Maertentj.........I'm the resident of UAE which Big Dave referred to. However in last couple of years I've tended to spend much more time in Abu Dhabi, the capital, than Dubai and have played more pool (though not much unfortunately) outside UAE than inside, so I am a little out of touch with information about the pool halls in Dubai and specifically re which are the current "flavours of the month". Like everything else in life, moods and preferences of pool punters change from month to month and the place which is most popular today won't necessarily have that status in a couple of months time).
I'm reading between the lines of the wording of your above comment about needing to "speak with the biggest clubs" and (forgive me if I'm wrong) I am assuming there is therefore mainly a business reason behind your desire to visit them.
A few general things you probably need to understand if you don't know already......
1. There are many dozens of pool "halls" and snooker clubs in Dubai i.e. establishments with anything from about 6 up to about 24 tables and video games machines etc, of various sizes. These are not usually bars or clubs which sell alcohol though some do offer soft drinks and coffees etc. The Owners of such Pool Halls in UAE and those who really control their purchasing are unlikely to be found in the pool hall other than by random chance. Speculatively visiting such places hoping to speak to anyone with influence in business matters is optimistic in the extreme and is likely to end in frustration.
2. There are some very well organised companies and agents of billiards equipment already existing in Dubai and the aforementioned pool halls generally purchase through them. There are some bureaucratic difficultes in store for anyone who tries to flog billiards equipment in Dubai other than through a locally appointed agent or without any experience of this region. The most pool specific importer and supplier of equipment in Dubai is Knight Shot. All their details can be found on www.knightshot.com.
3. I'm not sure what your specific area of business is but the very pleasant gentleman most involved in the day to day business of organising/promoting pool events in Dubai in recent years goes by the name of Hisham Ahmed of Promaster. I can't give out his personal phone number (the one I've got is probably out of date anyway) but if you ask around in the snooker or pool halls someone would probably give it to you if you had good reason. There is of course also an official UAE Snooker and Billiards Association.
4. Hundreds of hotel bars and night clubs in UAE have pool tables, ranging from one to four or five tables. Obviously these places serve alcohol. Rock Bottom Cafe/Night Club in the small 'Regent Palace Hotel have four very popular tables for example.
It would probably be best if you make your way first to Dubai Snooker Club (snooker and pool tables and many of the country's best snooker players play there from time to time) which is near to the approach road to Maktoum Bridge in Bur Dubai, tel +971-4-3375338 (just 3375338 if calling locally when inside Dubai) then pick the brains of the staff and clientele there for the current most popular pool clubs etc.
Be prepared for horrendous traffic jams in Dubai which these days can mean sometimes taking two hours to travel 3 kms in a taxi. By the way there is no such thing as "addresses" in a European sense other than P O Box numbers, the locations of things are usually described by a street name or area and a "near such and such landmark" type description.
Be warned that the streets are not actually paved with gold in a business sense and anyone wanting to do business in Dubai will need a very good product and be prepared to work to very small and tight margins due to extreme competition and high local costs.
Hope this helps in a small way.
[ This message was edited by: backtolife on 2007-10-23 09:44 ]
