This Dubai Café Hosts Phone-Free Meetups to Help Visitors Reconnect

Seva Café in Dubai is set to host phone-free meetups, offering an opportunity for residents to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with each other. Organized by The Offline Club, a community movement from the Netherlands, in partnership with Seva Café, the event encourages visitors to leave their phones at the door and embrace a non-digital experience. 

Upon arrival at the café, attendees will hand over their phones, which will only be returned at the end of the session. During this screen-free period, visitors can choose to read a book, paint, write, or engage in any other activity they enjoy. Alternatively, they can strike up conversations with strangers, making new connections in the absence of digital distractions. 

The meetups will begin with solo engagement sessions, allowing participants time to enjoy their chosen activities individually. Afterwards, a social session takes place to foster interaction among attendees, and the evening concludes with a sound healing experience in the café’s garden. 

The Offline Club had its first phone-free event in Amsterdam in February 2024, which became an instant hit. A viral Instagram reel showing attendees knitting, doodling, and journaling attracted global attention, prompting the club to expand its events beyond the Netherlands. Dubai’s hyper-connected lifestyle made it a fitting destination for the movement's next step.