Smoke and Mirrors: Cigars and Magic in Dubai

Cigars and Magic in Dubai

There’s a ritualistic beauty to cigars. The process of cutting, lighting, and savoring one is an art form, a performance as deliberate as the magic I perform. Dubai’s cigar lounges, with their dimly lit elegance and rich aromas, are sanctuaries for those who appreciate the finer things. They’re places where deals are sealed, secrets are shared, and time feels like it’s slipping through your fingers, one puff at a time.

I’ve always felt that cigars and magic share a certain kinship. Both demand presence. Both require you to slow down, to pay attention. In a world that’s constantly rushing forward, these moments of deliberate focus feel almost rebellious. And in Dubai, a city that thrives on speed and spectacle, the cigar lounges feel like an oasis—a place where the past and the present meet.

When I perform magic in these lounges, it feels different. More intimate. More honest. The soft glow of the chandeliers cast long shadows, and the smoke creates a hazy, dreamlike

atmosphere. A card trick performed here isn’t just a trick—it’s an invitation to pause, to marvel at the impossible.

Cigars, like magic, have a story. Countless hands have touched every leaf, each one leaving a mark. They come from places like Cuba and Nicaragua, where the soil, sun, and craftsmanship combine to create something extraordinary. When I hold a cigar, I think about the journey to get here. I think about the people who rolled it, about the history wrapped up in its leaves. And I dream of visiting those places, of walking through the tobacco fields, of learning the craft firsthand.

Dubai, with its hypermodern skyline and relentless energy, is a city that often feels disconnected from the past. But in these lounges, there’s a different rhythm. A different story. Performing magic here feels like stepping back in time, to an era when things weren’t rushed, when people took the time to appreciate the moment.

The guests who frequent these lounges are as varied as the city itself. An older gentleman from Spain, his fingers adorned with rings, tells me about his first cigar, smoked on the terrace of his family’s vineyard. A young couple from Lebanon watches in awe as I make a coin disappear into the depths of an ashtray. Each trick is a conversation, each reaction a window into someone’s world.

But it’s not just about the performances. It’s about what the performances reveal. Cigars, like magic, are about connection. They’re about the stories we tell, the memories we create. In a city as fast-paced as Dubai, these moments of connection feel rare. And that makes them all the more precious.