outside within earshot of the sea. There is
occasional live music and Monday is ladies’
night with one free drink and half-price
deals all evening.nasiMi beach Club
Map p220 (www.atlantisthepalm.com; atlantis –
The palm, palm Jumeirah; h1pm-1am) The At-
lantis’ spin on Barasti has benefitted from
a sophisticated overhaul in 2011 and draws
a more upmarket crowd to its fantastic
beachside setting. Plop down on a beach
bag and chill to soulful house, funk, elec-
tro and Chicago house. Friday nights are
buzziest, when international DJs hit the
decks. Try and catch one of their full-moon
parties with circus performers and dancers
or their annual Chill Out Festival in April.
There’s also a daily happy hour from 4pm
to 6pm and free bubbly for the gals on Tues-
days from 8pm to 10pm.n’dulGe Club
Map p220 (www.atlantisthepalm.com; atlan-
tis – The palm, palm Jumeirah; h9.30pm-3am)
Formerly the Sanctuary and located at the
iconic Atlantis resort, this sexy nightclub has
three areas, including the N’Dulge Arena
with its circular suspended catwalk used
to showcase circus performers as well as
magicians, mimes, dancers and stilt walk-
ers. There’s also an al fresco terrace and a
restaurant serving sushi and similar with
a community table option. Theme nights,
fashion shows and guest DJs are also on
offer with an average Dh100 admission, al-
though ladies generally have free entrance
before 11pm.caTWalK club Club
Map p220 (Golden Tulip, Sheikh Zayed rd, al-
barsha; h9pm-3am) Yes, there really is a cat-
walk here where you can strut your stuff in
between looking lively to the DJs spinning
the discs. Space can get tight, but this is a
spirited fun option and, if you turn up too
early, you can always head to the Locker
Room sports bar upstairs for a pint of ale
and some big-screen footy.sheesha courTyard SheeSha
Map p220 (one&only royal Mirage, al-Sufouh
rd, al-Sufouh; h7pm-1am) The Royal Mirage
sure gets it right. Reclining on beaded
cushions and thick carpets in an Arabian
palm courtyard is the ultimate way to enjoy
a sheesha, along with a drink. Although it
would take a connoisseur to appreciate the20 different flavours on offer, you can’t go
wrong with the sweet aroma of apple.3 EntErtainmEnt
VoX Mall of The eMiraTes CineMa
Map p220 (www.voxcinemas.com; Mall of the
emirates, Sheikh Zayed rd, al-barsha; tickets
Dh30, Gold Class Dh110) Vox would be just an-
other multiplex were it not for its Gold Class
screening rooms, where seats are enormous
recliners and servers bring you blankets,
popcorn in silver bowls and drinks in glass
goblets. This is adult movie watching: no
one under 18 years old is allowed and every-
one actually pays attention to the film. Buy
tickets in advance via the website.dubai coMMuniTy TheaTre
& arTs cenTre liVe MuSiC
Map p220 (%04-341 4777; http://www.ductac.org; 2nd
fl, Mall of the emirates, Sheikh Zayed rd, al-bar-
sha) DUCTAC, as it’s known, is a thriving
performance venue at the Mall of the Emir-
ates that puts on all sorts of diversions,
from classical concerts to Bollywood ret-
rospectives, Arabic folklore to large-scale
mural projects. Much support is given to
Emirati talent, making this a good place to
plug into the local scene. The entrance is in
the Orange Car Park, between rows S and T.palladiuM liVe MuSiC
Map p220 (%04 367 6520; http://www.palladium
dubai.com; tickets through http://www.boxofficeme.com;
Dubai Media City, Dubai Marina) Dubai’s main
performance venue can seat up to 15,000
people and comes with all the high-tech
trappings, plus one of the largest stages in
the UAE. Recent foot-tapping talent include
the Duke Wellington tribute band.7 Shopping
Mall of The eMiraTes ShoppinG Mall
Map p220 (www.malloftheemirates.com; Sheikh
Zayed rd, interchange no 4, al-barsha; h10am-
10pm Sun-Wed, 10am-midnight Thu-Sat) The
Mall of the Emirates is (another) of Du-
bai’s massive shopping malls with a ter-
rific range of retail options. Along with the
usual brands, there’s a Harvey Nichols and
a big Borders with an awesome selection ofn
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ubai
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