From funky house to Bollywood beats, Abu Dhabi clubs have top music – and they also have some top DJs. So who are they and where can you find them this season?

Darryl Rees

Actual name: Darryl Rees
Nationality: British
DJing for: Eight years
In Abu Dhabi for: Three years
Residencies: McGettigan’s (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday); Saadiyat Beach Golf Club (Tuesday, Friday); Aloft (Thursday); Centro Pool Party (Friday)
Style: A mixture of house music, commercial chart, RnB, and sometimes a few rock classic remixes chucked in for good measure.
Best experience: Al Maya – the crowd reaction was great and I just felt like a superstar DJ every time I played there.
Worst experience: I was DJing on a yacht for the 2012 Formula 1 weekend in Abu Dhabi. I was due to play for an hour so I only brought one USB with a selection of songs … only to find when I arrived that the USB wouldn’t work. It was a bit of a nightmare, and it didn’t go down very well with other DJs:  “Hi mate, can I borrow your music for an hour please?”
Would like to open for: Afrojack
Best DJ in Abu Dhabi: DJ Jack. I’ve seen him play a few times now and he never fails to surprise me with his great selection of music and remixes.

Kaboo

Actual name: Mohammed Srour
Nationality: Egyptian
DJing for: 15 years
In Abu Dhabi for: Five years
Residencies: Rush at Yas Viceroy (Mondays and Wednesdays); People by Crystal (Thursdays); Etoiles, Emirates Palace (Friday and Sunday)
Style: I’m into urban music, hiphop to RnB, old school to funk, dancehall to reggae, but I still do an open format sets at most of the venues I play.
Best experience: The City Vibes at Pearls & Caviar, Shangri-La hotel
Worst experience: Somewhere in Egypt when I was booked for a boat party that ended up at the police station due to no event licence
Would like to open for: Jazzy Jeff
Best DJ in Abu Dhabi: I believe everyone has strengths, so it’s hard to mention a particular DJ – all of them are good!

Cliff Townley

Actual name: Cliff Townley
Nationality: British
DJing for: 16 years
In Abu Dhabi for: 12 years
Residencies: Rush at Yas Viceroy
Style: I enjoy playing RnB, hiphop and deep house. At Rush you’ll mostly find a mixture of commercial house, RnB and hiphop.
Best experience: Performing at Sandance Dubai and being included on the same flyer as Faithless was pretty special.
Worst experience: Playing the 5am sets when I first started out back in London. Looking back, it was a great learning experience.
Would like to open for: DJ EZ. The guy is ridiculously good.
Best DJ in Abu Dhabi: Neil T

DJIIVA

Actual name: Marise Cardoso
Nationality: Brazilian
DJing for: 15 years
In Abu Dhabi for: Seven months
Residencies: Asia de Cuba
Style: Latin beats with an Afro-Brazilian touch
Best experience: I played a DJ set to close the 2014 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.  The audience was completely crazy.
Worst experience: A countryside festival in Spain. It was raining cats and dogs all weekend!
Would like to open for: I just love to open before and after a live band!
Best DJ in Abu Dhabi: The guys from Rooftop Rhythms

Neil T

Actual name: Neil Torious
Nationality: British
DJing for: Almost 20 years
In Abu Dhabi for: Five years
Residencies: People by Crystal (Tuesdays) and Legends (Fridays), plus guest spots at Al Maya Island and the pool parties at Centro Yas Island
Style: I always try and keep the energy high, the music legit and let people leave with something they might not have heard before, whether it was a mix, segway or song.
Best experience: Either at White Dubai or Allure (when it was open)
Worst experience: Back when I was getting bookings at distressed clubs in South London during the UK garage era: everything was vinyl, nothing digital. Equipment was just hanging in there, speakers blowing out and other DJs always wanted to jump on your time slot.
Would like to open for: DJ EZ – I don’t think I could ever match the creativity he has but I’d give it a try.
Best DJ in Abu Dhabi: There is no one star. Some DJs are great on social media, some have the newest songs, some are technically on point. I think if you’re trying to cover all bases and you’re doing a good job, people will appreciate what you do.

Alex Lees

Actual name: Alex Lees
Nationality: British
DJing for: 15 years
In Abu Dhabi for: Eight years
Residencies: Left Bank
Style: Soulful house, but depending on the venue/promoter you could find me playing anything from dance classics, to RnB and hiphop, to lounge.
Best experience: I had the chance to warm up for DJ Black Coffee. The energy he brought to the place was just on another level; I’ll never forget that night.
Worst experience: I wouldn’t say worst, but without a doubt challenging – kids’ parties at the Hilton.
Would like to open for: I’ve been lucky enough to warm up for some amazing DJs, and I’d probably like to warm up again for Grant Nelson – the guy is a legend, just awesome.
Best DJ in Abu Dhabi: Neil T stands out technically and musically. Though when it comes to his MCing skills, that’s another story.

Mraz

Actual name: Miraz Saleh
Nationality: Indian
DJing for: Five years
In Abu Dhabi for: All my life!
Residencies: Thirty 1st Bar & Lounge, Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi (Sundays and Thursdays)
Style: What I love the most is fusing RnB and hiphop, with a touch of Arabic and Bollywood music.
Best experience: The Desi/Bollywood nights at Burlesque Abu Dhabi have been great.
Worst experience: Every venue will have a good day and a bad day, so I’ll leave it at that.
Would like to open for: David Guetta
Best DJ in Abu Dhabi: DJ Alex Lees

Chadphunk

Actual name: Chad Glass
Nationality: British
DJing for: 10 years
In Abu Dhabi for: Seven years
Residencies: Turquoiz at The St. Regis Saadiyat, Saadiyat Beach Club, Al Maya Island parties, Aloft’s Liquid Rain Pool Parties
Style: House music of various sub genres
Best experience: Al Maya – there really isn’t anything else like it here
Worst experience: Without naming names, I had some pretty bad experiences up in Newcastle.
Would like to open for: There are too many to choose from!
Best DJ in Abu Dhabi: Stew Magoo, who very rarely gets it wrong; or Neil T for his diversity.

Also in Abu Dhabi

DJ name: DJ ALLAD
Residencies: People by Crystal (Tuesday); Saadiyat Beach Club (Thursday)

DJ name: Angelo
Residencies: Yacht Club, InterContinental

DJ name: Chris Delaney
Residencies: Exchange, Le Méridien (Monday); Jazz n Fizz, Sofitel (Tuesday); Legends, Sheraton (Thursday)

DJ name: Jaye Walker
Residencies: Caramel, The Collection, Saadiyat Island

DJ name: Nicola
Residencies: Sax and Imago, Le Royal Méridien

DJ name: Raz Del Mundo
Residencies: Iris Yas Island

DJ name: Stew Magoo
Residencies: Al Maya Island and Aloft’s Liquid Rain Pool Party

Words: Jack Dignum