About IV

Welcome to Dubai’s Iconic Irish Pub

The Irish Village offers the distinctive ambience of a genuine Irish Pub and a true piece of Ireland, in Dubai. The iconic branch in Garhoud features a large garden surrounded by majestic trees and a lake that is home to the now famous Irish Village ducks! Take a seat inside and be surrounded by the warm wooden interior, vintage floor tiling, wise and witty quotes from famous Irish writers proudly displayed alongside a quintessential Irish mix of bric-a-brac. You could also have your favourite pint in the sprawling outdoor space or in our shaded Summer Retreat.

At the other end of town, step into the joyous atmosphere at The Irish Village in Studio City. A more modern take on the original with bright interiors, high ceilings dressed in custom made light fittings, cabinets showcasing an eclectic mix of old bottles, tins and Irish Village merchandise. Step out on to the large outdoor terrace that has everything you need - large screen to catch all the sporting action, shaded seating ideal for a working lunch and of course, a terrace bar.

We pride ourselves on our Guinness, hearty food and Irish welcome.

How it all started

In 1994, the Dubai Tennis Championships were taking place at The Aviation Club for the second consecutive year in a temporarily built stadium. At that time, spectators would not exceed a few hundred. At the end of the final match after handing out the prize to the winner, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that the following year Dubai Tennis Championships would be played in a real stadium with a capacity of 5000 people.

So, in 1995 the current tennis stadium was ready to host the 3rd Dubai Tennis Championships. Acknowledging the great spaces created beneath the stadium terraces, Mr. Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman at Dubai Duty Free, with the support of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, came up with the idea of building a permanent outlet that would cater to visitors for the different events held at the stadium.

The idea of The Irish Village was born!
The paving stones came all the way from Liscannor in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. All props and décor items around The Village, from the telephone box down to the shop windows bric-a-brac, are genuine Irish pieces creating an authentic experience in the heart of the city. In the fall of 1996, The Irish Village opened its doors.

With the ongoing success and the increasing demand, The Irish Village terrace has been expanded over the years to satisfy Dubai patrons and can now accommodate up to 3500 people during special events and concerts. Famous performers have played at The Village: Sir Bob Geldof, Finbar Fury, The Human League, The Pretenders, Paolo Nutini, Macy Gray, The Wailers and Midge Ure to name just a few.

Over the years, The Irish Village has celebrated its birthday with big parties and concerts featuring popular Irish bands. To commemorate the 10th anniversary in 2007, a life-size bronze sculpture of three traditional Irish musicians, depicting the rural charm of the Emerald Isle was installed in the center of The Village terrace. The sculpture, entitled “The Session” was commissioned In Ireland and created by Irish artist, Austin McQuinn. It was then shipped to Dubai and unveiled in the presence of a Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Ireland’s Prime Minister.