Review: Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai (DXB)

Sounds HORRIBLE that there is a smoking area that is not separately airlocked and ventilated. Just a callous approach to exposing other premium passengers/innocent bystanders to second hand smoke.

I want to go to there

Hey Ben,
you can't say "currently" when writing about the exchange rate from AED to USD. It's fixed at 3.6725 AED = 1 USD for more than 25 years now.

Unbearably hot.

There are zero redeeming features of departing from Terminal 2. Be grateful you flew from T3 and never speak of it again.

Comparing to Lufthansa's Business Class and even Senator Lounges, it's sounds like heaven on earth...:)

Trust me - I know both lounges...and EK lounges are much better and really the best you can get..especially in DXB

Really hope to visit this one day.. Just the fact to have bottomless M&C sounds like a great lounge to me.

Slumming it, I see.

BTW, "There are also plenty of shorter rooms, though unfortunately they’re basic." Shorter rooms are likely to be more basic than taller rooms, but perhaps you meant "shower rooms"?

Only June July August. Unbearably cold in some countries in Dec, Jan Feb 😉

@Lucky

Serious question. You expressed a degree of surprise the buffet food was actually tasty. I'm just curious. Why did you assume it would not be tasty???
If anything, given the cost of business class fares and the reputation Emirates likes to make for itself, I would be surprised/shocked/disappointed if the food were NOT tasty!

could you believe that senator lounges are marketed as first class lounges? Totally nonsense when it is business quality at best

Is it just me, or does the lounge look incredibly sterile? The food and champagne selection does look impressive though...

I have been through these lounges too many times to remember and every time I think the same - they are clinical and sterile anad you can fire a cannon and not hot anyone. I am not suggesting the staff are not helpful or that the place is not tidy or the furniture is not spotless, I am saying these Dubai lounges are boring and uninteresting and have zero atmosphere. As for the shower rooms, the worst I have ever experienced. They are the sauna you have when not having a sauna, with water that stays at hot and no air in the rooms.

Between these showers, the QR AM & TK business class lounge, I always feel after my shower that I need another shower with as much as I perspire afterwards. Absolutely no airflow in these coffin rooms.

Agreed. Terminal 2 is a pit, the transfer from 2 to 1/3 is horrible and vice versa, the T2 Marhaba lounge is horrible, with a maximum of a 2 hour stay.

how would you compare to the flagship business lounges at AUH, DOH, and IST?

so could i get 15 minute massage in the biz class lounge and then another 15 mins in the first class lounge? assuming im a 1st class pax?

i think its because, generally speaking, buffets are literally all about prepared food that sits on a table for hours. even if some food only sits for 15minutes, it still will taste differently than freshly made straight from pan-to-plate food. So buffets generally aren't regarded as having the most yummy food because its literally food thats been sitting/reheated/chilled for long periods of time. So the fact that everything tasted amazing is yes, a little surprising given the whole concept of a buffet. its a compliment,

I know this is late to the party, but just curious, can you use the lounge upon arrival if you are not connecting?

I’ve never flown through DXB, so not sure if it’s like the US where everyone has to go through customs and immigration and then you’re “in the country” and have to go back through security to get to the lounges. Or if they even allow you to use the lounges upon arrival without a connnection.

Great review and helpful.
By the way having 2 issues came into my mind and I appreciate if you can reply:
- as a EK business class passenger how long can I use the business lounge since I have a lay over of 8 hours
- Can we go in and out the lounge?

True, but unfortunately they really don't care about this in middle east generally. Smoking seems much more common than other parts of the world.

My goodness. What a full review and some great photos. We've been in and out of Dubai a lot pre covid and usually departed airport to stay with friends. This time we are staying between flights and this has been a very helpful review. many thanks for posting.

I have been to this lounge several times, last one few days ago and find it very disappointing.

- Food display is disastrous, with most of presentations less than half empty. No good quality products
Resting area is in a very noisy and illuminated area of the lounge, with open ceiling to the airport. Makes no sense if you want people to rest
Shower, ufffff, difficult to describe. DIRTY, FULL OF WATER ON FLOOR, SMALL, SAUNA FEELING DUE TO LACK OF VENTILATION, FULL OF MOLD...
OUTDATED, very simple furniture, not comfortable
SPA not comfortable, not welcoming, not with any touch of luxury but a third world class place
Working area very limited
Lounge is noisier than often more crowded than airport itself
Slow WiFi
I m pretty sure Emirates can do better. compared with Qatar Lounge, there is more than a universe of difference.
BTW Costa Cafe was open at night, you probably got bad luck.

Do not bother with this place/service.
I asked what food was gluten-free... the pre-packaged muffins and some fruit. Well, excuse me for being born different. It's not bad enough that I have to put up with the worst of the worst food on the flights when it comes to GF (stale bread and the same spiced rice dish every time), but between very long flights I dont even get a break in the self-described "glamorous lounge". I asked the staff to pass on my feedback (nicely) they say they get that feedback all the time... well, clearly our feedback doesn't matter cause you get it all the time but dont do anything about it.
This is straight-up discrimination. I dont have a choice in my diet. If I did I wouldn't choose it. Now I'm waiting for my next 10-hour flight with Emirates and I'm starting it perturbed to put it nicely.
McDonalds gave me better options... same on you.