5 season closing parties in Dubai this weekend

The Dubai clubbing scene is a little like European football. For the city’s DJs and promoters, May is the time when the hard work has been done, the celebrations can begin and everyone can look forward to spending the next three months on a beach in the Mediterranean before it all begins again in the autumn.

Here are five parties that are bringing the curtain down on their Dubai seasons for 2015/16 this weekend. Choose carefully.

Nasimi Sessions
It must be difficult for house music fans to know which party to pick this weekend. The closing night of the Nasimi Sessions, for instance, sees William Grigahcine AKA DJ Snake headline the outdoor venue. The DJ and producer has been responsible for a string of hits in the last few years, including the likes of “Get Low”, “Middle” and “Turn Down For What?” that all made an impact on the US Dance charts. In fact, the Parisian first made his name by working on Lady Gaga’s barnstorming debut album Born This Way, which earned him a Grammy nomination for his efforts, before his alter ego came to the fore with high-profile collaborations with the acts of the calibre of Major Lazer on their global smash “Lean On Me”.
Behind the decks, he has supported Skrillex on his global tours and played most of the major festivals, including a now legendary set at Coachella. At Nasimi, he will be joined by long-time friend and co-conspirator Tchami, who will be warming up the crowd before DJ Snake’s appearance some time around midnight. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are AED200 on the door – although ladies enter for free until 9pm.
Where: Nasimi Beach, Atlantis The Palm
When: Thursday, May 19, 7pm-3am
Who: DJ Snake, DJ Tchami
Contact: +971 55 200 4321

Decibel Tech’s Season Closing
This is the last Decibel Tech party of what has been a hectic season, one in which the quartet behind the brand – Amr Ahmed, Joseph Hobeika, Karam Toubba and Rock Lebbos – elevated their brand from small, local events to hosting international DJ talent. This is their 16th party and, for their last of the season, they’re going out in some style by drafting in Marc Maya to headline.
“Marc Maya is a brand by himself,” says Rock Lebbos. “The oldest Elrow resident, he’s played all over Europe, Asia, the US and has just came back from a tour in Latin America – and let’s not forget all the festivals in between. So to continue on the same energy from our last party it’s a great way to finish off the season.”
Aidin Karami and Decibel’s own Toubba are on warm-up duties, before the gang head off to Europe to scout more up and coming talent for Decibel’s return after the summer.
Where: Level 41, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City
When: Thursday, May 19, 10pm-3am
Who: Marc Maya, Aidin Karami, Toubba
Contact: +971 55 656 6554

Electric Odyssey
Born in Lebanon, the Electronic Odyssey parties were developed by Iron Cult and brought to the UAE by The Crystal Group – the people behind both its host, Eden Beach Club on The Palm and popular DIFC hangout, Caramel. For their final party of their first full season, they are promising 12 DJs in 12 hours – all on one giant dancefloor. Topping the bill is German “high-tech minimal” house DJ Boris Brejcha, and he will be playing alongside regular Beatport chart-topper Julian Jeweil from France.
The whole party will have a tropical-slash-Amazonian theme, so bring your Hawaiian beachwear or Tarzan trunks to help you get lost in madness – although, be warned, there is a strict door policy of couples and mixed groups only. But if you get there before 5pm, it’s free entry. If you leave it until after 7pm, it’s AED 150.
Where: Eden Beach Clubs, Rixos The Palm
When: Friday, May 20
Who: Boris Brejcha, Julian Jeweil, Laura Jones, Matt Tolfrey, Rolls’N’Do, Aidin Karami, Dante, Deian, KayteK, Maks and Mo-ee
Contact: +9714 277 1477

Mercury Lounge Presents
Mercury Lounge will be hosting its last party on the Four Seasons’ resort rooftop before closing for the summer – and will be doing so by decking itself out in all white. The Special White Wonderland bash will try to cool the eyes if not the body with a white-out party that includes
a snow machine covering the whole space with an Alpine frosting. There will also be an illusionist and air dancer to add
a touch of magic to the evening. Resident DJ Ilona Maras will be on hand to kick the party into high gear for the last time until October. Best of all? It’s free.
Where: Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
When: Friday, May 20, from 9pm
Who: DJ Ilona Maras
Contact: +9714 270 7804

Audio Tonic’s last 360° party
It’s the end of an era. Audio Tonic have been running one of the most significant nights on Dubai’s clubbing scene for ten years and now they’re saying goodbye to their long-time host, 360° at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. To mark the occasion, they have lined up nine of the brand’s part and current residents to blast through 11 hours of music at the end-of-the-jetty venue.
“You know when you finish a really good book, and in your mind go through each chapter from the start to finish before thinking; what a ride!? Well, that’s how I feel about Audio Tonic at 360,” says Mike Bufton, the key mover behind the brand. “I feel immensely proud to have influenced the history of our city, and proud of the team and also the friends and family we have made on the dancefloor who have supported us for so long.
“The final lineup is pretty much all the residents from past and present, we are only short of a couple of guys – we’ll miss you Rod and Vas! Maybe there’ll be a little surprise guest appearance on the night.” The setlist will, he adds, be guaranteed to evoke plenty of nostalgia, as they delve through ten years of music.
Where: Jumeirah Beach Hotel
When: Friday, May 20
Who: Jason Dodds, JC Pinto, Julian Jinx, Megadon Betamax, Mr Mr, Rich Showell, Russ Cooper and Tobie Allen
Contact: