How Dubai again defines the house music scene- which was once a grim underground genre, has now been converted into beach clubs, bottle service and guest lists with world-class DJs

With Sandy Beach clubs, luxurious rings on the roof and an endless selection of A-list DJs, Dubai Quickly becomes the world’s most unexpected hotspots in house music.

Dubai is called the ‘Ibiza of the East’ and offers its own unique style of home-driven events that brings a luxurious, high-end feeling to the genre of music.

Far away from the roots of house music from Underground Chicago Clubs and warehouses in the 1980s, where it was raw, grim and anti-establishment.

House music has evolved and split into different scenes, with large DJs who play melodic or deep house at beach clubs with bottle service, clothing codes and guest lists.

An event that embodies this new style of the house music scene is Pacha icons at Five Luxe, who have a selection of international DJs, including Solomun, Camelphat and Afro Houseer Pioneer Black Coffee they have on rotation.

However, Dubai was not always known for his Boujee House -music scene, in fact it only became in the early 2000s that housing music became popular in the VAE.

Dubai has compiled his own unique style of home events and in the last 25 years the genre has been shot up in the country, so that music lovers are brought from Wijd and Zijd, but it was not always the case.

In 2002, DJ Greg Stainer, from Southeast Londs, moved a prominent figure in the British garage scene, to Dubai and played a crucial role in the introduction and popularization of house music in the VAE.

He started DJ residence in different night clubs in the city and started presenting a house music radio show, Club Anthems, on the VAE Radio 1.

Stainer’s efforts helped to bridge the gap between Western electronic music and the local audience.

With Femail he said: ‘When I first emigrated, there was not much house in Dubai. Most clubs played Pop, Hip Hop/RNB and those who played a house usually played a trance. ‘

Greg claimed that he initially found it difficult to introduce this style of music to the Dubai audience.

He added: ‘I was initially booked to only play the house and garage, but I soon realized that I had to adjust and play Pop/RNB and then slowly introduce sinks into my sets.

‘Starting with Super Commercial House and Pop House Remixes, so that the crowd would learn the tracks and she would get to know, it took a few months and they actually started to keep more’ right ‘house in my sets.

“Eventually, after a few years I was able to do the whole nights of pure house music and people would specifically only come for those house evenings.”

How fast progresses to today and Dubai’s house music scene is lively and dynamic, characterized by a mix of traditional influences and contemporary innovations.

In May, Bosnian-German DJ Solomun, known for its characteristic sound that combines deep house, techno and tech-house elements, the decks in pacha icons.

In the meantime, Camelphat headed only a few weeks before Global House Music Heavyweights headed the location with support from Adam ten.

The platinum-selling Liverpool duo has become one of the most recognizable acts in home music. In addition to Grammy nominated for their hit single ‘Cola’, they have organized residences in top clubs worldwide.

However, it is not just about the music, Dubai is proud of a high production value with lasers, dancers, bottle service and stunning locations.

Pacha icons organize location Playa’s Pacha’s Strandfront setting reflects the Ibiza Party Spirit and Instagram-worthy aesthetics.

Bonnie Rakhit, travel editor, influencer and TV presenter, revealed that the music scene of Dubai has many similarities with those of Ibiza.

She explained speaking with Femail: ‘Dubai’s house music scene reflects Ibiza’s focus on international DJs, expensive mega clubs and luxury outdoor locations.

‘Just like Ibiza, Dubai organizes the world-famous home and techno-acts such as David Guetta, Black Coffee and Solomun, in his beach clubs, lounges on the roof and desert festivals.

“Timing in terms of, the EDM (Electronic Dance Music) loves international Jet-set head to Ibiza for the summer season and then Dubai houses their megaparties in the winter months.”

Bonnie explained while the two hotspots offer comparable party scenes, the music scene of Dubai is ‘more polished’.

She explained: ‘Ibiza is the original, the maker and the incubator of the talent (if you want) and Dubai can afford to pay the same names to come and play at the luxury locations.

‘While Ibiza embodies a Bohemian and free-spirited atmosphere, Dubai offers a more polished, high-end and ordered scene.

‘The alcohol laws and opening times in Ibiza, for example, have a very free, liberal attitude. But in Dubai there are many more alcoholic restrictions and stricter regulations. ‘

The solid position of the VAE with regard to drug and alcohol consumption ensures that music events in Dubai retain a polished, luxurious atmosphere, so that they are distinguished from party scenes in other global cities.

Alcohol can only be consumed by people over 21 in licensed locations or private homes with a permit.

Public drinking is strictly forbidden and the VAE maintains a zero tolerance policy for possession and use of drugs.

Bonnie added: “There is still an underground, raw music scene in Ibiza, but the Dubai scene is much more commercial and VIP focust.”

In the meantime, Jay Wirsig Outdoor Travel Expert and CEO of Kayaararm claimed that Dubai has something unique to offer travelers that you don’t get elsewhere.

With Femail he said: ‘Dubai has carved a completely different kind of party atmosphere than what you see in places such as Ibiza or Mykonos.

‘As a solo traveler, the contrast immediately falls between how tight the scene is checked and how large the productions are.

‘The locations are not only clubs, but often luxurious experiences with a beautiful view, roofs and private tables that feel more compiled than chaotic.

‘You will not find many spontaneous beach parties or open air travels, but you will find high -quality spaces with strong sound systems and international DJs from top class, especially playing home and techno.

‘In contrast to Ibiza, where the party can feel raw and wild and often floats on the street or beach, Dubai keeps things tight and limited.

‘You often have to book ahead and clothing codes are taken seriously. But the advantage is that you can feel safer and things tend to walk on time. ‘

Another reason why Dubai is unique to his home music events is that the season usually runs from October to May, because during the summer months it is too hot to make acts perform, especially outside.

Fabrice, who is a DJ at Five Luxe, claimed that the VAE will be the ‘ideal winter destination for the international electronic music circuit’.

He explained: ‘With his world-class infrastructure, strategic geographical location and consistent investments in cultural innovation, the city becomes an ideal winter destination for the international electronic music circuit-especially when European markets arrive their off-season.

‘The momentum suggests that Dubai will increasingly organize flagship events, conferences and cross-continental collaborations.

“The Pacha ICONS series, in particular, has brought a consistent rotation of artists of world-class from whom much defines the Ibiza circuit with a new level of creative and cultural capital.”

Fabrice revealed that Five Hotels has a ‘deep -rooted dedication to form the music scene in Dubai’, and even add their own music studio in the Penthouse, Five Palm Jumeirah, so local talent and international headliners can work together.

The DJ revealed that Dubai is known for his own unique sound that is ‘non-underground’ and far away from the original roots of house music.

He added: “Dubai gradually develops his own sonic identity-one that is accessible, polished and clearly non-ground.”

Home music originated for the first time in the early 1980s in Chicago and it was a much grim experience than we see today, played with music in Underground warehouses.

American DJ, Frankie Knuckles, who was Often referred to as the ‘Godfather of House’, played a crucial role in shaping the sound.

Knuckles, who died in 2014, blending disco classics with drum machine rhythms and synthesized bass lines to create something completely new.

By the mid -1980s, house music had crossed the Atlantic Ocean and found a home in the UK, with dance clubs that played a key role in spreading house music across the country.

By the 1990s, the new generation began to evolve and left it in various subgenres, deep house, progressive house, garage and uk garage and tribal house.

House music also gained ground in places such as Ibiza, which became a Mecca for club culture.

Against the housing music of the 2000s will be more mainstream. With the rise of digital production tools and platforms such as YouTube and Soundcloud, aspiring producers can share music worldwide without a label.

The music scene of Dubai began to embrace home music around this time, influenced by the growing international community of the city and the budding nightlife.

At the beginning of 2010, the EDM (Electronic Dance Music) pushed Boom House and other electronic genres in stadiums and festivals. Artists such as David Guetta, the Swedish mafia of the house and Avicii brought inspired sounds for pop music in the house and attracted massive crowds, sold out stadiums.