You might struggle to find CG Barbershop, but that is part of it. Tucked around the side of the Arjaan Rotana in Dubai Media City, first timers are never quite sure if they’re heading to the right place—but once they find (and push open) the doors, their persistence will be rewarded.
The six-chair shop is essentially an elevated man cave. Forget the PS5 screens, and scattering of never-once-opened coffeetable books, within these sleek, sophisticated interiors, and dark wood Herringbone flooring, good quality Lavazza is served amid a hum of engaged conversation that goes beyond the usual “where are you from?”
It’s clear from the chatter that a great many customers are returning guests. The conversation is anything but mundane, where all the barbers talk to all the clients, and between themselves. One guy even picks up an accoustic guitar and softly plucks away. It’s friendly, social, relaxing.
CG was started by Carlos Gamal—hence the initials—a third-generation barber, who grew up swiveling on the Belmont chairs of his father’s barbershop back in Cairo. A low-key, local industry hero, Gamal’s burgeoning reputation is one built on a stubborn commitment to offering an elevated and technical take on cutting men’s hair.
“If you want a AED50 haircut, you can get that anywhere,” says Gamal while snipping away
with his scissors, manually fading length at the back of my head, his thick framed glasses
balanced on the edge of his nose. And he’s right. The attention to detail, the high-quality
products, and the overall ambiance make it worth every dirham. It’s not just a haircut;
it’s, as he puts it, an “investment in yourself”.
But CG Barbershop isn’t just about haircuts. It’s an experience. Sure, the hot towel shave was pure indulgence, and the complimentary scalp massage helped tackle the day’s stresses, but the lasting impact of a visit is of finding a like-minded community.
The team of all-male barbers is purposely assembled in order to help foster a supportive
environment for clients to open up about any mental health issues they may be having—a key component in the CG Barbershop environment. “Since the pandemic we have seen a shift since in clients talking more openly about some of the struggles they have faced,” explains Gamal. “It’s important that we use the community we have built to normalise this kind of discussion among men”.
Sure, the price tag might be a bit steeper than your average barbershop, but at CG Barbershop you get what you pay for.