When it comes to Dubai nightlife or going out for a drink, it requires a bit of planning in advance. A wide range of restaurants and cafes, often located in or around shopping centers, offer a fantastic selection that caters to even the pickiest of tourists. However, if you occasionally want to enjoy a glass of wine, a pint of beer, or any other alcoholic beverage, things get a bit tricky—or at least, different.
Dubai Nightlife :: Somewhat Different
Those familiar with traveling to Arab countries know that alcohol is generally not served publicly, except perhaps in hotel bars. In some places, there are specific shops where you can purchase alcohol.
(Should I mention that I’ve had the chance to see Arabs in the Middle East walking out of such stores with black, opaque bags in hand, meant to conceal the contents? Social rules are, after all, aligned with Islam, so alcohol is, of course, forbidden.)
In Dubai, however, this issue is taken to the extreme—over the top, you might say! The city prides itself on being “open” and catering to the diverse population of people who live and work here, many of whom are not from Muslim countries. But Dubai is, after all, still a Muslim city.
So, if you want to buy a bottle of wine for friends coming over for dinner, you’ll need an “alcohol license,” which can only be acquired if you work in the city. Foreigners working in Dubai apply for this license, receiving a plastic card with their ID data, which allows them to purchase alcohol within the limits of their monthly earnings.
And if you’re planning a night out for a drink, you’ll have to visit one of the hotels or shopping centers, where the bars are hidden behind heavy, closed doors. As we did…
Behind the Closed Doors
It was a typical Friday night: taxis zipping in all directions, busy streets, and crowded hotel entrances. We were going out for a drink, and to my surprise, we were headed to one of the hotels. My friends explained that the popular pubs are usually located there, though they tend to be somewhat “hidden.”
A lot of people were coming in and out of the hotel, with numerous cars stopping in front. The hotel, like most things in Dubai, was all shiny and luminous, yet it remained quiet. As we entered the grand lobby, decorated with marble, brass, and glass banisters, hostesses greeted us warmly. While hotel guests bustled around, there was still no sign of a typical lively bar—just the gentle murmur of people passing by.
“Hopefully, my friends know where we’re going,” I thought as we ascended a few stairs and turned into a narrow corridor.
Then, we came upon a set of heavy, dark wooden double doors, guarded by a large man in an equally large, dark suit. He was talking to two young Arab men dressed in white dishdashas, their heads wrapped in red and white keffiyehs.
“This is not the place for you, sir. Please, be so kind as to go somewhere else for tea. Here, we serve alcohol,” the guard said, smiling politely.
The young men remained curious, eager to see what lay behind those forbidden doors.
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“I don’t mind letting you in, sir,” the guard continued, still smiling. “It’s not forbidden, but I wouldn’t advise it. This place is for Europeans, Westerners—believe me.”
As their conversation carried on, we approached the doors. All three men were smiling now, and as we passed, the young Arabs glanced at us, their faces slightly flushed. The guard, flashing a broad, white-toothed grin, turned to us.
“Good evening, madam, sir, welcome,” he said, opening the doors for us. “Please, come in and enjoy your evening.”
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Dubai Nightlife :: The Bars
The moment those doors swung open, the serene silence of the hotel lobby was shattered. We were hit by the loud music of a Bulgarian band, laughter, shouting, and the clinking of glasses. People were dancing, drinking, and speaking loudly—mostly Europeans of all ages.
Another step in, and we were greeted by the familiar scent of “fish and chips” and the unmistakable aroma of draft beer. Yes, we had entered one of those quintessential English pubs!
Dubai nightlife offers an array of English and Irish pubs, which makes sense given that the British were among the first colonists in the area, and a large number of Brits still live and work in the UAE. So, Dubai has catered to this crowd, allowing these bars to flourish, packed with beer-loving Westerners, but carefully restricted to enclosed, indoor spaces, far from the sober streets outside.
If you’re in the mood for something different, it’s easy to find a Russian bar, complete with familiar “Kalinka” tunes, the strong scent of vodka, and steely blue eyes staring from the entrance (though you’d better dress the part—pants and proper shoes instead of sneakers and shorts). Or you could head to one of the bars at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, where live bands play everything from Arab to Latin beats, or explore some other pubs that rave on into the night.
Whether you drink alcohol or not, Dubai’s nightlife still grabs your attention—the whole situation is just so absurd! On the one hand, you respect the fact that alcohol is banned in this Muslim country, yet on the weekends, so much alcohol flows that you might momentarily forget where you are. Perhaps that was the intention all along?
Next: CELEBRATING NEW YEAR ALL YEAR ROUND
The full Dubai SERIES
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Dubai is on my mind.thanks for sharing
Feel free to browse around the series before you go. It’s one great place to visit. 😉
Your posts are always a pleasure to read! Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much, so glad you enjoy them! 🙂