DUBAI’S BEST POOL HALLS Our magic eight ball tells us you’re sick of waiting around for your local’s solitary pool table to become free. To make sure you’ll never have to wait again, we’ve scoured the city for the best pool and snooker clubs. We’ll rack ‘em, you break… DUBAI BILLIARD ACADEMY EMIRATES BILLIARDS CENTRE There is no doubt about it, Emirates Billiards Centre is for the purists; it opens early, closes late, is well priced and is kitted out exclusively for billiards. Pool tables: 11 Snooker tables: 0 Shiekha Rafiya Building, Al Ittihad Road, Deira, 10am to 2am, Dhs15 before 7pm, Dhs20 after 7pm. Tel: (04) 2624499
Small and peaceful, this place is a rarity; a family-friendly pool hall boasting two juniorsize pool tables. It also does a range of pool courses if your action is a bit rusty – you hustler. Pool tables: five (including two junior tables) Snooker tables: one Shaiba Towers, Tecom, Dubai, 1pm to 1am, Dhs15. Tel: (050) 1518532. www.dubaibilliard.com
BILLIARD LEGEND Buried in the bustle of Bur Dubai, this nice little pool hall has seven tables with hour-long bookings making it easy to drop by and pocket a few balls anytime you like. Pool tables: seven Snooker tables: 0 Al Tayer Building, Al Mina Road, Bur Dubai, Dubai, 10am to 2am, Dhs20 before 6pm, Dhs25 after 6pm. Tel: (04) 3988911
GOLDEN HALL BILLIARD DUBAI
QBALL A gem in the maze that is International City, Qball offers good rates, both snooker and pool tables and a VIP room. Pool tables: 13 Snooker tables: two International City, Morocco Cluster, Dubai, 2pm to 2am, pool Dhs10 before 7pm, Dhs15 after 7pm, snooker Dhs20 before 7pm, Dhs30 after 7pm, VIP room Dhs40. Tel: (04) 4308127. www.qballdubai.com
Decked out with pool tables, foosball and gaming consoles, there is plenty happening here to pass the day away. The coffee shop attached also does shisha and nibbles. Pool tables: nine Snooker tables: four Net.com Building, near Lamcy Plaza, Karama, Dubai. Tel: (04) 2629290
DUBAI SNOOKER CLUB
Not even the most passionate player can binge for 14 hours, so if you need a respite they also do food and have a range of video games to pass the time. Pool tables: 18 Snooker tables: 0 Al Meena Residence Building, Mina Road, Bur Dubai, Dubai, 11.30am to 2am, Dhs25 before 5pm, Dhs35 after 5pm. Tel: (04) 3458899
Twenty-five years ago the Dubai Snooker Club was just six pool tables and a snooker table, now it’s one of the most popular clubs in town, Membership is not compulsory and the snacks are top notch. Pool tables: 13 Snooker tables: 14 Just off Maktoum Bridge, Karama, 9am to 2am, Dhs25 per hour. Tel: (04) 3375338. www.dubaisnooker.com
7 NIGHTS BILLIARDS
BOWLING CITY Don’t let the name fool you, bowling city has plenty of snooker tables and a nice atmosphere. Plus you can sneak off there whilst your other half goes shopping. Pool tables: eight Snooker tables: 0 Dubai Festival City, Dubai, 10am to midnight, Dhs35. Tel: (04) 2328600
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