Rafael at Skyline Saturdays 2026 in Dubai

Rafael at Skyline Saturdays 2026 in Dubai puts the house and indie dance DJ behind the decks at The Penthouse, the rooftop club at FIVE Palm Jumeirah, on Saturday 28 November. The night runs from 10pm to 4am and is built, in the venue’s words, around dynamic energy and dancefloor storytelling, with Dubai’s skyline as the backdrop.

The listing sums up the music as Rafael’s emotive house sound, shaped by Defected, Hot Creations and Ibiza’s best-known clubs, with deep grooves and melodic energy aimed squarely at the dance floor.

Who is Rafael?

Rafael, the DJ name of Liav Shalom, is one of the rising names in house and indie dance and part of the scene that has turned Tel Aviv into a global dance music hub. Audiojacked has described him as one of the most skilful selectors in the city, and he has built a following with emotive productions and edits of modern classics that work in big rooms.

His catalogue runs across some of the most respected labels in the genre: Maccabi House, the label founded by Adam Ten and Mita Gami, plus Defected, Hot Creations, Higher Ground, Three Six Zero Recordings, Beltools and Planet X. In 2026 he made his debut on Damian Lazarus’s Crosstown Rebels with “Gotta Be Cool”, a track built around a vocal by Tobias Wincorn that was already a regular request in Lazarus’s own sets before its release. Its B-side, “Teder”, is a deeper collaboration with his studio partner N.O.Y. He has also teamed up with Adam Ten on “Beat Goes On”, a track more than two years in the making.

In 2025 he played Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle and Splash House, and delivered official remixes for RÜFÜS DU SOL, Jamie Jones and Mita Gami. He has also played Burning Man, venues across South America and Ibiza’s well-known clubs, and is a regular on the Space Terrace.

The Maccabi House connection

To understand Rafael’s sound, it helps to know Maccabi House, the Tel Aviv label and party brand he releases with. Adam Ten started it as a platform for his own music and tracks by friends he believed in, with Mita Gami joining soon after. Adam describes the sound as psychedelic house with an Israeli flavour and a nod to psy-trance, while Mita talks about a mix of funk, indie dance and tech house that has become recognisable as a movement of its own.

The crew’s big North American breakthrough came at Burning Man in 2022 on the Mayan Warrior art car, and in 2024 Adam Ten and Mita Gami played Coachella’s Yuma Tent and opened for RÜFÜS DU SOL’s DJ set. Rafael’s own collaboration with Adam Ten, “Toys”, came out on Higher Ground, and his rise has followed the same path from Tel Aviv to the world’s biggest festivals.

What to expect on the night

Expect a set that moves between warm, melodic house and the more left-field edges of indie dance, the sound that has carried the Maccabi House crew from Tel Aviv to Coachella. Rafael’s style is built for a crowd that wants to dance rather than watch, and a six-hour window gives plenty of room for the music to build.

Skyline Saturdays is The Penthouse’s Saturday night series, and this edition is billed as Rafael’s night. Food and shisha are part of the experience at the venue, and tables are available for groups who want a base for the night.

The Penthouse at FIVE Palm Jumeirah

The Penthouse sits at the top of FIVE Palm Jumeirah, at No 1 Palm Jumeirah, and describes itself as a rooftop club with unmatched skyline views and international music programming.

By car, take King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street and then Palm Jumeirah Road to reach the hotel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps serve the Palm around the clock, which is the practical choice for a 4am finish.

Tickets, tables and entry

• Early Entry tickets are valid for entry before 11pm; after that, General Admission applies, so time your arrival to match your ticket.
• Bar entry is subject to availability on the night.
• Tables: advance reservations are advised for food and shisha. The venue takes bookings on +971 52 900 4868.

The ticket page does not list an age policy or dress code, so bring your original Emirates ID or passport and check your booking confirmation for any entry rules before you go.

Who it suits

This night suits house and indie dance fans, followers of labels such as Defected, Hot Creations and Maccabi House, and anyone who has caught the Tel Aviv sound at a festival and wants to hear it in a club. It also works for groups planning a big Saturday on the Palm with a table and dinner. If you enjoyed Skyline Saturdays earlier in the season, this is another reason to return. For more ideas, see our Dubai nightlife guide, the things to do this weekend list, what is on in November and more things to do in Dubai.