Going out in Dubai was quite an educational experience. In this land where Islamic values and a liberal attitude find a way to co-exist, weekends run from Thursday night until Saturday when giddy party-goers, mainly expats, flock the bars and clubs of the city’s plushest hotels.

Yes, you read that rightly. The dancing and drinking circuit in Dubai is confined to hotels, the only establishments granted licence to serve booze. This strict alcohol policy also means that a licence is required to drink at home, although in practice it seems that few expats do.

Arriving Dubai on a Saturday, the equivalent of a Sunday in the Western world, I knew that I wasn’t going to stay out very late. Besides hopping between hotels in a cab is not my preferred way of having fun.

I kicked off at Trilogy, one of the swankiest bar/club in Dubai. The interior reminded me of Barrio Latino in Paris, with the dance floor smack in the centre of the room and the upper floors perched around it for people watching. On that night, only the Rooftop was open. Although only a handful of people showed up, I did get to savour the stunning view of the Madinat Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab, the world’s only “seven-star” hotel.

Once the excitement waned, I headed to Zinc at the Crowne Plaza to check out the local electronic music scene. But the only sound I got to hear came from the bouncers who were firm on the couples-only policy. With no other plan in mind, I went back to my hotel and realised on the way that I had just spent more time riding cabs than drinking.

Notes: Clubs in Dubai are luring the world’s top DJs. Tiësto and Erick Morillo recently had gigs there, while French DJ David Guetta will hit the decks later this month… Shagging for unmarried people is illegal in the UAE but not really enforced, while smooching in public is frowned upon.