Dubai’s The Basement nightclub: in pictures

Marko Ben-Aicha,the entertainment director of The Basement (better known by his DJ moniker Smokingroove, said he was “in love with the club from the moment I saw it,” he says. “It reminded me of the old-school essence of clubbing: a real underground space, dark walls, low ceilings – everything that every other club in Dubai is not.”

Also in the Friday rotation are the underground techno night Stereotype; Trip, a new left-field concept from the Groove on the Grass team; the fresh underground house nights Cassland and House Arrest; the minimal techno event Glitch; the tech house-focused Warped; and the successful retro-flavoured History of House. These are all distinct nights lacking a permanent home, run by independent promoters with their own music policies. Courtesy Sami Khatib / Threedots Photography

The Basement also hosts a weekly Secret Circle night on Mondays, while Catch is a Wednesday-night event with Miss PM at the helm as resident DJ, showcasing three up-and-coming Dubai DJs every week. Courtesy Sami Khatib / Threedots Photography

“I pick promoters the way promoters pick DJs – who is cool, current and has their own sound,” says Ben Aicha. “There are a lot of promoters who are doing amazing things, playing amazing music, but losing half the essence because it’s in the wrong venue. I had the idea of getting all these people under one roof in one club.” Courtesy Sami Khatib / Threedots Photography

“In the Dubai scene, you always see the same DJs going around all the events, myself included,” says Ben-Aicha. “I wanted a night to give something back to the scene and give some of the younger guys a chance to shine.” Courtesy Sami Khatib / Threedots Photography

The Basement’s booking policy is its most refreshing aspect. An open-door approach that offers a platform for many of the emirate’s best alternative club nights, including Dust and GlobalFunk. See pictures of the venue in full-swing here.