Drake was manhandled at a club in Dubai, which triggered a melee that put the aggressor where he belongs … on the ground.

Drake and his crew were at Movida nightclub Saturday night, along with a huge crowd … Dubai does it big. Watch the video closely … you’ll see the guy grab the back of Drake’s head and shove it down.

Drake is clearly pissed off, and gives the guy a death stare. But club security jumps in and gets the job done STAT.

BTW, Drake was in the country as a guest of the royal family. It’s unclear if members of the family were on hand when Drake was assaulted.

Watch Video: tmz.com