Review: Marhaba Lounge Dubai Airport

Shouldn't it be the responsibility of the check-in staff to explain which areas are accessible for your pass and which are off limits? Expecting visitors to guess doesn't say marhaba to them. How clean were the restrooms?

Hey Lucky, Long time Lurker here. What's up with the "Reguarding Comments" comments. It seems new or am I wrong?Have you been getting hassled?

That 'lounge-within-a-lounge' is nice, and a fair bit quieter than the main one. I was escorted to that lounge a couple of weeks ago when I was J on Oman Air to Muscat.

"Expecting visitors to guess doesn’t say marhaba to them"

That doesn't make sense...since you are saying "Expecting visitors to guess doesn’t say hello to them". Hello isn't an explanation lol

Jacinda, I think he meant that it wasn't very welcoming of the staff to not explain (which is ironic considering the very welcoming name of the lounge).

Hey Lucky. I was travelling VA Upper Class from Dubai to LHR, and was led through the main lounge towards the other one at the back. In the other lounge - they had Virgin uniforms and signs, but food/drink selection looked like the same. Quite odd.

@Lucky Why do you "generally not try to eat hot food in contract lounges"? I know what you are trying to say but what is the difference really between hot food in contract lounges and ones in an airline specific lounge? Chances are they are made in the same kitchen with similar ingredients. Is the thought that actual airline lounges invest more money into better food than the contract lounges?

It’s November 24, 2019 and I stayed at the Marhaba Lounge for about 7 hours taking up their late night buffet at midnight and their breakfast buffet. The place was completely packed and not relaxing whatsoever. The ordeal checking in took 30 minutes with 4 staff at the reception desk, all very pleasant.

I decided to book the sleeping pod for 6 hours which I thought would be great. However, the reality of its use is far from serene. Instead of the Lounge Management placing the sleeping pods in a location far from the breakfast bar, say in the location of one of the Elite glassed off Lounges since you pay extra for this service, all you hear every minute is the clanking of dishes!!

When my time was up I wanted to take a shower; I actually woke up early and thought I would get ready for my next 15-hour flight. Yet, to notify the front desk I was finished early I would have to wait in line, a line of about 30 people. The is no staff to help those already inside the lounge. To Top it off, if I wanted a shower I needed to tell the staff at the front desk to pay for that service as well, yet during my checkin that was not mention. My assumption as an American would be that there should be staff on the inside to help you but that’s not the case.

As the author indicates above this Lounge maybe better than most in the Middle East, and it is ok. But, for a city as lavish as Dubai it is far from meeting my expectations!

Awful awful awful. We have been to two of the three Marhaba Lounges, thank God we now get access to the Business Class Lounge. There is simply nothing good to say about these lounges. Our last trip, we had to sit on the floor of the lounge - yes, the floor, which is not particularly clean, because the lounge was so full. According the staff, this is normal. Sadly the staff seem unable to stop equally awful passengers from putting two chairs together so they can sleep. This simply shouldn't be allowed. Food selection is poor. Its really not good. Showers... in the men's bathroom wasn't a place I wanted to go. Look, its a lounge, there is some food and drink, and a coffee machine, so if you are not paying for it, what the hell. But really don't expect luxury or a 'spoil' for yourself because that it definitely isn't. If you are thinking of paying for it, really, you are better off sitting downstairs and buying a meal or coffee there. It does quieten down after 3am a bit. But never again for us...