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Nightlife and
Dining Out |
There is
ample opportunity to pursue an active nightlife in all of
the major urban centres in the UAE, except for Sharjah which
does not have any bars or discos. The choice of night-time
activities is obviously more limited in the rural areas.
Bars range from sophisticated cocktail lounges to informal
traditional British and Irish pubs and Western style
saloons. In addition, there are numerous piano and jazz
bars. Clubs and discos host both local DJs and big
international names. You can also visit local nightclubs
with Arab singers, belly dancers and musicians. World famous
groups and individual stars from the the West, the Arab
world, the Indian subcontinent and the Far East are frequent
visitors.
The hotels, in particular, vie with each other to stage the
best live shows. Cabaret is standard fare in the hotel
nightclubs, but it is during the winter season and on
national holiday weekends that the hotels come alive with
food festivals, stage shows and themed nights. Talented
groups from countries such as the Philippines and Sri Lanka
have wide-ranging repertoires featuring African beat, salsa,
country and western, rock, R’B, reggae, jazz. Close your
eyes and you could be listening to the original artists.
If it is a more cultural experience that you require, plays,
ballets, classical music and operas are also perfomed by
visiting groups on a regular basis. Even the West End of
London has been transported to the UAE in the form of dinner
theatre.
Bars and Clubs
Most four- and five-star hotels have bars, pubs and
nightclubs. Drinks can be quite expensive. Happy hours are
common. The dress code in bars is usually casual, but some
bars and all clubs forbid shorts, jeans, trainers or
sandals. Some require shirts with collars.
As a rule nightclubs have a stricter dress code. Bars and
clubs usually stay open until late, some closing at about 1
p.m., others remaining open until 3 a.m. In general people
tend to go out late, usually not before 9 p.m., although if
you are in a tourist venue the action can start a little
earlier. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays are the busiest
nights. Sports fans are catered for with many of the pubs
screening major sporting events such as Premier League
matches.
Arabic Nightclubs
Arabic nightclubs usually warm-up around 10.30 p.m. Food
menus are often limited, although in hotels full Arabic
menus are on offer. Entertainment can be lively.
|
Abu Dhabi |
|
Al Birkeh |
Le Méridien |
02 6446666 |
|
Layali Al Sharq |
Zakher Hotel |
02 6275300 |
|
Sharazad |
Emirates Plaza
Hotel |
02 6722000 |
|
Yakoot |
The Domain |
02 6667700 |
|
Dubai |
|
Al Abya |
Dubai Park Hotel |
04 3992222 |
|
Al Diwan |
Metropolitan Palace
Hotel |
04 2051336 |
|
Escoba |
Al Khaleej Palace
Hotel |
04 2231000 |
|
a |
|
Other Bars and
Clubs |
|
Abu Dhabi |
|
Ally Pally Corner |
Al Ain Palace Hotel |
02 6794777 |
|
9
A.M.P.M. |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
02 6935214 |
|
Balcony Bar |
Hilton Hotel |
02 6811900 |
|
Bayshore Pavilion
Bar |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
02 6666888 |
|
Beachcomber’s |
Marina Club |
02 6440300 |
|
Hollywood |
Mina Hotel |
02 6781000 |
|
Bounty |
Jazira Resort |
02 5629100 |
|
Captain’s Arms |
Le Méridien |
02 6446666 |
|
Chequer’s Wine Bar |
Sands Hotel |
02 6335335 |
|
Clansman |
Grand Continental
Hotel |
02 6262600 |
|
Colosseum |
Marina Club |
02 6440300 |
|
49ers |
Al Diar Dana Hotel |
02 6458000 |
|
Fun Pub |
Regency Hotel |
02 6765000 |
|
Gauloises Club |
Le Méridien |
02 6446666 |
|
Harvester’s |
Sands Hotel |
02 6335335 |
|
Hemingway’s |
Hilton Hotel |
02 6811900 |
|
Heroes Diner |
Crowne Plaza Hotel |
02 6210000 |
|
Illusions (disco) |
Grand Rotana Hotel |
02 6742020 |
|
Island Exchange |
Grand Rotana |
02 6742020 |
|
Jazz Bar & Dining |
Hilton Hotel |
02 6811900 |
|
Mood Indigo |
Novotel Centre
Hotel |
02 6333555 |
|
Opus Bar |
Le Méridien |
02 6446666 |
|
Piano Lounge |
Grand Rotana |
02 6950455 |
|
PJ O’Reilly’s |
Grand Rotana |
02 6950455 |
|
Sargam |
Emirates Plaza
Hotel |
02 6722000 |
|
Scorpio Disco |
International
Rotana Inn |
02 6779900 |
|
The Tavern |
Sheraton Resort &
Towers |
02 6773333 |
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Tequilana
Disco/Karaoke |
Hilton Hotel |
02 6911900 |
|
The Trap |
Al Diar Dana Hotel |
02 6458000 |
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Vincent’s |
Crowne Plaza Hotel |
02 6210000 |
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Waka Taua Terrace |
Le Méridien |
02 6446666 |
|
a |
|
Al Ain |
|
Cave des Rois |
Rotana |
03 7515111 |
|
Club Tropicana |
Al Buraimi |
0968 652010 |
|
Luce |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
03 7686686 |
|
Horse and Jockey |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
03 7686686 |
|
Metro Disco & Bar |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
03 7686686 |
|
Paco’s |
Hilton Hotel |
03 7686666 |
|
Peach Garden |
Hilton Hotel |
03 7686666 |
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Trader Vic's |
Rotana Hotel |
03 7515111 |
|
a |
|
Dubai |
|
Alamo |
Dubai Marina Resort |
04 3493455 |
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Al Sayyad |
Claridge Hotel |
04 2716666 |
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American Dream |
Seashell Inn Hotel |
04 3934777 |
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Atlantis |
Dubai Park Hotel |
04 3992222 |
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Aussie Legends |
Rydges Plaza Hotel |
04 3982222 |
|
Back Street |
Al Khaleej Holiday
Hotel |
04 2276565 |
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Barasti |
Le Méridien Mina
Seyahi |
04 3993333 |
|
Beachcomber Pub |
Metropolitan Resort
Hotel |
04 3995000 |
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Beach Bar |
Dubai Marine Club |
04 3461111 |
|
Biggles |
Airport Hotel |
04 2823464 |
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Billabong |
Holiday Inn Hotel |
04 2288889 |
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Billy Blues |
Rydges Plaza Hotel |
04 3982272 |
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Boston |
Jumeira Rotana |
04 3455888 |
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Bourbon Bar |
Arif Castle |
04 3933777 |
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Carpenters |
Hyatt Regency Hotel |
04 2091400 |
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Carter’s |
Pyramids |
04 3249601 |
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Cave des Rois |
Vendome Plaza Hotel |
04 2222333 |
|
Champions |
JW Marriott Hotel |
04 2624444 |
|
Chelsea Arms |
Sheraton Dubai |
04 2071721 |
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Churchill’s City |
Centre Hotel |
04 6038300 |
|
Clipper |
Jebel Ali Hotel |
04 8836000 |
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Cricketer’s |
Ramada Continental
Hotel |
04 2662666 |
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Cyclone |
Al Nasr Leisureland |
04 3369991 |
|
Darts English Pub |
Princess Flamingo
Hotel |
04 2635500 |
|
Dublin Arms |
Metropolitan Deira |
04 2959171 |
|
El Rancho |
Marco Polo Hotel |
04 2720000 |
|
Escoba |
Al Khaleej Palace |
04 2231000 |
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Finnegans |
Dubai Park Hotel |
04 3992222 |
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Fox & Hounds |
Marco Polo Hotel |
04 2720000 |
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Garage Club |
Ramee International |
04 2240661 |
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George & Dragon |
Ambassador Hotel |
04 3939444 |
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Hard Rock Café |
Dubai Park Hotel |
04 3992888 |
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Harry’s Place |
Renaissance Hotel |
04 2625555 |
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Harvester’s |
Crowne Plaza Hotel |
04 3311111 |
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Henry J Bean’s |
Capitol Hotel |
04 3458350 |
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Hibiki |
Hyatt Regency Hotel |
04 2091234 |
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Humphrey’s |
WTC Hotel |
04 3314000 |
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Irish Village |
Aviation Club off
Al Garhoud Rd |
04 2824750 |
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Jet Set |
Vendome Plaza Hotel |
04 2222333 |
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Jules |
Le Méridien, Dubai |
04 2824040 |
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Kasbar |
Royal Mirage Hotel |
04 3999999 |
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La Moda Music Room |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
04 2057333 |
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Laguna |
Oasis Beach Hotel |
04 3994444 |
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Layalina |
Dubai Metropolitan
Hotel |
04 3430000 |
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Lindbergh’s |
Sheraton Deira |
04 2688888 |
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Long’s |
Towers Rotana |
04 3438000 |
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Lord’s Jungle Disco |
Club Lord’s Hotel |
04 2289977 |
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Marbles |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
04 2057333 |
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Ned Kelly’s |
Dubai Marine Resort |
04 3520900 |
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Odd Spot |
Al Nasr Leisureland |
04 3371234 |
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Offshore |
Le Méridien Mina
Seyahi |
04 3993333 |
|
Old Vic |
Ramada Hotel |
04 3519999 |
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Pancho |
Villas Astoria
Hotel |
04 3532146 |
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Pearl Bar |
Le Méridien Dubai |
04 2824040 |
|
Piano Lounge |
Crowne Plaza Hotel |
04 2624444 |
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Planet Hollywood |
off Al-Qataiyat Rd |
04 3244777 |
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Planetarium |
Wafi Centre |
04 3240072 |
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Madness |
Royalton Hotel |
04 2229226 |
|
Premiere |
Hyatt Regency Hotel |
04 2091333 |
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The Pub |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
04 2057333 |
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Red Lion |
Dubai Metropolitan
Hotel |
04 3430000 |
|
Cibushi |
Princeton Hotel |
04 2827777 |
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Rock Bottom Café |
Regent Palace Hotel |
04 3963888 |
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Rumours |
Ramada Hotel |
04 3519999 |
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Satchmo’s |
Le Royal Méridien |
04 3995555 |
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Savage Garden |
Capitol Hotel |
04 3460111 |
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Scarlett’s |
Emirates Towers |
04 3300000 |
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Seville’s |
Wafi Centre |
04 3247300 |
|
Shabestan |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
04 2057333 |
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Shahrzad |
Hyatt Regency Hotel |
04 2091234 |
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St Andrews Rydges |
Plaza Hotel |
04 3982222 |
|
Tehran by Night |
St George Hotel |
04 2251122 |
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TGI Friday’s |
Al Bustan Rotana |
04 7054610 |
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The Junction |
Century Hotel |
04 3520900 |
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The Office |
Metropolitan Palace |
04 2270000 |
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Tropicana |
Marine Beach Resort |
04 3461111 |
|
Viceroy |
Four Points
Sheraton |
04 3977444 |
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Vu's |
Emirates Towers |
04 3300000 |
|
Uptown |
Jumeirah Beach
Hotel |
04 3480000 |
|
Up on the Tenth |
Intercontinental
Hotel |
04 2057333 |
|
Yarba |
Dubai Park Hotel |
04 3992222 |
|
a |
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Sharjah/Umm al-Qaiwain/Ajman/Ras
al-Khaimah/Fujairah |
|
Oriental Night Club |
Bin Majid Beach
Resort RAK |
07 2446644 |
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Cosmic Bowling
Alley |
Ajman Kempinski
Hotel |
06 7451555 |
|
Entertainment
Lounge |
Ajman Kempinski
Hotel |
06 7451555 |
|
Impulse Disco |
Ajman Marina |
06 7423344 |
|
Octavia Bistro |
Fujairah Hilton |
09 2223000 |
|
Red Lion Bin |
Majid Hotel |
07 2352233 |
|
Sailor’s |
Ajman Marina |
06 7442344 |
|
Sailor’s |
Fujairah Hilton |
09 2223000 |
|
Sirocco |
Al Hamra Beach
Hotel RAK |
07 2446666 |
|
Star Light Disco |
Al Diar Siji Hotel |
09 2232000 |
|
The Olive Tree |
Ritz Plaza Hotel
Fujairah |
09 2222202 |
|
Tropicana |
Fujairah Hilton |
09 2222411 |
|
Zulu Bin |
Majid Beach Resort
RAK |
07 2446644 |
|
Zorba Lounge |
Al Diar Siji Hotel
Fujairah |
09 2232000 |
Food and Drink
Visitors
from many parts of the world along with a multi-ethnic
resident community have ensured that a sophisticated and
innovative food culture has developed in the UAE. Almost any
type of food is available, from classic European to Pacific
Rim. You can eat Mexican, Polynesian, Japanese, Chinese,
Thai, Korean, Indian, Pakistani, Persian, Italian and French
cooking, and more, at some of the finest restaurants in the
Middle East.
International fast-food chains, serving the standard fare of
hamburgers, chips, pizzas etc (McDonalds’s, Pizza Hut, Pizza
Inn, Hardee’s, Wimpy, Dunkin’ Donut) are also located in the
larger cities.
Kentucky Fried Chicken seems to be a particular favourite.
International theme restaurants such as TGI Friday’s, Planet
Hollywood, Fashion Café, Hard Rock Café and Henry J Bean’s
are all represented in the Emirates.
If you cannot find anything to suit in that list, small
ethnic cafés and corner stalls are ubiquitous. Shisha cafés
offer an opportunity to smoke a shisha (hubble-bubble pipe)
and serve food, coffee, tea and fruit juices and corner
stalls serve sharwarmas and other sandwiches.
Gulf and Middle Eastern food is also available in a wide
variety of venues, from expensive restaurants to local
cafés. Fresh fish from the Arabian Gulf is always good. Try
lobster, crab, shrimp, or grouper, tuna, kingfish, red
snapper, grilled, stuffed, or fried with spices.
But it is not just a question of variety, make no mistake
the food is generally good and the standard of service is
high.
Pork
Muslims are prohibited from eating pork so it is not
included in Arabic menus. Hotels frequently have substitutes
such as beef sausages and veal rashers on their breakfast
menus. If pork is available, it is clearly labelled as such.
Alcohol
Alcohol is generally only served in hotel restaurants and
bars (but not in Sharjah).
Exceptions are some clubs (e.g. golf clubs) and
associations. Restaurants that are not associated with
hotels are not permitted to serve alcohol.
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Emirates travel information |
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Dubai
|
Hotels
Dubai city of merchants, cultural
crossroads, second largest of the
seven United Arab Emirates. |
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Abu
Dhabi
|
Hotels
Abu Dhabi is one of the most modern
cities in the world. It is the
center of government and business
life in the UAE. |
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Sharjah
|
Hotels
Sharjah is the only Emirate to have
land on both the Arabian Sea and the
Indian Ocean. |
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Ajman
|
Hotels
The
Emirate of Ajman is situated on the
coast of the Arabian Gulf, extending
over a distance of 16 Kilometres
long. |
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Fujairah
|
Hotels
Emirate of Fujairah, one of the
seven emirates forming the United
Arab Emirates, witnessed a rapid
rate of economic and social
development. |
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Ras
Al Khaimah
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Hotels
Ras Al Khaimah was the seat of
ancient civilizations, as
archeological excavations have
shown. |
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Umm Al Quwain
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Hotels
The Emirate of Umm Al Quwain is
located along the coast of the
Arabian Gulf, between Sharjah to the
west. |
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