Lebanese nightlife growing abroad. Pixabay | Geoff Gill
As conditions for the hospitality sector in Lebanon remain stagnant, more and more entrepreneurs in the field are exporting their concepts to greener pastures abroad. While successful restaurant concepts have been expanding to the Gulf and Europe for the past decade, mostly serving the Lebanese community there, these past few years have seen nightlife venues also make this growth.
Dubai, with Expo 2020 looming in the horizon, over 60 hotels in the pipeline for the next two years and a substantial Lebanese working community, is the natural choice for these enterprises. Expansion to the Gulf is also the perfect strategy as it provides complementary seasons, being more active in winter while Lebanon’s traditional peak season is summer.
Executive sat down with the founders of two of the main enterprises leading the Lebanese nightlife growth in Dubai.
Add Mind’s famed White venue in Dora
WHITE – IRIS
The past three years in Lebanon saw Add Mind move their famed club White to Dora’s seaside road, allowing them more freedom and space to attract international DJs, as well as larger crowds. During that time, they also opened Caprice, an outdoor lounge style venue in Antelias, which Karim Jaber, managing partner at Add Mind, says was a “big hit” featuring two theme nights — French Night and Bazaar Night — that always draw in large crowds.
“Basically whenever you do a good outdoor concept in a good location with the right PR, people and music, it will work,” says Jaber, adding that this year Add Mind will be focusing on attracting more international talent to their clubs in Beirut.
Dubai, with Expo 2020 looming in the horizon, over 60 hotels in the pipeline for the next two years and a substantial Lebanese working community, is the natural choice for these enterprises. Expansion to the Gulf is also the perfect strategy as it provides complementary seasons, being more active in winter while Lebanon’s traditional peak season is summer.
Executive sat down with the founders of two of the main enterprises leading the Lebanese nightlife growth in Dubai.
Add Mind’s famed White venue in DoraThe past three years in Lebanon saw Add Mind move their famed club White to Dora’s seaside road, allowing them more freedom and space to attract international DJs, as well as larger crowds. During that time, they also opened Caprice, an outdoor lounge style venue in Antelias, which Karim Jaber, managing partner at Add Mind, says was a “big hit” featuring two theme nights — French Night and Bazaar Night — that always draw in large crowds.
“Basically whenever you do a good outdoor concept in a good location with the right PR, people and music, it will work,” says Jaber, adding that this year Add Mind will be focusing on attracting more international talent to their clubs in Beirut.
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