First look: The Arts Club is 'very much on track' to open in Dubai this year

The private members’ club from London’s Mayfair says membership is growing as people “look to the future”

A rendering of the brasserie located on the first floor of The Arts Club Dubai. Courtesy The Arts Club

From music events to trips abroad, the coronavirus has, undeniably, railroaded a lot of plans for a lot of people.

However, one project that's still firmly on track is the opening of widely anticipated The Arts Club.

The private members’ club, located in London’s swanky Mayfair, had previously announced that it would be opening its first overseas club in Dubai in 2020. And, according to a company representative, “things are still very much on track”, with an opening scheduled for October.

“So far, everything is going according to plan. We were very fortunate that materials and objects we were sourcing from Italy, where our designers are based, managed to get here before Europe shut down,” says a company representative.

“Looking ahead, we will be mindful of the situation, adapting as and when required by the government to play our part in the nation’s efforts to get beyond the pandemic.”

The club, which will be located in the ICD Brookfield Place development, in the heart of DIFC, is accepting membership applications from candidates throughout the Middle East. According to a representative, its membership continues to grow “as people look forward to the future".

There are currently three categories for membership – full, spouse and young (the latter for those aged under 30). Hopeful candidates require the support of two existing club members or, alternatively, need to meet with the membership team.

New members then have to pay a one-off joining fee and an annual subscription. There is also the option of adding international membership to each category, granting them access to the London club and the Los Angeles club, slotted for a 2022 opening.

Meanwhile, The Arts Club Dubai will feature a terrace on each of its four floors, three restaurants, a private dining area, meeting rooms, multiple lounges, a library and an area dedicated to events and exhibitions.

The Arts Club has a prestigious history, having been founded in Mayfair in 1863 with the aim of “providing a haven for those people who had a professional or amateur relationship with the arts, literature or sciences”. It was founded by literary legends such as Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope, and current board members include actress Gwyneth Paltrow and designer Stella McCartney.