Charles Dickens was a founding member.
It was founded in London in 1863, and now for its first international outpost, private members’ club The Arts Club is coming to Dubai.
The club, one of the world’s most famous, will be set in a new development in DIFC called ICD Brookfield Place. It’s set to open next year.
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Memberships in London aren’t what you’d call affordable, at Dhs10,000 a year according to The National. For that sum in Dubai, though, members will get access to 40,000 square feet of indoor space and 23,000 square feet outside including a rooftop terrace.
London members must also pay a Dhs10,000 joining fee, What’s On Dubai says. It’s not yet confirmed how the club will be priced in Dubai.
The Arts Club was founded as a meeting place for those who work in the arts and sciences, and more than 150 years later, it still provides a hub for creative types. Its Dubai iteration will follow the same path, The National reports.
“There is a strong appetite in Dubai for world-class hospitality,” shareholder Gulu Waney, told the site. “[As] well as an innovative arts and events programme, and ICD Brookfield Place is the ideal hub for The Arts Club to be situated within.”
While the modern Dubai setting will be different from the 18th century townhouse that gives the London club its Mayfair home, pictures of the original club still give us an idea of what we can expect here.
And as the name suggests, the London club has an impressive art collection including pieces from Tomas Saraceno, John Baldessari and John Stezaker.
Charles Dickens was one of the club’s founding members, and these days actress Gwyneth Paltrow is on the board.
We can’t wait to see the Dubai version in 2019…
Images: The Arts Club, ICD Brookfield Place
