these venues: the clients aren’t usually very open to tourists (although there’s always someone who will go out of their way to talk to you).
DJs play in nightclubs every night of the week, filling the dance floors and setting the rhythm for the evening. You can find a wide range of musical styles, ranging from funk and soul to house, hip-hop and African, Arab and Latin beats. Although the nights are long, they never end when the sun comes up: bars and nightclubs only have a licence to stay open until 3 a.m., while smaller bars tend to close at 1 a.m.
Dubai’s atmosphere at night
Being a diverse and multicultural city, Dubai has a selection of bars and pubs that suit people of all tastes. The posh bars tend to be located in Jumeirah and New Dubai, with the more traditional venues being found in the cheaper hotels of Bur Dubai and Deira. If you enjoy a drink, you should know that alcohol is awfully expensive in Dubai. Remember to keep this in mind to avoid running up a hefty bar tab! Non-drinkers might enjoy visiting the charming hookah cafés, where they can play a game of backgammon while they sip on a traditional Arabic coffee. You should also know that traffic in Dubai is a nightmare on the weekend and it’s exceedingly difficult to find a taxi. As such, we recommend sticking to a single area on your night out.
Party districts in Dubai
Dubai’s most famous party districts are Medinat Jumeirah and New Dubai: home to the nightclubs and evening entertainment venues of well-to-do people, where luxury and glamour are the order of the day. Bur Dubai and Deira, meanwhile, are the most popular districts where locals tend to mingle with foreigners who are visiting the city. Dubai Marina has a wide range of excellent restaurants and cafés, making it another good place to go out at night. We recommend heading to one of New Dubai’s beach bars to see the sun go down over the Gulf before the black blanket of night falls over the emirate’s capital. Also recommended is Nasimi Beach, an artificial beach located seven kilometres off-shore that turns into a giant nightclub on weekends. You should know that Dubai has a livelier nightlife than any other emirate and any other country in the Arabian Peninsula.
Dubai’s best nightclubs
Given the sheer number of nightclubs in Dubai, we’ve collated a list of some of our favourites to help you make your mind up. But don’t worry, Dubai’s best clubs have all made their way onto our list. They are the following:
Planetarium. It is often said that this is Dubai’s best nightclub, but new places are springing up all the time which makes it difficult to ratify this at the time of writing. It is certainly one of the most popular ones, at least, and has strict access restrictions. Members, women and partners are all welcome. It serves a wide range of cocktails and other drinks and offers a packed schedule of DJ sets and concerts.
Armani/Privé. Housed within the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, this is one of Dubai’s most exclusive clubs. The club employs a strict dress code, and the prices are out-of-reach for the average person. This Giorgio Armani-sponsored nightclub is synonymous with fun and luxury, while its décor pays homage to the different Armani Casa collections. The club is divided into three areas: a dancefloor, a raised VIP area and a terrace with privileged views over The Dubai Fountain.
WHITE Dubai. WHITE Dubai is one of the city’s largest and most exclusive clubs. This ultra-modern nightclub offers unbeatable views over the city. It is now regarded as one of Dubai’s most popular nightlife venues, known for its excellent music, light and sound shows and an open-air dance floor that guarantees a memorable night of fun beneath the stars.
Club Boudoir. Located in the heart of the Jumeirah district, Club Boudoir is one of Dubai’s finest nightlife venues. The clientele, who form part of Dubai’s high society, is extremely wealthy and dresses elegantly. All corners of the club exude luxury and glamour, with crystal chandeliers, red patterned sofas and a notably chic ambience. With a capacity of only six hundred people, there is a strict selection policy at the door. It is much easier for women to get in. In fact, on Tuesdays, women can enjoy free champagne all night. Club Boudoir puts on different shows and sets every night of the week.
Nightlife in Barceló hotels
If you’re looking for a good night and want to avoid any nasty surprises, your best bet is to head to the clubs in the city centre with a Spanish seal. We recommend heading to Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, which is located in the iconic Palm Jumeirah opposite the Nakheel shopping centre, which has an impressive range of restaurants, bars and lounges that strike a fine balance between tradition and modernity; Barceló Residences Dubai Marina, which is located in Dubai Marina; the Occidental Dubai Production City, which stands close to the site of the Expo 2020; and the Occidental Al Jaddaf, which has a gorgeous bar which is a great place to spend an evening.
