Big screen
The huge, high-quality screen and comfortable seating give football fans clear views from different angles.
Shades
Dubai Marina
Shades is a sports bar in Dubai Marina with indoor and outdoor seating, large screens for live matches, billiards downstairs and a menu that includes burgers, wraps and drinks. It suits a relaxed game-watching session, especially if a marina view or shisha matters to your evening.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
212 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Outdoor seating
Indoor and outdoor seating, including lower-deck and poolside areas, gives you a choice of setting while watching sports.
Billiards downstairs
The downstairs billiards area gives the visit an activity beyond watching the screen.
Solid food
Reviews specifically praise the lamb, Yorkshire puddings, Mexican burger and chicken tikka wrap.
Friendly service
Multiple visitors describe the staff as attentive, friendly and accommodating, including regular table checks during billiards.
Tips for a Better Visit
Check happy hour. Ask about the current happy-hour window before ordering; one review lists it as 11am–2am, while another mentions 12–4pm.
Choose central seats. For a match, request a seat facing the main screen; most seats reportedly face the big screen in the middle.
Check the bill. Review the bill before paying, since one customer reported receiving another table's bill and being charged for drinks they did not order.
Expect crowds. Major football tournaments can make the bar heavily crowded, so arrive earlier if you want a particular table.
Consider the setting. This is inside a hotel, and one review describes it as quiet and mostly used by hotel guests outside busy events.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa - Al Mamsha St
Marsa Dubai - Dubai Marina, Dubai
| Mon | 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Tue | 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Wed | 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Thu | 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Fri | 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Sat | 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Sun | 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
Popular Mentions
Happy hour
Happy hour is mentioned as a reason to visit, though the reported times vary by review.
Shisha
Shisha is available, but customer opinions range from good to disappointing.
Common Concerns
High prices
Drinks can be expensive: one review reported a $17.50 beer and another reported £12.50 for a pint.
Billing error
One visitor said the table was presented with another customer's bill and disputed drinks were charged.
Slow service
Some reviews report difficulty finding a waiter, especially from the far edges of the balconies.
Family noise
A reviewer objected to young children running around the bar unchecked after 8pm.
Mixed shisha
Shisha feedback is inconsistent, with one visitor calling it disappointing and another describing it as pricey.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Shades is a hotel sports bar in Dubai Marina built around watching live games. The main draw is the large screen: reviewers describe a huge, high-quality display with comfortable seating and good sightlines, while indoor and outdoor areas let you choose between a more enclosed seat and a lower-deck or poolside setting. There is also billiards downstairs, so the visit need not depend entirely on the match.
Food is more substantial than bar snacks in some reviews. The Mexican burger and chicken tikka wrap were described as large enough to share, while lamb and Yorkshire puddings also received specific praise. Shisha and the marina view make it a plausible choice for a slower dinner or late coffee, although shisha quality gets mixed feedback.
Prices are the main caution. 50 for a pint, and one happy-hour visit still came to over $50 for two Aperol Spritz and two glasses of white wine. Service is often praised, but there are reports of slow attention at balcony edges and one serious billing mix-up.
Check the bill, ask about happy hour, and arrive early for major matches. Families should also note a complaint about children running around after 8pm.