Dubai Friday Brunch Guide
Friday brunch is Dubai's biggest weekly social institution — an all-you-can-eat-and-drink feast typically running from noon to 4 PM. This guide covers every price tier, the best venues by category, how to save money, and the etiquette you need to know.
Born and raised in Dubai. Journalism MA (American University in Dubai). Columnist at local women's magazines 2019–2024.
What Is Dubai Friday Brunch?
Dubai Friday Brunch is an all-you-can-eat (and usually all-you-can-drink) meal held on Friday lunchtime — Dubai's equivalent of Sunday lunch in the UK or bottomless brunch in the US, but turned up to 11. It has been a cornerstone of Dubai's expat social calendar since the 1990s.
Brunch runs from approximately noon to 4 PM at hundreds of venues across the city, ranging from casual beach clubs to Michelin-calibre fine dining restaurants. Friday is the first day of the UAE weekend (Friday–Saturday), so brunch is the focal social event of the week for many residents.
Timing
Typically Friday 12 PM–4 PM. Saturday brunches are growing in popularity.
Pricing
AED 150 to AED 1,200+ per person, depending on venue and beverages package.
Beverages
Usually tiered: soft drinks, house beverages, or premium (Champagne and premium spirits).
Always Book in Advance
Brunch Price Tiers
Budget
AED 150–250Food + soft drinks. Some venues offer an optional alcohol add-on for AED 50–100 more.
Top Venues
- Garden on 8 (Media One Hotel) — Popular garden setting; good vibe; central JLT location
- Tribes (Towers Rotana) — African-themed; known for generous portions and good value
- Zero Gravity Beach Club — Pool and beach setting; great if you want outdoors without spending premium prices
- Loca (La Mer) — Mexican-themed brunch; casual beach location
Mid-Range
AED 250–450Food + house beverages (beer, house wine, prosecco, house spirits). Most popular price bracket.
Top Venues
- Saffron (Atlantis The Palm) — Massive international buffet; over 220 dishes; iconic venue
- Bubbalicious (Westin Dubai) — Long-running popular brunch; reliable quality; family-friendly option available
- McGettigan's (various locations) — Irish pub brunch; lively and fun; great for groups; live music
- Asia Asia (Pier 7, Dubai Marina) — Asian-fusion; spectacular marina views from the 7th floor
- Lock, Stock & Barrel (JBR) — American-style; buzzing atmosphere; good for groups
Premium
AED 450–700Food + premium beverages (Champagne, premium wines, premium spirits). High-end restaurants.
Top Venues
- Nobu (Atlantis The Royal) — World-famous Japanese-Peruvian; exceptional food quality; stunning venue
- Zuma (DIFC) — Japanese robata; consistently ranked among Dubai's best brunches; great atmosphere
- La Petite Maison (DIFC) — French Riviera cuisine; elegant setting; sophisticated crowd
- Tresind Studio (various) — Modern Indian; theatrical food presentations; excellent for foodies
- Coya (Four Seasons DIFC) — Peruvian; lively music; good cocktail selection
Ultra-Luxury
AED 700–1,200+Unlimited premium Champagne, spirits, and extraordinary food. Often includes an after-party or entertainment.
Top Venues
- Ossiano (Atlantis) — Underwater restaurant; extraordinary setting surrounded by the Ambassador Lagoon aquarium
- Al Habtoor Polo Resort — Lavish garden setting; live polo match sometimes included; very special occasion brunch
- Flow Kitchen (Four Seasons JBR) — Beachfront; extensive Champagne selection; beautiful setting
Best Brunches by Category
Best for Families with Kids
- •Bubbalicious (Westin Dubai) — dedicated kids' area and supervised activities
- •Saffron (Atlantis) — massive buffet with plenty of child-friendly options
- •Wafi Gourmet Friday Brunch — relaxed and family-oriented
Best Pool Brunch
- •Drift Beach (One&Only The Palm) — exclusive beach club vibes
- •Zero Gravity — large pool deck on the beach
- •Penthouse (Five Palm Jumeirah) — rooftop pool with city views
Best Views
- •Asia Asia (Pier 7) — sweeping Dubai Marina panorama from the 7th floor
- •At.mosphere (Burj Khalifa) — brunch at 122 floors; AED 500+
- •Cé La Vi (Address Sky View) — 360-degree city views
Best for Large Groups
- •McGettigan's — large capacity, great for 10–20 people; no fussy dress code
- •Saffron (Atlantis) — vast venue; handles large groups well
- •Lock, Stock & Barrel — casual and fun; easy group dynamics
Best Value for Money
- •Garden on 8 (Media One) — AED 195 soft drinks; great food and atmosphere for the price
- •Tribes (Towers Rotana) — AED 180–265; well-cooked food; generous portions
- •McGettigan's — AED 199–295 including beverages; excellent fun-per-dirham ratio
How to Save Money on Brunch
Entertainer App
50% off (pay for 1, get 1 free)The Entertainer app offers 2-for-1 brunch deals at hundreds of venues in Dubai. At AED 400 for an annual subscription, it pays for itself in one or two brunches. Check the app before booking any brunch.
Early Bird Discounts
AED 50–150 offSome venues offer reduced rates for early arrival (12–1 PM) before the main crowd arrives. Ask when booking. Less common but worth checking for pricier venues.
The Fork
Varies; typically 25–50%TheFork (formerly LaFourchette) occasionally offers yieldigo promotions on restaurant bookings including brunches. Free to use — worth checking before booking.
Credit Card Dining Offers
10–25% cashback or discountEmirates NBD Skywards credit cards, ADCB Traveller cards, and FAB cards all offer dining discounts and cashback at selected restaurants. Check your bank's dining portal before booking.
Birthday Freebies
One brunch freeMany venues offer the birthday person's brunch free when dining with a group. Contact venues directly and mention it's a birthday celebration when making the reservation.
Soft Drinks Package
AED 100–150 per non-drinkerIf some in your group don't drink alcohol, always book them on the soft drinks package — often AED 100–150 cheaper than the house beverages option. Venues mix packages at the same table.
Brunch Etiquette & Tips
Book at least 3–5 days ahead for popular venues
Dubai's most popular Friday brunches — especially at Atlantis, DIFC restaurants, and beach clubs — fill up by Tuesday or Wednesday. For premium venues like Zuma or Nobu, book 1–2 weeks ahead.
Smart casual dress code is standard
No sportswear, flip-flops, or beachwear inside dining venues. Most mid-range and premium brunches enforce a smart casual minimum. Beachwear brunches at beach clubs are the obvious exception.
Arrive within the first hour
The best selection of food — especially at buffet brunches — is in the first 60–90 minutes. Hot dishes are replenished throughout but the first wave is always freshest. Don't arrive at 3 PM and expect full service.
Plan your way home
Taxis and Uber are expensive on Friday afternoons when every brunch ends simultaneously. Pre-book a taxi, arrange a dedicated driver, or designate a non-drinking member of your group to drive.
Public intoxication is illegal in Dubai
Drinking at brunch is legal in licensed venues. However, being visibly drunk in public — including in taxis, on the metro, or on the street — is a criminal offence in the UAE. Pace yourself.
Respect time limits
Most brunches run exactly 4 hours (noon–4 PM). When time is called, service stops promptly. Some venues charge for overtime. Do not try to extend — it creates difficulties for staff and the next booking.
Saturday Brunches
Saturday brunches are growing rapidly in Dubai as venues seek to spread demand across both weekend days. They tend to be less crowded than Friday, making them a good option if you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere. Prices and quality are generally the same as Friday.
Venues with strong Saturday brunches include: Saffron (Atlantis), McGettigan's, Lock Stock & Barrel, Jumeirah Beach Hotel restaurants, and most hotel brunches. Check individually as not all venues run both days.
Seasonal Pricing
Summer (June–September)
Many venues reduce brunch prices by 20–50% during summer when expat families are away and overall F&B traffic drops. This is the best time to try premium venues at a reduced rate. Beach and pool brunches shift to indoor or shaded settings.
Winter Peak Season (Nov–March)
Highest prices and highest demand. Book well in advance, especially for December and January. Some venues add a surcharge for holidays (Christmas, New Year). Pool brunches and outdoor venues are at their absolute best in this period.
Alcohol-Free Brunch Options
Top brunch venues — 30+ across all tiers
These are the brunches we'd send a friend to. Sortable by tier and price; areas included so you can pair with a hotel staycation. Always book ahead — top brunches sell out 1–2 weeks in advance for Fridays.
The Saturday brunch trend — what's changed since 2022
Friday is still the iconic Dubai brunch day, but Saturday brunch has grown rapidly since the UAE shifted to a Saturday–Sunday weekend in January 2022. Many venues now run two weekly brunch sessions — Friday is the lively party-style brunch; Saturday tends to be slower-paced, more family-friendly, and often slightly cheaper.
- Friday brunches are typically 12 PM–4 PM, the original concept, often party-leaning. Best venues: Bubbalicious, Saffron, Cocktail Kitchen, Asia Asia.
- Saturday brunches are usually quieter, family-oriented, and cheaper by 10–25%. Strong options: Asia Asia Slow, Reform Social, Black Tap, Atisuto.
- Sunday lunches exist but are still niche — focused on UK-pub-style roasts (The Hamptons, Reform Social, Maison Mathis). Slowly growing.
Family-friendly brunches — kids' clubs and entertainment
Dubai has a robust family-brunch market — many venues run dedicated kids' clubs (face-painting, balloon entertainers, mini-buffets) so parents can actually relax. Best family-brunch options:
- Atlantis The Palm — Saffron + Kid's Club: dedicated kids' club inside the brunch venue; adults from AED 495, kids under 12 AED 195.
- Westin Mina Seyahi — Bubbalicious: kids' entertainment area, balloon artists, kids' menu. Adults AED 700+, kids 6–12 AED 250.
- Crowne Plaza SZR — Cucina: kids under 12 eat free with paying adults. Genuinely good value.
- JW Marriott Marquis — Kitchen 6: kids' menu and entertainer most weekends.
- Sofitel JBR — Latitude: family brunch option; sea-view terrace.
- Black Tap (multiple locations): American diner kids love; not technically a brunch but covers the slot.
Brunch etiquette and dress code
- Dress code: "smart casual" for most brunches. No flip-flops, beach shorts, or visible swimwear. Premium venues (Bvlgari, Atlantis Royal) require closed shoes and collared shirts for men.
- Beach club brunches: swimwear acceptable poolside but most venues require a cover-up at the table.
- Tipping: 10% service charge usually included in bill. An additional AED 50–100 per person tip for great service is appreciated but not expected.
- Bringing kids: some brunches are 21+; check before booking. Most family brunches welcome under-12s and run kids' clubs.
- Cancellation: most brunches require 24-hour cancellation; late cancellations or no-shows are charged at full price.
- Time limit: brunch slots run noon–4 PM typically. Most venues turn over for an evening service afterward, so guests are politely moved out at 4 PM.
Public alcohol display rules apply
Dubai laws on public alcohol display are strictly enforced — drink only at the table, don't walk around with a drink in hand outside the venue, never drink-drive (zero tolerance + immediate jail-and-deportation risk). Pre-book Careem or Hala for the journey home; don't rely on flagging a taxi outside the brunch (they're already booked solid by 4 PM Friday).
How to save money on brunch
- Entertainer / Hi5 Apps: 2-for-1 brunch deals at hundreds of venues. AED 350–400/year membership pays back inside 2 brunches.
- Group Buy / Cobone offers: brunch packages 30–50% off in regular Cobone / Groupon-style offers. Quality varies — check the venue's reputation first.
- Saturday brunches: 10–25% cheaper than equivalent Friday options at most venues.
- Soft drinks package: often AED 150–250 cheaper than the bubbly / spirits version. Worth it for designated drivers and non-drinkers.
- Family brunches with kids-eat-free: Crowne Plaza SZR, Habtoor Grand among others. Saves AED 200+ per child.
- Off-peak Friday slots: some venues offer a 2 PM session at lower price than 12 PM. Useful if you want a less crowded experience.
- Avoid the Christmas / Eid premium: brunches add 30–60% premium for major holidays. Plan around if budget-conscious.