By Megan Tomos

Copyright gqindia

Private members’ clubs conjure images of leather armchairs, cigar smoke, and old men who look like Monopoly mascots. Though in the Gulf, they’ve been remixed into something far more interesting. Some lean on heritage, others are pure networking engines, and some exist solely so you can sip a Negroni by the pool and pretend the emails don’t exist. Either way, they’re quietly shaping what exclusivity looks like in a region already drowning in luxury. The only problem? Getting past the velvet rope.
Inside the Gulf’s most exclusive private members’ clubs
1. Capital Club, Dubai
This is the original power haunt. Four floors in DIFC where ministers, CEOs and very serious men in navy suits trade deals over burrata. It’s old money energy with a Gulf twist…boardroom by day, cocktails and committee panels by night. If LinkedIn were a physical space, it would look suspiciously like this.
2. Ned’s Club, Doha
Housed inside The Ned (yes, that Ned) Doha’s branch is more of a chic refuge than a stuffy members’ hall. There’s a rooftop pool, a gym that guilt-trips you into actually using it, and plenty of spaces that blur the line between work meeting and dinner. It’s Doha’s low-key flex spot, frequented by the kind of people who summer as a verb.
3. The Arts Club, Dubai
Straight out of Mayfair and unapologetically posh, The Arts Club is where hedge funders rub shoulders with artists and Sotheby’s enthusiasts. There’s a rooftop terrace that glitters like a Gucci campaign and Vega, the not-so-secret club that’ll round up the night. The programming is heavy on exhibitions, literary salons and industry talks. But don’t worry, it’s not all chin-stroking, it’s also where the champagne and whisky never quite stop flowing.
4. The Club, Abu Dhabi
Forget flash, this is about familiarity. Abu Dhabi’s long-running institution has been going since the 60s and is less about exclusivity, more about community. Beach access, sailing, sports, and live entertainment make it the expat family’s second living room. With a relocation on the horizon for 2026, it’s nostalgia for the high-class.
5. Khalila, Jeddah
Perched on the Red Sea, Khalila’s members’ only lounge mixes Hejazi tradition with contemporary Saudi cool. Created by Basma El Khereiji, it’s all bespoke shishas (with your name literally engraved, naturally), Hejazi fusion plates, and live entertainment that makes it feel like every night is curated just for you.
6. Nasab, Dubai
Think of this as the anti-club. No velvet drapes or pompous rules, just sunlit workspaces, an art gallery, photography studios, and an infinity pool worthy of a photo opp. Built for the city’s creatives and digital nomads, it’s where a casual chat in the library can turn into a collab that lands on TikTok the next day, in true Dubai fashion.
7. Neera, Dubai
Al Habtoor City’s 20,000-square-foot temple of ambition. Neera is for entrepreneurs who like their networking with a side of cigar smoke and skyline views. Michelin-starred chefs pop in, wellness gurus run bespoke sessions, and there’s even a paddle court in case your networking requires cardio. Imagine if Soho House and a Fortune 500 boardroom had a baby, raised it in Dubai, and gave it too much pocket money.
8. Beast House, Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s first members-only music space, and it comes with the weight of MDLBeast behind it. Think EDM nights, creative studios, food, events, and a general sense that you’re standing in the middle of the Kingdom’s cultural future. It’s where nightlife, music, and membership culture collide in neon.
9. Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina
If there’s one place that embodies lifestyle flex in Jeddah, it’s this. A Red Sea berth where you can roll straight off your yacht into Jason Atherton’s Michelin-starred Marina Social. There’s a spa, a gym, cigar lounges…but really, it’s all about that boat-to-dinner pipeline.
Via gqmiddleeast.com