3 Best Nightlife in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Opening in 2002, Boudoir was the first French lounge-styled club to open in Dubai (of course, without the Burlesque dancers). Think flocked wallpaper, chandeliers and gilded fretwork offset by glossy black furnishings. The champagne continues to flow freely here, just like it did at the Moulin Rouge in Paris's heyday. Lovers of Bollywood and Persian cinema flock to Boudoir, because it's known to have been a preferred venue for celebrities. You'll need to look the part, so dress to attract attention—plenty of bling, labels, and flesh.

The perfect place to get your tiki on while lapping up Dubai's tropical climate, Mahiki is a Polynesian-themed club, complete with all the fantasy interiors you might expect, and most of the drinks are served in novelty cups, treasure chests, and coconuts. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun, the crowd outgoing and ready for anything, but you should still dress to impress. Music ranges in style depending on the night, but they are particularly good at retro tunes that will have you singing as well as dancing.

XL shares some traits with nearby Barasti, in that it's sprawling, by the beach, has DJs and live acts, and