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Dubai, let’s get loud: The What’s On Nightlife Awards is back bigger, and better than ever before. Taking place this October, we’ll be bringing the nightlife industry’s shining lights to an epic beach bash to crown this year’s winners.
We’ve spent the last year rating, reviewing, sipping drinks and hitting dancefloors, to bring you the very best of the city’s nightlife scene. This year, we’ll be crowning winners across 25+ categories that cover everything from cool cocktails bars and sensational sundowner spots to epic festivals and party hard bars, beach clubs and nightclubs. The awards recognise all the top places that make the UAE’s nightlife scene one of the best in the world.
Expect a VIP guest-list of nominees, industry professionals, sponsors and special guests in what’s sure to be a fun, action-packed and exciting evening.
Date: October 2026
Venue: Dubai, UAE
Want to know more about our awards programme?
Nominees
PUBLIC VOTING
Best Ladies’ Day
BCH:CLB
Be Beach
Bla Bla
COVEBEACH
DRIFT
Nikki Beach Dubai
O Beach Dubai
Playa Pacha, FIVE LUXE JBR
Praia, FIVE Palm Jumeirah
The 305
WET Deck, W Dubai - The Palm
Zero Gravity
Best Ladies' Night
Asia Asia, Dubai Marina
Bar Du Port
Barfly by Buddha Bar, Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Canary Club
CÉ LA VI
Couqley
Iris
Nonya, Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers
Paradiso Dubai, FIVE LUXE JBR
RARE Brasserie and Bar
Seven Sisters, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Soiree, ME Dubai
The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill
Topgolf Dubai
Best Happy Hour
Barasti Beach, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort
CLAW BBQ, Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Garden on 8, Media One Hotel
Goose Island Tap House, FIVE Jumeirah Village
Joe’s Backyard Gastropub, Jumeirah Islands Clubhouse
Lah Lah
Lock Stock & Barrel, Rixos JBR
McGettigans, JLT
Monkey Bar, 25hours Hotel One Central
ROKA
Spike Bar, Emirates Golf Club
The Irish Village, Al Garhoud
Vuvuzela Pub, Fairmont the Palm
Best Live Music Venue
Barasti Beach, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort
Bla Bla
Buddha Bar
Fibber Magees, Sheikh Zayed Road
Hard Rock Cafe Dubai
Jass Lounge
Lock Stock & Barrel, Rixos JBR
McCafferty’s, Jumeirah Village Circle
McGettigans, JLT
Qs Bar and Lounge, Palazzo Versace
The Irish Village, Al Garhoud
Best Promoter Night
Analog Room at various locations
Bodega by House of Yanos at Secret Room DXB
Family Affairs at Surf Club
FRSH at Be Beach
Garage Nation at P7 Arena
Get Busy by Shef Codes at Monkey Bar Dubai
IYKYK at Chanca by Coya
La Parisienne by Futur at Blu
Off The Record at various locations
Plus44 at Blu Dubai
Rendezvous at Cove Beach
VinylSouk at 25Hours
EDITORS’ CHOICE
Best Party Brunch
Bar Du Port
Bubbalicious, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi
Candypants at Akira Back, W Dubai - The Palm
Clap
EnFuego, Atlantis, The Palm
Iris
Naughty Noodles at Maiden Shanghai, FIVE Palm Jumeirah
O Beach
Saffron 2.0, Atlantis, The Palm
Seven Sisters, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Sexy Fish
Wanderlust at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Best Evening Brunch
AURA Skypool
BA Boldly Asian, Fairmont The Palm
Barfly by Buddha Bar, Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Big Fat Greek Brunch at Gallery 7/40
Secret Escape Brunch at Caña By Tamoka, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
Jazz@PizzaExpress
AMMOS, Rixos Premium Dubai
Mi Amie, Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Il Motto, JA Ocean View Hotel, Dubai
STK
Street XO, One&Only One Za’abeel
Siddhartha Lounge by Buddha Bar
Best Beach Restaurant
Bâoli Dubai
Beach Bar and Grill, One&One Royal Mirage
Bungalo 34, Nikki Beach Resort and Spa
Casa Amor, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai
Gigi Rigolatto Dubai
Laguna Beach Taverna, Sofitel Dubai The Palm
Maison de le Plage
Nammos Dubai
Nuska Beach, Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Shimmers, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
Sirene by GAIA
Tagomago
The Beach House, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
Best Beach Bar
Bliss Lounge, Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort
Caña by Tamoka, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
February 30
Jetty Lounge, One&Only Royal Mirage
KoKo Bay
Laguna Beach Taverna, Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort
Sandbar, Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi
Sunset 55, Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Surf Club
The Byron Bathers Club
Ula
Wavebreaker, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
Best Pool Day
Alizée Pool & Beach, Banyan Tree Dubai
Alto 54 – Address Skyview
AURA Skypool
Bâoli Dubai
Cloud 22, Atlantis The Royal
Fairmont The Palm
Maison Revka, Delano Dubai
Playa Pacha, FIVE LUXE JBR
Safina, One & Only The Palm
SAL, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab
Tapasake, One&Only One Za’abeel
Terra Solis
Twiggy
View 180, NH Collection Dubai The Palm
ZETA Seventy Seven, Address Beach Resort
Best Pub
Eloquent Elephant, Taj Dubai
Ernst Biergarten, 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central
Garden on 8, Media One Hotel
Goose Island Tap House, FIVE Jumeirah Village
Irish Village, Garhoud
JB's Gastropub, Amwaj Rotana – Jumeirah Beach
McCaffery’s, JVC
McGettigan’s, JLT
Phileas Fogg’s
Reform Social & Grill Dubai
The Black Sheep
The Crafty Fox, Jumeirah Golf Estates
The Dubliners, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre
Toad in the Hole, Topgolf Dubai
Best Sports Bar
Bedrock
Bridgewater Tavern, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
CLAW BBQ, Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Garden on 8
Icon Bar, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City
Joe’s Backyard, Jumeirah Islands Clubhouse
Offside, JA Ocean View Hotel
Roaring Rabbit, Taj Exotica Resort and Spa The Palm Dubai
Seven Sports Bar, NH Collection Dubai The Palm
Spike Bar, Emirates Golf Club
The Coterie
The Taphouse, Dubai Hills
The Yard, Topgolf Dubai
TJ’s, Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers
Urban Bar and Kitchen – UBK, Mövenpick Jumeirah Lakes Towers
Best Rooftop Bar
Above Eleven, Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah
Attiko, W Dubai Mina Seyahi
CouCou Dubai
High Society, The Lana, Dorchester Collection
Luna Dubai, Four Seasons Hotel DIFC
Mercury Rooftop, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
Ongaku by Clap
Ruby Ru by Iris
SoBe, W Dubai – The Palm
The Penthouse Dubai, FIVE Palm Jumeirah
ZETA Seventy Seven, Address Beach Resort
Best Sundowner Spot
Attiko, W Dubai Mina Seyahi
Bungalo 34, Nikki Beach Resort and Spa
Caña by Tamoka, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
Kinugawa, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
La Baia
NOÉPE, Park Hyatt Dubai
ONDA by Pierchic, Jumeirah Al Qasr
Piatti by the Beach, Raffles The Palm Dubai
Pure Sky Lounge, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
Shimmers, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
The Beach House, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
The Cullinan, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
Best Date Night Spot
Chez Wam
CQ French Brasserie
Bar des Prés
HANU
Blue Door, Delano Dubai
Kinoya
HuQQabaz, Souk Al Bahr
The Maine Land Brasserie
NOLA
Dragonfly
THREE CUTS
Trove
La Dame De Pic, One&Only One Za’abeel
Kira, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
Le Relais de l’Entrecôte
Cafe Belge, The Ritz Carlton, DIFC
Le Petite Maison Dubai
Rare Brasserie and Bar
Best Dinner and a Show
Aretha
Adaline
Buddha-Bar Dubai
Billionaire Dubai
Birds, The Address Downtown Dubai
Dream Dubai, Address Beach Resort
Gatsby
The Maine Land Brasserie
The Theater
Josette
Scandal Dubai
The Showhouse
Best Speakeasy Bar
GABA
LITT, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
Aether, W Dubai - The Palm
Blind Tiger, Jumeirah Al Naseem
Hush Hush, The Nice Guy
Smoke and Mirrors, SLS Dubai
Voyage by Amelia
Moonshine
Bund – Shanghai ME
Chanca by Coya
NYX - Gaia
Best Cocktail Bar
Alma Music and Art Lounge
Amelia, Address Sky View
Bahri Bar, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
CLAP
Galaxy Bar
Honeycomb HiFi, Pullman Dubai Downtown
Isabella Cucina Italiana, Vida Emirates Hills
Mimi Kakushi
Negroni Lounge, Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Paradiso Dubai, FIVE LUXE JBR
Polo Bar, Al Habtoor Palace
Rialto, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
Rose Bar, Delano Dubai
Savant, SO/ Uptown Dubai
St Regis Bar, St Regis Dubai, The Palm
Best Entertainment Venue
Bedrock
Boom Battle Bar
Brass Monkey, City Walk
Brewdog
Five Iron Golf Dubai
Goose Island Tap House, FIVE LUXE JBR
Lucky Voice Dubai
Social Distrikt, Dubai Mall
Swingers
The 44, Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City
Topgolf Dubai
Urban Bar and Kitchen – UBK, Mövenpick Jumeirah Lakes Towers
Wavehouse, Atlantis, The Palm
Best Concert or Gig
30 Seconds to Mars, Coca Cola Arena
Green Day, Expo City Dubai
Hans Zimmer, Dubai Opera
James Blunt, Coca Cola Arena
Lea Salonga, Coca Cola Arena
Lionel Richie, Atlantis, The Palm
Ricky Martin, Coca Cola Arena
The Corrs, Coca Cola Arena
The Script, Media City Amphitheatre
Wiz Khalifa, Coca Cola Arena
Best Festival
Beat the Heat DXB
Defected Dubai
Elrow
Garage Nation
LOADED, The Irish Village
Mixtape
Pub in the Park
Rewind Fest DXB
Soho Garden Festival
Sole DXB
Summer in Nashville
UNTOLD Dubai
Best Coffee Parties
Fred’s Coffee Parties
Secret Coffee Parties
No Filter
Soul Sessions
IKTO
Best International DJ Set
Bedouin, Be Beach
Black Coffee, Dubai Harbour
BLONDISH, Surf Club
Calvin Harris, Ushuaia
Fat Boy Slim, Terra Solis
Kygo, CocaCola
Martin Garrix, Atlantis, The Palm
Peggy Gou, Soho Garden DXB
Rampa, Playa Pacha, FIVE LUXE JBR
Solomun, Playa Pacha, FIVE LUXE JBR
Steve Aoki, Barasti Beach, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort
Tiesto, Coca Cola Arena
Best Beach Club
Be Beach
Kyma Beach Dubai
La Cantine Beach, Delano Dubai
GITANO Dubai
Kaimana Beach
COVEBEACH
Nikki Beach Dubai
O Beach Dubai
SĀN Beach
Twiggy
Verde Beach Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Zero Gravity
Best Party Restaurant
Amazónico Dubai
Bagatelle Dubai, Fairmont Dubai
CÉ LA VI
CouCou Dubai
GÅL Dubai
Ling Ling, Atlantis The Royal
Miss Lily’s
OPA
STK
Surf Club
Tête-à-Tête, FIVE LUXE JBR
Verde Dubai
GRAND PRIX
Newcomer of the year
Sirene by GAIA
Bâoli Dubai
1920
Ruby Ru by Iris
IZEL Lounge, JW Marriott Marquis
Swingers Dubai
Rose Bar, Delano Dubai
Gatsby
Nightclub of the year
1 OAK, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Armani/Privē, Armani Hotel Dubai
Bling, FIVE Palm Jumeirah
Iris
Ling Ling, Atlantis The Royal
Sky 2.0
Soho Garden DXB
The Avenue, Shangri-La Dubai
Bar of the year
Alma Music & Art Lounge
Amelia, Address Sky View
Attiko, W Dubai – Mina Seyahi
Bar Du Port
Chanca by Coya
Clap
Fibber Magees, Sheikh Zayed Road
Galaxy Bar
Goose Island Tap House, FIVE LUXE
Honeycomb HiFi, Pullman Dubai Downtown
Hush Hush, The Nice Guy
Lah Lah
LITT, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
McCafferty’s JVC
McGettigan’s JLT
Mimi Kakushi
Monkeybar, 25hours Hotel One Central
Negroni Lounge, Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Paradiso Dubai, FIVE LUXE
Reform Social & Grill
Rose Bar, Delano Dubai
Smoke and Mirrors, SLS Dubai
The Coterie
The Yard at Topgolf
ZUMA
News
2025 Sponsors & Partners
Sponsors
Audio Visual Partner
Vote Processing Partner
Beverage Partner
Presented By
Contact
For Editorial Enquiries
Madie Murphy
For Sponsorship & Tables Enquiries – Dubai
Violeta Popescu
Pamela Bayram
Ali Mohammad
For Sponsorship & Tables Enquiries –
Abu Dhabi
Lina Abdelaziz
For Event Enquiries
Stuart Norbury
For Marketing & Media Partnerships
Priyadarshini Rampuria