Dubai has thrown open its doors to the digital nomad community with the introduction of remote work visas in 2020. The “work from home” lifestyle – in fact, the “work from anywhere” mentality is finally catching on and Dubai is a city built to cater for this new generation of innovative and creative workers.
Getting set up in any new city is of course, not without a few documents to complete and hurdles to get over but Dubai is a city made for expatriate workers and opportunities to be entrepreneurial. A few essentials you’ll need under the new scheme include:
- A passport with 6 months validity
- Evidence of having health insurance – we recommend you look at the digital nomad health cover provided by Safety Wing.
- An awesome place to work from.
Sure, you can actually work from your new home, but just like working in a tiny office cubical, we can get bored of the same spaces around us day in, day out. We know you’ll be looking for some fun and creative places to work from that not only have fast wifi but awesome coffee and a healthy feed to boot.
We’ve been scouting across the city to try and find the coolest cafes with awesome wifi and serving up delicious food to spend your working days in Dubai.
10 Best Cafes For Digital Nomads to Work From in Dubai
Here are the 10 best remote working cafes in Dubai for all our freelancer and WFH folks out there!
1. Spill the Bean
Spill the Bean is all about a friendly ambience combined with great food! It has a variety of healthy snacks to munch on while you spend your working hours in the tranquil environment of the cafe.
The menu includes sandwiches, salads, bagels, and pancakes available all day. Spill the Bean cafe is one of the best work-friendly cafes in Dubai, ideal for people who are renting in the outer suburban areas of Dubai.
Location
- Shop 7, The Sustainable City
Opening Hours
- Sunday to Thursday: 7:30 am to 8:00 pm. Friday and Saturday: 7:00 am to 8:00 pm
Learn more at @spillthebeancoffee
2. One Life Kitchen & Cafe
With two branches in Dubai, this innovative cafe is designed with the digital nomad in mind.
With high-speed internet and an ultra-cool aesthetic spread over two floors, expect all-day breakfasts and hearty, healthy feeds to power you through the day in their bright, airy and sociable space in D3 (Dubai’s Design District).
Their latest opening is found in the Hive CoLiv and innovative new co-living space in Dubai’s JVC – urban design and sustainable living in flexible coliving spaces (this is series digital nomad territory – a great place for medium-term stays with 30-day contracts allowed, almost unheard of elsewhere without paying hotel prices).
But we digress – One Life Kitchen and Cafe knows what co-working spaces are all about and combines the best of bites and work time with a lively beat.
Locations
- D3 Branch, Ground Floor, Building 5, Dubai Design District
- JVC Branch, Hive Coliv, Jumeirah Village Circle
Opening Hours
Learn more at onelifedxb.com
3. Boston Lane
A cafe with the cutest interior, a welcoming vibe, and lots of snacks to choose from, Boston Lane should be your go-to place if you want to get loads of work in less time. The comfortable seating arrangement and the pastel interior of the cafe are perfect for spending hours working or reading while sipping on the strongest coffee to give you a boost.
It also has tea, lattes, smoothies, milk, and an impressive variety of breakfast and lunch items to choose from.
So, if you’re looking for cool coffee shops in Dubai to work from, you know where to find one!
Location
Opening Hours
- Monday to Sunday: 7:30 am to 7:00 pm
Learn more at bostonlane.com
4. Kuttab Cafe
If you’re looking for a place that doubles as a Middle Eastern restaurant, library and work-friendly cafe in Dubai, the Kuttab Cafe is where you should be!
It has an indoor and outdoor sitting area to sit and work peacefully while enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It has walls lined with bookshelves and comfortable couches for a relaxed and productive working experience.
Location
- Shop No LS 2,3, Uptown Mirdif
Opening Hours
- Monday to Sunday: 8:00 am to 11:00 pm
Learn more at @kuttab_cafe
5. Revo Cafe
If you’re a writer and need to get those creative juices flowing to come up with words that readers enjoy, the Revo Cafe is the ideal cafe for you!
Located just on the Palm, far from the hustle and bustle of Dubai, this breakfast cafe is bound to help you get a major chunk of work done in the couple of hours you spend there. Start your day with a hefty and fulfilling breakfast at Revo and spend the next 2 hours fully focused on the task in an undisturbed environment with glorious views.
Location
- South Residence, Anatara, The Palm, Jumeirah
Opening Hours
- Monday to Sunday: 8:00 am to 10:30 am
Learn more at anantara.com
6. Jones the Grocer
Australian cafe/restaurant Jones the Grocer has several branches across the UAE but their Palm West Beach branch is exceptional for digital nomads. Enjoy beautiful beach views, plenty of charging sockets and even some cute little booths if you prefer a little more privacy.
Open for breakfast lunch and dinner, the Gourmet menu is always exceptionally tasty, though may put a dent in your digital nomad budget if you make it a daily occurrence!
Anyone who travels with their furry friends will be delighted to know they’re welcome to join you here outside too!
Location
- PWB B5 FB1, Palm West Beach, Palm Jumeirah
Opening Hours
- Daily 7:30 am to midnight
Learn more at @jonesthegrocer
7. 1762 Stripped
If it’s a rustic ambience and a superb roast you want while working, look no further than 1762. They have a few branches of their gourmet deli across Dubai but our favourite for working can be found in One JLT, Stripped.
Upstairs you can find yourself a quiet nook or enjoy the modern but cosy downstairs lounge, even outdoor dining in the cooler winter months. It’s the perfect spot for a business meet-up or living your best laptop lifestyle.
Location
- One JLT, Ground Floor, Jumeirah Lake Towers
Opening Hours
- Daily 8:00 am to midnight
Learn more at 1762.ae
8. Ciao Bella
Ciao Bella is an Italian cafe straight out of a chick flick! With vibrant chairs and wooden tables, it is one of the cool coffee shops in Dubai, frequented by business people for casual meetings and people who work remotely.
It has an impressive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu that includes all sorts of pizzas, salads, and drinks.
So, work, eat and socialize at this cosy Italian cafe for a productive day in the hub of digital nomad land in Dubai, Media City.
Location
- Media One Hotel, Media City
Opening Hours
- Monday to Sunday: 7 am to 11 pm
Learn more at mediaonehotel.com/venues/ciao-bella
9. Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee has many excellent venues all over Dubai, but if you’re looking for one where you can get some quiet time to focus on your work with a good Wi-Fi connection, we recommend heading over to Costa Coffee on Jumeirah Road.
It has a seating arrangement upstairs where you can easily sit, relax, and work in a peaceful environment, as most of the hubbub happens downstairs.
Location
- 57 Jumeriah Beach Road, Jumeriah
Opening Hours
- It is open 24/7 – perfect for you night owls!
Learn more at costacoffee.ae
10. Friends Avenue Cafe
Let’s wrap up this article with a little cafe that gives you New York vibes. Friends Avenue is a cosy space with walls lined with leather couches and elegant dining tables and chairs in the centre.
If you’re there just for a meal, the dining tables are for you. However, if you would like to spend a few hours being creative and efficient, the leather couches are just right! Take a seat and start working amidst the bustle of people enjoying their breakfasts, smoothies, and coffee while catching up with their friends.
Location
- Umm Al Sheif, Waitrose Building, Al Thanyah Mall
Opening Hours
- Monday to Sunday: 7:00 am to 10:00 pm
Learn more at friendsavenue.ae
Remote work is fun, but it gets boring pretty soon. So, if you’d like to shake off that boredom and embrace your creativity and productivity, it’s time to head over to one of the best cafes in Dubai with a work-friendly environment and food that gives you a head start for the day.
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
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