Capital Club: Inside Dubai’s ‘premier private club’

A Dubai business club has been named one of the world’s 10 most exclusive clubs — the only pick from the Middle East — with some of the region’s biggest business deals reputedly conceived among its nest of corridors, cellars, private dining lounges and meeting rooms.

Capital Club, in the Dubai International Financial Centre, or DIFC, is a private, invitation-only business network. General manager Emma Cullen told Khaleej Times that potential new members were vetted by the club’s membership committee, which could take as many as 60 days, as the committee investigates the applicant’s financial background and standing in business.

Membership in other global clubs is a plus, and recommendations from two existing members could be a trump card.

In recent weeks, CNN picked the club as “the premier private business club in the Middle East”, and one of the 10 most exclusive clubs in the world.

The title brings to mind an image of the world’s greatest powerbrokers fraternising in secret circles. Maybe it’s in a dark, smoky room, or a lofty suite exuding prestige and fortune.

Capital Club ticks many such boxes: as you descend to the club’s lower levels, the décor darkens and becomes more formal, until the staff become “butlers” and wear bowties.

But unattainable elitism and luxury isn’t in fact the primary impression the club gives off, and Cullen said as much.

“It isn’t about being a six-star hotel experience. It’s about going into the bar or [having] breakfast and there are people having conversations about business, and extending the business network,” she said.

The club’s terraces look out to the offices and retail criss-crossing the DIFC’s Gate Village.

Cullen emphasised the club’s “modern” appeal, which incorporated a raft of social events and a lively presence on social media.

“It isn’t the typical old-school club that’s maybe seen as a little stuffy,” she said.

In recent years, the demographic has been shifting younger, with more tech entrepreneurs and executives from small and medium enterprises entering the fray. It’s part of a trend that can be seen across the DIFC, Cullen said.

Membership currently stood around 1,500, plus 800 spouses, and Cullen said the club still had room to expand.

Nevertheless, the club has its marks of exclusivity.

In the club’s elevator halls are signs reminding members and guests of strict dress codes and etiquette — and of the club’s 25 governors, made up of Gulf business’s most influential.

Privacy is perceived as paramount, and on sensitive visits members are able to enter straight into meeting areas, bypassing public foyers.

Those staying at the club’s suites each receive a dedicated butler, while servers take tests to stay well-versed on members’ preferred refreshments.

The club’s recent endorsement from CNN puts it in the company of elite global clubs like Core in New York, which takes membership fees of $50,000 for registration and $15,000 a year.

Capital Club isn’t so expensive, Cullen said, but membership still placed you in an international network of top clubs, including Hong Kong’s Kee Club, another inclusion in the CNN list.

Cullen described the club’s purpose as being like a physical LinkedIn. But she said such digital platforms would only complement traditional business clubs into the future.

“It’s more important in this day and age because everything is online. We need to do more of this,” she said, motioning to the advantage of sitting face-to-face.

“This is how business’s big decisions get made — you need to know who you’re dealing with.” michael@khaleejtimes.com