< PreviousIt’s aYour ultimate Dubai night out, no matter what your budget. By Sian Traynor12 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM W hen it comes to nights out, Dubai has it all. Whether it’s happy hour drinks, bouncing night clubs or chilled grape bars that you’re looking for, there’s something happening every day of the week. Some experiences might come with a heavier price tag than others, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a dream night on a budget. If you’re getting the gang together for a night out on the town, or treating your other half to a special evening, we’ve put together some unbelievable itineraries whether you only have Dhs100, or you’re ready to splash out. Cheap and cheerful Sometimes the best nights are free (or only cost a little). In this city, you can have a diary-worthy evening for just a few dirhams, so let’s schedule in some fun without breaking the bank. Not only does this evening include a meal out, you’ll also have enough cash for some early-evening drinks before watching a live show. It doesn’t get much better (or cheaper) than this. BUDGET: DHS100 Activity: Admire the Imagine light show Get ready to be awestruck, as you can see this multi-Guinness World Record holder at Festival Bay every night of the week. Only a 15-minute drive away from your sundowner spot (keep reading for BAI Bar), you can be here in no time and grab a front row seat to the show. A fabulous feat of engineering and choreography, the show uses high-powered lasers, more than 70 searchlights, water screens, projections, music, flames and fountains to wow the crowds with a stunning show of light and colour. It’s hard to believe that this show is completely free, but it is – meaning you have even more budget to spend on your dinner (happy days). O Free. Open Mon-Wed 7pm-11pm, Thu-Sun 7pm-11pm (every hour). Dubai Festival City Mall, dubaifestivalcitymall.com (800 332). Dinner: Dig in at Market Island It’s up to you whether you head for dinner before or after the laser show, as your destination is just round the corner inside Dubai Festival City Mall. Opening in 2024, this gigantic food hall is not only licensed, but is open until 1am and has every type of cuisine you can think of. From a fresh scoop at Gelato Ado to the mini-khinkali at Georgian restaurant MZE, you’re going to need to sit on one of those long benches to fit all your dishes in. Your final bill depends on how much you order, but prices here are more than reasonable. For example, a classic chicken sandwich at Hammer Burger will set you back only Dhs39. O Open daily 10am-1am. Dubai Festival City Mall, dubaifestivalcitymall.com (058 524 5807). Drinks: Enjoy drinks at BAI Bar and Terrace This canal-side spot is ideal for sipping a glass of something cold with a view, plus the sunsets against the Business Bay skyline always impress. Making for a brilliant budget spot, the terrace offers a daily hour where you can grab a drink for as little as Dhs25, so why not start your night with a couple of well-priced sundowners? O From Dhs25. Daily 3pm-7pm. Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Canal View, Business Bay, radissonhotels.com (04 875 3300). Imagine Canary Club All budgets covered TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM SUMMER 2025 13 3 absolutely free ladies’ nights Canary Club The deal: Free-flowing grape and selected mixed drinks all night at the bar. Don’t want to spend a single dirham on your night out? Located in the Banyan Tree Residences in Hillside JLT, the cool restaurant and bar welcomes diners to soak up the chilled-back vibe and try the Japanese-Mexican crossover menu. However, ladies can sip on free drinks on Thursdays from 7pm to 1am. If you do want a table instead of the bar, note there’s a Dhs195 per person minimum spend to redeem the offer. You might need to splurge on a new ’fit though. O Free. Thu 7pm-1am. Banyan Tree Residences, JLT, canaryclub.com (04 584 5999). The MAINE Oyster Bar & Grill The deal: Free grape-based beverages at the bar. This New England-inspired seafood restaurant serves ladies unlimited red, white and pink grape every Wednesday night from 8pm to midnight, but only to those in the bar area (whether seated or standing). Head along with your pals and enjoy a budget-friendly night in JBR. O Free. Wed 8pm-midnight. DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai – Jumeirah Beach, JBR, themaine.ae (04 457 6719). Lock, Stock & Barrel, JBR The deal: Unlimited free drinks. Ladies get an impressive four hours of unlimited free-flowing drinks every Tuesday at this cool bar in JBR. Expect classic party tracks, serious energy and an all-round good time. It’s always a party at Lock, Stock & Barrel. O Free. Tue 8pm-midnight. Rixos Premium Dubai, The Walk, JBR, lsbdubai.com (04 392 7120).Dance the night away 1Oak This New York-born nightclub is known for its cool crowd and larger- than-life parties. With branches in Las Vegas and LA, Dubai is on a line-up with some of the coolest cities on the planet, and the JW Marriott Dubai outpost is a must- visit. The luxe nightclub gets busier the later it gets. Expect different DJs every night of the week where you can dance to sizzling tracks. O Open daily 6pm-3am. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, Business Bay, 1oak- dubai.com (052 881 8888). Aretha For a boogie to some powerful funk and Motown tracks, you need to get yourself down to Aretha. Inspired by the queen of soul herself, the white grand piano under an enormous disco ball on the centre stage is a clear indicator of what’s to come here – and that’s seriously captivating live music and copious razzle-dazzle. As the evening progresses the tempo ramps up, after midnight you’ll find yourself immersed in a club right out of the sixties and seventies, showing off your best moves. O Open Wed-Sun 8pm-3am. St. Regis Gardens, Palm Jumeirah, aretha.ae (050 621 0544). Ling Ling It’s not only a club lounge in one of Dubai’s most talked about hotels, it also has some really great music you can shimmy away to. Tucked away on the 23rd floor of Atlantis The Royal, the space is dark and ultra-cool, with different themed nights throughout the week. If you love grooving to some reggaeton then Thursday is your night, whereas if you’re all about the RnB then wait until Saturday. O Open Sun-Wed 6pm-2am, Thu-Sat 6pm- 3am.Atlantis The Royal, Palm Jumeirah, linglingdubai.com (050 653 2098). Swingers Crazy GolfAll budgets covered TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM SUMMER 2025 15 Brilliant bargains A night out under Dhs250 in our opinion is a bargain, especially when you consider how many incredible things you can do in this city. This evening out will take you to Bluewaters Island, home to some impressive views and of course, Ain Dubai. However, on this occasion you won’t be boarding the big wheel, you’ll be having a blast dipping in and out of all that’s on offer around it. BUDGET: DHS250 Activity: Get competitive at Brass Monkey This place is a one-stop fun shop for adults, where you can get competitive for a very reasonable price. Get the gang together and head there early as its first come, first served on the bowling lanes, which are priced at Dhs75 per person per game. Or if you don’t want to show off how good your tenpin skills are, you can opt for a run at the arcade instead. You need to top up a card to play with a minimum of Dhs100, but split between two it’s more than affordable, and you can get a go on Quick Shot or the air hockey table in no time. If you want to spend the night all in one place, it’s worth noting there are top-notch dining deals on almost every night of the week too. For example, on a Monday you can have truffle mac and cheese with a pint of hops for Dhs99, or on Tuesday, it’s a taco and a Mexican mixed drink for the same price. Expect vibey tunes, neon lights and a fun hangout where you can act like a big kid all the way until 2am. O Open Mon-Wed 4pm-2am, Thu-Fri 4pm-3am, Sat noon-3am, Sun noon-2am. Bluewaters, brassmonkeysocial.com (04 582 7277). Activity: Practise your putt at Swingers Crazy Golf Recently landing in Bluewaters, this crazy course will let you have one full round for Dhs80, making it another bargain activity to get under your belt. There are three fun courses to choose from, made up of obstacles from hot air balloons to funfairs. If you fancy a mixed drink then you’re in luck, as the venue lets you take your drinks round the course with you, meanwhile a live DJ will be playing some cracking beats in the background. Don’t forget your phone either, because this place is made for the ’gram. O From Dhs80. Open Mon-Fri 4pm-1am, Sat noon-2am, Sun noon-1am. Bluewaters Island, swingerscrazygolf.ae (04 557 6309). Dinner: Tuck in at Frank Just a few minutes down the road from your activity of choice on Bluewaters is this laid- back barbecue restaurant, perfect for filling you up on a budget. This place is all about generous portions, whether your opting for something from the meat or the tapas menu. Get stuck into a plate of the sweet cola wings, with popcorn, crispy beef bacon and French fries for Dhs65, or a hearty (and cheesy) margherita pizza for just Dhs52. If you’re visiting with the gals on a Thursday then you’re in even bigger luck, as you can make the most of one appetiser and free-flowing drinks for Dhs110 per person (bargain alert). O Open Sun-Thu noon-midnight, Fri-Sat noon-2am. Bluewaters Island, frankmeat.ae (058 634 8811). Drinks: Try some new music at VNYL Hi-Fi By day, the venue is a chilled record store, letting you browse tracks and listen to some of the best music ever made. But by night, the DJ is mixing all the top-tapping tunes with even better company. As day turns to night, the space begins to heat up and that’s when you’ll want to make a swift VNYL Hi-FiAll budgets covered 16 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM move to the secret bar (yep, another bar inside the bar). Walk through the side door and up the spiralling staircase. Once you’ve passed all the ’70s-style wallpaper and ducked through the curtain, your second venue of the night reveals itself. This might be a late-night spot, but the party starts far earlier. By 10pm both floors are busy, and you can let loose on the dancefloor. There’s no doubt that you could ring up quite the bill in here, but if you’re heading out on a tight budget, there’s no need to. If you want to soak up the vibes and nip in for a quick dance, you can order a glass of grape or a bottle of Japanese hops for Dhs65. O Open Mon-Fri 3pm-1am, Sat 1pm-4am, Sun 1pm-4am. Bluewaters Island, vnylhifi.com (052 249 4004). Something extra: Zip along for a scoop at Gelateria La Romana Before you head home, stop in for a single scoop of gelato at the ice cream parlour, which has been coming up with new flavours all the way since 1947. One scoop only costs Dhs25, so you can end on a sugary note while taking a stroll along the boardwalk and taking in the super views. It’s a sweet way to end your evening. O Open Sun-Thu 10am-midnight, Fri-Sat 10am-1am. Bluewaters Island, gelateriaromana.com (04 228 2161). Middle-ground magic Perhaps pay day has just rolled around and this time you have a little more disposable cash to throw around on a night out. Although this won’t buy you a chauffeur- driven limousine and a table in VIP, it’s more than enough to have a cracking night out on the town. For this special evening, we’ll be proving that one Dhs500 note is more than enough to keep you going for the evening. BUDGET: DHS500 Activity: Grab the mic at karaoke Ignite the performer within you and dazzle your mates with a few renditions of your favourite tracks. Book in a private booth at Lucky Voice, where you can all sing (or screech) some songs out, and there’s over 15,000 to choose from. Priced at Dhs44 per person on weekdays and Dhs55 on weekends for an hour slot, the venue also has a free-flowing Friday ladies’ night for Dhs99 and other discounts in the week. O Open Sun-Fri 5pm-3am, Sat 1pm-3am. Grand Millennium Hotel, Barsha Heights, luckyvoice.ae (800 58259). Dinner: Savour a sizzling steak dinner for less Head to Prime68 for 6pm, where you’ll get to sample a three-course selection of signature dishes for only Dhs225 (yes you heard right). This sky-high restaurant has an early-bird dinner with jaw-dropping views of both the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab next to the sunset, depending which side you choose to sit on. However, you’re guaranteed some gorgeous vistas either way. Start with French onion soup or truffle gnocchi, before delving into the mains, including Australian striploin or roasted salmon. What’s more, you’ll even get to pick Gelateria La RomanaAll budgets covered TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM SUMMER 2025 17 Prime68 “An early-bird dinner with jaw-dropping views”18 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM Treat yourself to a night brunch Gallery 7/40 When we say the Big Fat Greek Brunch is loud, we mean really loud. As you’d expect from the Secret Parties people, this is a party brunch, not a chatting brunch. Do not go for a catch-up with mates you’ve not seen in ages as you will not hear a word they say. Not one. Instead, book a table with your best dancing buddies and get set for a night on your feet. Food is really good, with Greek mezze, tiropitakia and lamb pie to start, followed by platters of chicken souvlaki, Greek beef burgers, mussels and seafood orzotto, plus three delicious desserts. You’ll be serenaded by the live singer as you dine and pretty quickly, everyone is up and dancing. O Dhs350 (soft drinks), Dhs445 (short measures and house grape), Dhs545 (Italian bubbly, mixed drinks and hops). Fri 7pm-10pm. The Club, Palm West Beach, Palm Jumeirah, secretparties.com (04 580 3714). Miss Tess Secret Brunch – After Dark at Miss Tess is a spectacular party against the backdrop of panoramic Burj Khalifa views. Top-notch DJs and eclectic entertainers, including a brilliant Chinese dragon duo, lead the evening extravaganza, while you enjoy a seemingly never-ending sharing menu of Asian bites and main courses. Highlights are the rock shrimp tempura, California roll, king pao chicken and warm chocolate fondant. It’s a wild evening you won’t want to end but thankfully, with after-party packages at Treehouse from Dhs100, it doesn’t have to. O Dhs345 (soft drinks), Dhs425 (house beverages), Dhs525 (premium beverages), Dhs745 (bubbly). Sat 7pm-10.30pm. Taj Dubai, Downtown, Downtown Dubai secret- parties.com (050 189 6089). SUSHISAMBAAll budgets covered TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM SUMMER 2025 19 your own steak knife and be treated to a library of sauces to dip into. You can also upgrade to a grape-pairing. O Dhs225 (three-course menu), Dhs374 (three-course menu with grape pairing). Daily, 6pm-6.30pm. JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Business Bay, marriott.com (04 414 3000). Drinks: Sip on something cool at Salmon Guru This mixed-drink bar is known for its weird and wonderful creations, so don’t bother with a glass of grape and go for something different. If you can, opt for a stool at the bar where you can watch your creation being crafted, as well as a live DJ bringing the beats all night. If you get peckish then opt for one of the bar bites, but at around Dhs80 per mixed-drink, you might only have the budget for a drink (or two). O Open Mon-Thu 12.30pm-2am, Sat-Sun 5pm-2am. The Opus by Omniyat, @salmongurudubai (052 814 9537). Drinks: Soak up the vibes at Seven Sisters Looking over the Dubai Canal, this bar knows how to have a good time. Open most the nights of the week with live DJs and an edgy energy, the drinks list is pretty reasonable too, so you won’t have to slowly sip from the same glass all night. If you’re visiting on a Wednesday or a Friday, then be sure to grab a table on the air-conditioned terrace between 6pm and 9pm (there’s a Dhs30 happy hour). O Open Tue-Sat 6pm-3am. JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Business Bay, 7sistersdubai.com (056 775 4777). Pricey perfection There’s a blowout night on the cards and you’ve got the cash to make it a great one. For a special evening out on the town, what better place to do it than on one of Dubai’s most iconic locations, Palm Jumeirah. A popular spot during the day, after dark this neck of the woods gets even better, and you’re going to be spoilt for choice on where to hang your hat for the night. Luckily, we’ve got the perfect itinerary. BUDGET: DHS1,000 Activity: Dip in for a night swim at AURA Skypool Pack your trunks and get ready for some incredible skyline views as you look over Palm Jumeirah at night. The sky-high pool AURA Skypool Next >