Brunch is a Dubai institution. A Friday afternoon all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink affair is always fun. 

It’s a hoot to see tourists’ faces – their jaws drop in awe at their first brunch. 

And most of them hover around the 12.30/1-4pm timings. 

Or so they would have you believe. 

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On Friday, I was out at a classic Dubai brunch – celebrating a friend’s birthday

When at 3.30pm (the brunch is advertised to run until 4pm), I was informed it was ‘last call’. 

I went to the drink stations and got my last drink (okay, my last three drinks), and sat at the table with my friends. 

We weren’t rowdy (despite the fact this was a celebratory-atmosphere brunch), and we weren’t taking the piss – just sitting chatting and finishing our drinks, when the security came up and told us we needed to leave…at 4.05pm. 

We asked if we couldn’t stay a bit longer as we were enjoying ourselves, and had a few drinks to finish: which was replied to with a shake of the head, and a gesture to leave. 

THEN as we got up to leave, were promptly told we couldn’t take our drinks elsewhere within the property venues, we had to surrender them. 

I felt like I was in school. 

Now I know this brunch has offered as advertised – finished at 4pm

But last calls at 3.30pm, and then being ejected from our seats just after 4pm is a bit rough – particularly as our group of 10 people spent in excess of AED6,000. 

Added to that, we were unable to even finish our beverages before being moved on. 

It’s not the case at ALL brunches 

A few months ago, I was at Vida Downtown’s brunch, and the staff let us sit and finish our drinks until after 7pm, and Waldorf Astoria staff allowed my family to enjoy the sunset and outdoors well into the evening at the Mezzerie brunch outdoor area. 

So shout out to the brunches letting us linger. 

Also – I’m fully aware this is peak ‘Dubai Problems’ 

But it’s also the fact that I had to pay AED600, only to get kicked out of my seat at 4.01pm.

I don’t enjoy spending this huge amount of money on brunch, but I did for my friend’s birthday – and I think it’s fair that I can loiter around a bit beyond 4pm – who am I hurting? 

READ: Dubai Brunches: Stop Kicking People Out Before Your Closing Time