The Hype Music and Nightlife Awards nominations are in – here’s the shortlist of the best of Dubai nightlife (plus, a way you can party with us).

The UAE is a playground for party people. But when we’re having a great night out, losing ourselves on the dancefloor, it’s easy to forget the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make it all happen. The Hype Music and Nightlife Awards recognises the faces and places that make Dubai come alive.

Whether you favour dancing on the beach, moshing front of stage, the glitz and glamour of high-end clubbing or dark rave dens, the UAE has it all. And whatever your preference, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something to suit your musical taste – from bombastic EDM to twisted underground techno, and all points in between. Is it any wonder that the region’s vibrant nightlife scene amazes your friends when they come to visit? We are, quite frankly, spoiled for choice on any given weekend.

*IN PICS: Last year’s Hype Awards party*

Of course, this being the UAE, there has been plenty of changes to the region’s nightlife landscape since last year’s Hype Awards. But there’s never enough time to dwell on the closures before a new venue, new bar, new club night or new event pops up.

Hype Music & Nightlife Awards at EDEN Beach Club - celebrating the best of Dubai nightlife (party pictures)

And while we enjoy international names coming to town, we’re equally as proud of home-based talent, who too often don’t receive the recognition they rightfully deserve.

More than anything, the Hype Awards is about all those who’ve put their heart and soul into pushing the scene forward, those who’ve gone all out to create amazing experiences and events and those who make the region such an exciting place to live.

YOU’RE THE REAL STARS!

Who are the most important people in any nightlife scene? It’s YOU – the dancefloor warriors. It’s YOU who makes the UAE’s music and nightlife scene and that’s why we want YOU at the Hype Awards Party.

Join us at Nasimi Beach, Atlantis The Palm, Jumeirah, on Tuesday, April 12, where we’ll be revealing this year’s winners during a raucous party that will be the
talk of town.

Register for two FREE passes at hypeawards.ae today. Yes, it’s that easy!

Alright, drumroll… after much debate (and a few verbal fisticuffs), here are the Hype Awards 2016 categories and all the very deserving nominees…

HYPE AWARDS 2016 NOMINEES

BEST LADIES’ NIGHT

Aquara Lounge at Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai Marina

The Girls Don’t Q at Q43, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

Leave Your Boyfriend at Home at Cavalli Club, The Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road

Cavalli Club, Fairmont Sheikh Zayed RoadCavalli Club

High Societe at Societe, Marina Byblos Hotel, Dubai Marina

She’s With Us at Tribeca, JA Ocean View Hotel, JBR

BEST LIVE VENUE

The Music Room at The Majestic Hotel, Bur Dubai

The Fridge, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz

McGettigan’s at Bonnington Hotel, Jumeirah Lakes Towers

The Irish Village at Dubai Duty Free Leisure, Garhoud

Hard Rock Café, Dubai Festival City

BEST FESTIVAL

Dubai Jazz Festival at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City

DXBeach at Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone

Party In The Park at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City

party in the parkParty in the Park

Live@Atlantis at Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah

RedfestDXB at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City

Groove On The Grass at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai

Sensation Dubai at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai

Blended at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City

Nasimi Beach Festival at Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah

Sandance at Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah

BEST CONCERT/SHOW

Martin Garrix at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai

David Guetta at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City

Blur, F1 after-race concert at du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Florence & The Machine, F1 after-race concert at du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

simple-mindsSimple Minds

Simple Minds at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Garhoud

Paulo Nutini at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City

Robbie Williams at du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Spandau Ballet at Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road

30 Seconds To Mars, Dubai Music Week, Dubai World Trade Centre

Bon Jovi at du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

BEST NEW BAR

Park at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Business Bay

VII at The Conrad Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road

Vii DubaiVII

Noir at Kempinski Hotel, Mall Of The Emirates

Stereo Arcade at Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, JBR

Treehouse at Taj Hotel, Business Bay

BEST BAR

Q43 at Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

McGettigan’s at Bonnington Hotel, Jumeirah Lakes Towers

Cargo at Pier 7, Dubai Marina

CARGOCargo 

Tribeca at JA Ocean View Hotel, JBR

The Irish Village at Dubai Duty Free Leisure, Garhoud

BEST BEACH VENUE

Barasti at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai Marina

Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE at Ghantoot Al Jazira Island
Hotel, Dubai

Eden Beach Club at Rixos The Palm, The Palm Jumeirah

Nasimi Beach at Atlantis, The Palm, Jumeirah

Space 25th birthday at Nasimi BeachNasimi 

Zero Gravity at Skydive Dubai Drop Zone

BEST CLUB

WHITE Dubai at Meydan Racecourse Grandstand Rooftop

360° at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah

People By Crystal at Raffles Hotel, Wafi

Cirque Le Soir at The Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road

Armani Privé Club at the Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai

Pacha at Souk Madinat Jumeirah

Pacha Ibiza Dubai opening night picturesPacha 

Provocateur at Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah

Cavalli Club at The Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road

The Act at The Shangri-La Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road

MAD at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

BEST URBAN NIGHT

URBN Saturdays at WHITE Dubai, Meydan Racecourse Grandstand Rooftop

Hip Hop Chic Mondays at Cirque Le Soir, The Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road

Switch Up Wednesday at Provocateur, Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah

411 Nights at People By Crystal, Raffles Hotel, Wafi

VIP Room at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Business Bay

BEST BASS NIGHT

Superheroes at Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

Bassworx at Casa Latina, Ibis Hotel, Al Barsha

Garage Nation at Level 41, Media One Hotel,
Dubai Media City

Bananas Dubai at Story Rooftop Lounge, Holiday Inn Express, Dubai Internet City

Karak Beats at Velocity, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Business Bay

BEST HOUSE/TECHNO NIGHT

Secret Circle at Level 41, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

Shibuya at various venues, Dubai

Yousef at ShibuyaYousef at Shibuya

Deep Like Thursdays at various venues within JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Business Bay

House of Afrika at Dek on 8, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

Analog Room at The Q Underground, Holiday Inn, Al Barsha

Night Vibes/One Big Vibes at various locations, Dubai

audio tonic at 360°, Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Plus Minus at Level 41, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

Trip Land at The Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road

Back2Basics at Level 41, Media One Hotel Dubai Media City

BEST OF THE REST

Deep Crates Cartel at various venues, Dubai

Dust at various venues, Dubai

Cuts Above at 360°, Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Bad House Party at Casa Latina, Ibis Hotel, Al Barsha

The Other Side at The Address, Dubai Marina

BEST INTERNATIONAL SET

Quantic at Deep Crates Cartel The Music Room, Majestic Hotel, Bur Dubai

Richie Hawtin at Groove On The Grass Emirates Golf Club, Dubai

Sven Väth at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE Ghantoot Al Jazira Island Hotel, Dubai

Octave One at Analog Room’s Finest Friday Level 41, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

Red Bull present DâM-FunK The Music Room, Majestic Hotel, Bur Dubai

DJ Tennis at Plus Minus Level 41, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

Anton Zapp at Analog Room The Q Underground, Holiday Inn, Al Barsha

Guy Gerber at Eden Rixos The Palm, The Palm Jumeirah

General Levy at Deep Crates Cartel Velocity, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Business Bay

Davide Squillace at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE Ghantoot Al Jazira Island Hotel, Dubai

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION

Charl Chaka (House of Afrika/Infusion)

Break DJ Lobito (Deep Crates Cartel/Street Nights)

Deian Markov (Groove On The Grass)

Izzy Abidi (Freshly Ground Sounds)

Freshly Ground Sounds (Image Credit: Dushi Mahesh)Freshly Ground Sounds

Dany Neville (The Fix)

BEST LOCAL RECORD LABEL

Box Logic Bootleg Social

Gold Drama Audio Tonic

Universal MENA

BEST LOCAL BAND/ACT

The Boxtones sign with Universal Middle EastThe Boxtones

The Boxtones Carl & The Reda Mafia

Hollaphonic Arcade 82

The Recipe

BEST PRODUCER

Andy Buchan Darko De Jan

Deep Hertz Moe Turk

Ejaz Arcade 82

Hollaphonic Smokingroove

Scott Forshaw Stu Todd

& Greg Stainer

BEST BREAKTHROUGH DJ

Bachir Salloum Joséphine De Retour

Soberboy Maks

Skinny Loop

BEST DJ

Kay Tek Jixo & Danz

Marko Smokingroove Lobito

Frederick Stone Michka

Shef Codes Sam Farsio

James Locksmith Dany Neville

SAVE THE DATE!

Hype Music & Nightlife Awards at EDEN Beach Club - celebrating the best of Dubai nightlife (party pictures)

It’s all about Tuesday 12th April. That’s the date of this year’s Hype Awards ceremony, when the music and nightlife community will come together at gorgeous Nasimi Beach, Atlantis The Palm, to celebrate the region’s after-dark heroes. Far from being a stuffy black-tie affair, it’s shaping up to be a right old knees-up. Think ‘friendly’ rather than ‘formal’
and ‘lively’ rather than ‘lame’. Neither will we accept any lame excuses from anyone trying to slope off early – so be smart and book the next morning/day off work now.

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