Dubai’s beaches are some of the hottest stretches of sand on Earth, quite literally, but in the Emirate where they invented outdoor air-conditioning, that hasn’t stopped the beach club scene from bursting into life.
Perhaps, the biggest name on The Dubai Scene at this moment is Zero Gravity, which is found inside the Skydiver Dubai Drop Zone. It’s not a cheap day out by the standards of some beach club destinations, but for Dubai, it’s relatively affordable, and our team was happy to go and see what Zero Gravity was all about.
This is what our reviewers felt they learned by spending some time at Zero Gravity, Dubai.
Introduction – Getting To Zero Gravity Dubai
Zero Gravity is in the Emirate of Dubai, which is the second largest Emirate in the United Arab Emirates. How far it is to Dubai really depends on where you’re coming from. It’s a relatively short flight from North Africa or Western Europe, but if you’re coming from New York or Sydney, it’s a whole lot further.
Once you reach Dubai, this beach club is about an hour’s drive from the airport, maybe less on a good traffic day, and not far from most spots in the city.
Expect to spend no more than an hour on the road, depending on where you’re starting from in Dubai, possibly much less.
There is valet parking available at the site, and a taxi can drop you off very close to the front door, which is essential as it’s way too hot to walk far.
Where Is Zero Gravity Dubai? Dubai Marina, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone – King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Online: Zero Gravity
Opening Hours: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, 12 p.m. – 3 a.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday, Closed Wednesday. We confess that this may be one of the most needlessly complicated sets of opening hours that we’ve ever seen at a beach club.
What’s Available At Zero Gravity Dubai?
There is a beach, a pool, a restaurant, a garden, a lounge area and various resident DJs depending on when you visit.
Zero Gravity also holds regular events, including both Friday and Sunday brunches, and regular Mermaids Ladies Days. On the ladies’ days, there’s free yoga and an unlimited wine and cocktail menu for a low fixed price from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Our Detailed Review For Zero Gravity Dubai
We wanted to ensure that every review on this site was conducted in the same way. It means we can be consistent and fair to the beach club owners, as well as offer reviews that are easy to use to compare different beach clubs.
- Some of the team are assigned to review a given beach club. They don’t have to visit at the same time or even on the same day.
- Each team member who visits must review the beach club against the criteria set out below and rank the club from 1 (worst) to 5 (best).
- All team members must meet up and discuss their experiences at a beach club. We review and then vote on the club’s final grading in each category.
- One team member then writes a review, including the final scores, which is posted on our website.
Reservation and Booking Process
Unusually for Dubai, there is no reservation process at this beach club. It’s all first-come, first-served.
We can see how that works in the interests of the beach club, which does charge an admission fee that also includes a partial rebate in the form of a food and beverage credit. These charges are higher on weekends than during the week.
However, it does mean that turning up at Zero Gravity is something of a gamble for the beach club visitor. You have no guarantee that you will get a seat and no guarantee that you can get a seat anywhere close to where you want to sit, either.
Ambience and Atmosphere
There’s no doubt that Zero Gravity is a very attractive venue, and that’s only to be expected in a place where nearly every pub, club or restaurant is part of a 5-star hotel complex. If it’s not swanky, it simply can’t compete in Dubai.
However, while the emirate is, by far, more relaxed than places like Saudi Arabia or Qatar, there is also a level of conservatism that you will find hanging in the air, even at “good time” spots like this.
It won’t put a dampener on the day out, but it definitely leads to people putting artificial constraints on their own fun.
We enjoyed being at Zero Gravity, but we can’t say it’s always perfectly comfortable.
Location And Accessibility
The only problem with the location of this beach club is that it’s in Dubai, and Dubai is simply too hot and humid to be believed.
While it might seem this is ideal weather for beach club days, you only have to spend a minute on the sand in bare feet to realise just how dangerous this weather can be.
It also often leads to much lower alcohol tolerance, which can make people more irritable and less social than they might be elsewhere.
But otherwise, this beach club is easy to get to, has good parking and is as well placed for one of Dubai’s beaches as anywhere else in the emirate.
Aesthetic And Design
There are parts of Zero Gravity, like the lounge area, that absolutely scream “luxury,” and there’s no doubt that Dubai’s designers put a lot of thought into this place.
However, there’s no getting around that a lawn area in 40+ degree heat and humidity always feels a touch out of place, and the amount of effort it requires to maintain always makes it look a bit unnatural.
We’d also note that some of the furniture looks a touch cheap when compared to the overall setting, and particularly for this part of the world.
Staff Friendliness and Professionalism (Service Standard)
It’s very rare to go anywhere in Dubai where the service team isn’t completely first rate, and that is also true of Zero Gravity. We expected friendly professionalism, and that’s exactly what we got.
The team comes from a fairly diverse background, which means that there are staff who speak a range of different languages, though English is usually the first language used in the Emirate (yes, English, not Arabic, which tends to be spoken only by the locals).
Everybody in the place was also very well presented, and it was clear that the staff here are used to dealing with demanding customers.
Service Speed and Efficiency
We were also pleasantly surprised by the overall speed and efficiency of the service in Zero Gravity. Once you put in an order, of course, it takes time to prepare and be brought to your table, but you’re never waiting an unreasonable amount of time for it.
The staff are visibly hustling as they move back and forth across the venue, and the management team seem to be in the right place to offer support and encouragement.
Food Quality and Variety
The menu at Zero Gravity is good, there’s a definite emphasis on Mediterranean and Mediterranean-alike food, and we did feel it would be nice to see a little more variety.
However, the ingredients are fresh and of the highest quality, though we suspect they are mainly imported, given how hard it is to grow products in Dubai’s heat.
The prices are a little higher than the average beach club around the world, but then all prices in Dubai are a little higher than average, but there’s nothing here that screams “too much” either.
Beverage Selection and Creativity
They have a huge range of wines and spirits to choose from, which is a nice touch, particularly if you’re in a larger group and buying by the bottle (which is cheaper than buying by the shot).
However, we couldn’t help but feel that a choice of four beers (and not very good beers at that) was a bit of a letdown and that the cocktail list could have used being longer, too.
We did think that cocktails were beautifully presented, and we understand the argument that a small cocktail list ensures that each one is prepared perfectly, but we want lots of choice when we spend a whole day by the beach in Dubai, and there’s not enough.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
With labour costs being as low as they are, it won’t surprise you to learn that everything in this emirate is fastidiously clean, and that’s also true of Zero Gravity.
From the pool area to the dance floor, you could probably eat your lunch off of anything in this beach club (though we wouldn’t recommend trying it, it would probably get you thrown out too).
Certainly, the pool water looked immaculate, and that meant we were happy to swim and cool off without worrying about putting our heads underwater.
Comfort of Seating and Lounging Areas
Again, while some parts of this beach club feel decadent and amazingly comfortable, some of the seating feels a bit cheaper than we’d expect for Dubai.
In particular, the seats in the garden area didn’t feel cushioned enough to spend a whole day lounging around on them. They were fine for a couple of hours, but we wouldn’t want to be there any longer than that.
This may be a conscious decision from the management to try and increase overall footfall on a daily basis, but we’d rather they just made everything comfy all the same.
Music and Entertainment
Zero Gravity really comes alive at night, and there’s no doubt that on weekdays, the in-house resident DJs do their best to keep everyone moving.
On weekends, they step things up a bit and have regular international guest DJs, which makes things even more varied and exciting.
However, this is very much limited to certain areas of the club where the sound system is and not all of Zero Gravity is geared towards partying and fun.
There is also no small-scale entertainment to add the finishing touches to what is a good sonic background.
Seasonality
It’s Dubai and there are few things as certain in life as the fact that it will be hot and sunny tomorrow, the next day and every day after in Dubai.
So, there’s absolutely no seasonality in the emirate at all. Does it rain in Dubai? Yes, a few times a year and never for more than a few hours at a time.
And while the Muslim population celebrates Ramadan, Eid, etc., there’s no real expectation that visitors to the emirate will do the same. So, Zero Gravity does not close for religious holidays.
Pricing and Value for Money
It’s about 100 AED (or $25 USD) just to sit down in Zero Gravity (though you do get a small discount for couples and groups or for children). That doesn’t include any drinks or food.
That’s better than places like Nikki Beach in St. Tropez, where you’ll spend $250+ on a sunbed, but it’s $25 more than you spend to sit down in any of Bali’s big beach clubs.
The alcohol prices are high because alcohol is taxed heavily in this Islamic state, and the food prices are higher than average in beach clubs around the world because so much needs to be imported to the desert.
However, we do think that for Dubai, this place offers decent value for money, though it pales in comparison to places like Bali on the international scene.
Beach Access and Quality
If reclaimed land and fake beaches are your ideal, then this beach is nice enough. The sand is always kept clean by the beach club’s clean-up team, and it’s soft underfoot.
But be warned, in the heat of the Dubai day, this sand can seriously burn your feet, and you should never walk on it without, at least, flip-flops covering your soles.
It’s nice to get waiter service on the beach, though, and the sunbeds in this area are plentiful and very comfy.
Sustainability Practices
Zero Gravity offers no sustainability report and has made very few public commitments to sustainable practices.
However, Dubai itself is working towards a Clean Energy Strategy, and the whole city is meant to be zero emissions by 2030.
Overall, though, businesses in Dubai with green credentials (such as Majid Al Futtaim and EFG International) tend to shout them from the rooftops, so we suspect that this business is doing the bare minimum in this area.
Exclusive Perks for Guests
Guests who are seated in the pool and beach areas are entitled to towels, and the sun loungers are not charged in addition to the entrance fee.
If you are a club member, you get a free bottle of water on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday each week.
Cabin Crew and teachers can get a discount brunch on weekends for 199 AED, including all food and drinks.
Overall, there aren’t many perks at this beach club, and we think that’s a surprising missed opportunity. This is something that businesses in Dubai tend to be good at – making people feel like VIPS for a price.
Safety and Security
Dubai is one of the safest and most secure places in the world, and this beach club has a security team which ensures a discreet bag check on the way in the door and it’s always present when needed inside the club too.
Event Hosting Capabilities
Zero Gravity has an events team that seems to be very much focused on organising corporate events. They offer buyouts of specific areas of the beach club and access to the ordinary food and drinks menus, with bespoke offerings also available.
We did feel like this service was something of an afterthought for a popular beach club that is often sold out.
Consistency of Experience
We think that there’s no doubt that Zero Gravity is one of the world’s best beach clubs and that it’s probably the most popular beach club in the Middle East (though outside of Dubai, there aren’t that many beach clubs in the Middle East, yet).
The experience of visiting this place tends to be very consistent, according to our reviewers, and this is also borne out by their Google reviews.
However, we’d like to see this venue pushing to improve constantly rather than resting on its laurels.
Additional Amenities and Facilities
This beach club has all the facilities and amenities we’d expect of a beach club, but if you want anything more, you’re going to have to drive around for it.
It’s simply a facet of Dubai life; it’s too hot for things to be conveniently located within walking distance of each other.
Summary
We expect a lot from a beach club in Dubai. Once you start charging people to sit down and then expect them to pay premium prices on top, you’re meant to deliver a lot.
And in most ways, we think Zero Gravity does just that. However, there are some small details where this beach club loses a few points; some are beyond their control and in the hands of the stifling Dubai weather, but some just require a little more focus from management.
However, we’d happily recommend Zero Gravity to anyone passing through Dubai, though if you want to visit a place for beach clubs that offer the best value, try Bali rather than Dubai.
FAQs
Can You Go Swimming At Zero Gravity Dubai?
Yes, there’s a very nice swimming pool at Zero Gravity in Dubai. It’s also possible to swim in the sea by the beach here, and the current is safe for you to do so.
There are lifeguards on duty throughout the day and all over the club, and even weak swimmers should be able to enjoy the water without issue.
What Is There To Do At Zero Gravity Dubai?
You can eat, drink, swim and chill out during the day, and at night you can dance and party when the DJs arrive and start their sets.
Is Zero Gravity Dubai A Child-Friendly Venue?
We read some worrying reviews online that suggested you could take children to this beach club. We need to be clear – Zero Gravity is an adults-only venue which requires a valid ID and only admits guests who are over 21 years of age, no exceptions.
Who Is The Owner Of Zero Gravity Dubai?
The owner and manager of Zero Gravity Dubai is Peter Skuditis. Peter is an experienced hospitality manager and has been involved with Zero Gravity since 2013. He has worked throughout the Middle East prior to starting this venture.
Final Thoughts On The Review Of Zero Gravity Dubai
We can certainly see why Zero Gravity is popular with Dubai’s beach clubbers, and we had a good time there ourselves.
No, it’s not the best value for money that we’ve ever had, and yes, there are things that could be improved, but overall? This is a first-rate beach club and very much worth your time if you’re in the Emirate.
Would we travel to Dubai just for Zero Gravity? No. But a beach club would have to be truly incredible to be the primary motive for any holiday.
