- Introduction: Flying With Royalty (Or Not)
- Review: Air Canada Premium Rouge 767 Tampa To Toronto
- Review: Sheraton Gateway Toronto Airport
- Review: EgyptAir Business Class 777 Toronto To Cairo
- Review: Cairo Airport Lounge Terminal 2
- Review: Royal Jordanian Business Class Embraer 175 Cairo To Amman
- Review: Grand Hyatt Amman
- Review: Royal Jordanian Lounge Amman Airport
- Review: Royal Jordanian Business Class 787 Amman To Kuala Lumpur
- Review: St. Regis Kuala Lumpur
- Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Kuala Lumpur
- Review: Royal Brunei Business Class A320 Kuala Lumpur To Bandar Seri Begawan
- Review: Radisson Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei
- Review: Royal Brunei Lounge Bandar Seri Begawan
- Review: Royal Brunei Business Class 787 Bandar Seri Begawan To Dubai
- Review: W Dubai Al Habtoor City
- Review: St. Regis Dubai
- Review: Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai
- Review: Emirates Business Class A380 Dubai To Los Angeles
My flight from Dubai to Los Angeles was departing at 3PM, so a friend dropped me off at Terminal 3 at around 11:30AM, so I’d have plenty of time to review the lounge. Emirates has a separate drop-off area for first and business class passengers, which lets you skip the main part of the check-in hall altogether.
Dubai Airport Terminal 3 exterior
The Emirates premium check-in area is massive. First there are a bunch of red carpets for first class check-in, and then behind that are blue carpets for business class check-in.
Dubai Airport check-in hall
Emirates business class check-in Dubai Airport
After that I proceeded through immigration and passport control, which was relatively quick thanks to this checkpoint only being for premium passengers. Once through security I took the train to the A Concourse, which is Dubai Airport’s A380 concourse (though 777s depart from there as well, and not all A380s depart from that concourse).
Dubai Airport train system
After taking the train I took the elevator up to the departures level.
Dubai Airport elevators
At the top of the elevator I made a slight right turn to follow the signage towards the Emirates lounges.
Dubai Airport Terminal 3
Emirates lounges Dubai Airport
The Emirates First Class Lounge is located one level up from the main concourse, while the Emirates Business Class Lounge is located two levels up from the main concourse. While premium cabin passengers have access to these, there are still a couple options available in Dubai for those with a credit card with lounge access.
I’ve reviewed the Emirates First Class Lounge before, and it’s on my list of the world’s best first class lounges. The lounge is massive — it’s the world’s biggest first class lounge — so I was curious to see how the business class lounge compared.
At the entrance I was welcomed by a friendly associate, who reminded me that I could board my flight directly through the lounge.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport exterior
Emirates’ business class lounge in Dubai is massive. It’s so big that it needs a map, and that walking from one end to the other takes 12 minutes.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport map
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport map
That’s because the lounge spans the entire length of the terminal, as it’s essentially just two levels above the main concourse.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport concourse view
This means you can board your flight directly through the business class lounge.
Given the size of the lounge, the amenities are similar on both sides of the lounge.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport hallway
It’s tough to actually provide a detailed description of the lounge’s layout, since it’s just so massive. All over the place there are tons of seating areas, with a variety of designs.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
In addition to the seating areas there are gates all over the place, so some people choose to sit in the areas near their departure gate.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport gates
There are a couple of business centers, featuring cubicles. Some have computers, and some are just empty workspaces.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport business center
There are also a few different rest areas. There are leather chairs with ottomans that have blankets for extra comfort.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport rest area
Then there are also some partitioned off relaxation areas, most of which seemed to be in use (except the one I snapped a picture of, which had clearly just been used).
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport rest area
The lounge also has a couple of play areas for kids.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport play area
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport play area
Then there are also a couple of cigar bars, which I’m sure any smoker will appreciate.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport cigar bar
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport cigar bar
In terms of food, the lounge has several stations with drinks and light snacks, like nuts, hummus, etc.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport dining area
Then there are two main dining areas. While the first class lounge features a la carte dining, the business class lounge only has a self serve buffet. There’s tons of seating in the dining areas, as you can see below.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport dining area
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport dining area
In addition to tables with seating for 2-4 people, there’s also a communal table.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport dining area
In terms of the food selection, there were several cold options, including salad, hummus, etc.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Then there were nuts, crackers, snack mix etc.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport snacl selection
There were finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, cake, rolls, cookies, etc.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
There were also a variety of hot options — I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
There was a selection of self serve liquor, with mostly good brands.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport liquor selection
There was a selection of wine, as well as Moet champagne.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport wine selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport wine selection
Then there was a coffee machine, a selection of still and sparkling Voss water, and a fridge with Haagzen-Dazs ice cream.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport coffee machine
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport VOSS water
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport ice cream
Overall I thought the food and drink selection was reasonably good, though this is also perhaps the one area where the first class lounge is much better than the business class lounge, as it offers a proper sit-down a la carte meal.
In terms of the lounge’s other amenities, there were restrooms all over the place, including a couple with shower rooms. The shower rooms are nice enough, and each room has a sink, toilet, and shower with Timeless Spa amenities.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport shower room
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport shower room
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport shower room
Just outside the business class lounge is the Timeless Spa. It’s not limited to Emirates passengers, but rather anyone can have a treatment there (at a cost).
Dubai Airport Six Senses Spa
Dubai Airport Six Senses Spa
As a first class passenger you receive a complimentary 15 minute treatment, while as a business class passenger you only have the option of paying for a treatment. The menu read as follows:
I decided to get a 25 minute foot massage. At $39, I didn’t think it was too unreasonably priced for an airport spa, though it wasn’t cheap either. The treatment was excellent, though.
Dubai Airport Six Senses Spa
My flight was scheduled to board from gate A24 at 2:30PM. Gate A24 was right near the entrance to the lounge, and when you board through this entrance, you simply take an elevator down two levels, and then find yourself at the jet bridge.
Emirates Business Class Lounge boarding gate
However, I opted not to board through the business class lounge for this flight. Why? Because my boarding pass had “SSSS” on it, which meant I was supposed to receive extra screening. I always try to be among the first to get on the plane so I can snap cabin pictures.
I figured if I boarded through the business class lounge I’d get my screening after boarding started, and would be among the last aboard. However, by going down to the main gate, I could get my screening done right away, and then board as soon as boarding started.
Emirates boarding gate
The strategy worked, and sure enough I ended up being the first business class passenger onboard.
Emirates business class lounge Dubai
To conclude, I’d like to share my thoughts on this lounge compared to other business class lounges, and also compared to Emirates’ first class lounge.
The Emirates business class lounge is quite similar to the first class lounge. The most noteworthy differences are:
- The first class lounge has a la carte dining with proper table service, while the business class lounge is self serve
- First class passengers get a complimentary 15 minute spa treatment, while business class passengers have to pay for treatments
- The business class lounge is more crowded than the first class lounge, though as you can see, neither lounge is anything remotely approaching “crowded”
Compared to other business class lounges, the lounge is impressive and well designed. You have to love the fact that you can board your flight directly through the lounge, which is very convenient. Beyond that, the lounge has so many different zones to relax in, and wasn’t at all crowded.
That being said, the lounge is so big that it almost doesn’t feel like a lounge. It almost feels like a nice terminal, as you forget you’re in a lounge and not in an airport. I also don’t love the decor. It’s not bad, but for a lounge that’s only a few years old, I would have personally decorated it differently. Then again, it’s very much Emirates’ style.
If you’ve visited Emirates’ business class lounge in Dubai, what was your experience like?
During this trip we visited Business lounges at Manchester, Sydney, Delhi and Dubai (twice). I was amazed to find the Dubai lounges much less welcoming (turnstile entry) and attractive than each of the others. The lounge in Dubai was dark, noisy, crowded in places and the food and beverages were poorly restocked. Depending on the time of day, you might need plenty of time to register and queue for a shower. Mostly, it was difficult...
During this trip we visited Business lounges at Manchester, Sydney, Delhi and Dubai (twice). I was amazed to find the Dubai lounges much less welcoming (turnstile entry) and attractive than each of the others. The lounge in Dubai was dark, noisy, crowded in places and the food and beverages were poorly restocked. Depending on the time of day, you might need plenty of time to register and queue for a shower. Mostly, it was difficult to believe we were in the right place. Not very relaxing at all. We will avoid Dubai in future as we do have a choice.
I visited the Business Lounge in terminal A on my way to Heathrow. The whole thing was just a bit underwhelming - especially after the experience of the Emirates lounge at Heathrow.
It's dated, hard to find your way around and the food options are pretty sub-par. One food station simply ran out of most breakfast items (at 9am) and the selection at the other was pretty overwhelming (and that station had no juice).
...I visited the Business Lounge in terminal A on my way to Heathrow. The whole thing was just a bit underwhelming - especially after the experience of the Emirates lounge at Heathrow.
It's dated, hard to find your way around and the food options are pretty sub-par. One food station simply ran out of most breakfast items (at 9am) and the selection at the other was pretty overwhelming (and that station had no juice).
It wasn't awful & and I didn't have the issues with seating that others mentioned, but I was pretty underwhelmed.
How much earlier do they allow to enter in the business class lounge?
For example if i have transit visa for 2 days in dubai, will they let me sleep there for 2 days?(if i have business class ticket?
Used the Business Class lounge this time last year ( Jan 2017 ) Disappointed would be an understatement !! Not sure what time of day/night you took those photos Lucky but we had difficulty in even finding a seat ...massively busy. The queues for the toilets and food were incredibly long. I expected so much more and came away feeling short changed.Did not come any way close to what I expected from an Emirates experience...
Used the Business Class lounge this time last year ( Jan 2017 ) Disappointed would be an understatement !! Not sure what time of day/night you took those photos Lucky but we had difficulty in even finding a seat ...massively busy. The queues for the toilets and food were incredibly long. I expected so much more and came away feeling short changed.Did not come any way close to what I expected from an Emirates experience seeing this was their Flagship Lounge.On a more positive note other Emirates BC lounges (smaller) at other airports we used were a delight.
Do you need to book the spa treatments prior to arriving or is there enough available therapists for you to just turn up and walk into one?
I'd taken a quick holiday to Germany in July and had a 6 hour layover in Dxb on the way back. Took your advice and got a foot/leg massage done which was DIVINE. It was so good I fell asleep for a few mins. I had a shower after and felt great. The total cost was about EUR82 if I remember correctly. I also had a light snack in the food area of the lounge...
I'd taken a quick holiday to Germany in July and had a 6 hour layover in Dxb on the way back. Took your advice and got a foot/leg massage done which was DIVINE. It was so good I fell asleep for a few mins. I had a shower after and felt great. The total cost was about EUR82 if I remember correctly. I also had a light snack in the food area of the lounge but the food looked like it had been there for awhile and aside from the smoked salmon rolls I didn't find anything too appealing. Being Emirates, I somehow thought the food would be better or at least there'd be more options. The staff were very nice and helpful.
While the staff are friendly and always helpful the business class lounge has a lot to answer for when it comes to the amenities.
simply put it is a disgrace and completely inadequate, it is unable to cope with demand for showers and toilets.
I travel through here a lot for business and being in the aviation game, it is by fair one of the worst compared to other airline lounges.
peek period...
While the staff are friendly and always helpful the business class lounge has a lot to answer for when it comes to the amenities.
simply put it is a disgrace and completely inadequate, it is unable to cope with demand for showers and toilets.
I travel through here a lot for business and being in the aviation game, it is by fair one of the worst compared to other airline lounges.
peek period just can not cope and Emirates has a lot to answer for and must make a change and install more many more of the shower and toilet facilities.
time periods in waiting are 15 to 25 mins for a shower and toilets can be 15 minutes or longer. completely unacceptable.
What are the price ranges for the cigar bar?
Did you try the Moet and Chandon bar at the biz class lounge Concourse B?
I'm not a great Emirates fan but they get the lounges just about right. Most of their Business lounges offer decent, simple food and a relatively comfortable environment in which to eat it.
Some of the a la carte F lounges have become rather too precious IMHO, believing their own PR hype but delivering indifferent food: QANTAS an obvious example; some try too hard, EG , QATAR.
Emirates has the best range of lounges.
"if you harbor racist views, don’t be a coward by hiding your racial background and instead pretend to be Asian"
You don't think Asians can be just as racist as anyone else? You racist.
----
Donald Trump and Mike Pence are arriving at a press conference to announce more immigration reforms.
Pence: We're really squeezing those immigrants now.
Trump: As far as I'm concerned, the less immigrants the better.
Pence: The fewer.
Trump: Hey. Don't...
"if you harbor racist views, don’t be a coward by hiding your racial background and instead pretend to be Asian"
You don't think Asians can be just as racist as anyone else? You racist.
----
Donald Trump and Mike Pence are arriving at a press conference to announce more immigration reforms.
Pence: We're really squeezing those immigrants now.
Trump: As far as I'm concerned, the less immigrants the better.
Pence: The fewer.
Trump: Hey. Don't call me that in public. Not yet, anyway.
Hey Lucky,
I spend way too much time in the Dubai Lounges. Terminal A is much nicer than B, but B has the Moet Champaign bar hidden in the back of the lounge so thats not too bad :-) The lounges do get very crowded at night and it will get even worse now that Emirates is allowing anyone to buy access. Being Gold with them used to mean something. Not so much any more :-(
Was there early morning at both the A and B concourse lounges. I much preferred the B lounge at that hour as the B lounge was much less crowded. A was so crowded, it was hard to find a place to sit. Also, B seemed to have slightly more food selections and sodas were available from a refrigerator, rather than having to ask.
I had the pleasure of using the First lounge at Dubai A380 terminal last year. It was very early (6am) so uncrowded. Yet the wait for a shower was 40 mins (showers are only available at the gate you arrive at/depart from) and the lounge was very humid. I know, first world problems, but it seems a little inadequate when has such a great reputation.
@Lucky,
...Thanks for the review. Wife and I got to enjoy (perhaps for the first and only time) the Emirates First Class lounge last October on a Qantas LHR-DXB | DXB-SYD overnight layover. Was curious about the Business Class lounge one floor below. Don't remember seeing [Haagen-Dazs] ice cream freezers in the First lounge, I probably would have eaten three pints if I had seen them. Two things from your review made me giggle...
@Lucky,
Thanks for the review. Wife and I got to enjoy (perhaps for the first and only time) the Emirates First Class lounge last October on a Qantas LHR-DXB | DXB-SYD overnight layover. Was curious about the Business Class lounge one floor below. Don't remember seeing [Haagen-Dazs] ice cream freezers in the First lounge, I probably would have eaten three pints if I had seen them. Two things from your review made me giggle...
1. "While the first class lounge features a la carte dining, the business class lounge only has a self serve buffet." Woe to the man (or woman) who must suffer the self-serve buffet. :-)
2. You posted the lounge's WiFi password (photo) online... gasp.
Anyway, enjoy your write-ups.
The snacl selection looks less than impressive.
Great lounge. When on the Syd to London run its makes a great place for a shower and bite to eat. Returning home it's landing in the morning in Dubai so shower and breakfast. It can be busy in the middle of the night but as a lounge it's right up there.
@ting tong
Ting tong bing bong willy wong
Lucky -
Long time reader needing some advice. I wasn't sure where to ask this, but this seems as good of a post as ever. Was on a EK flight from KHI to DBX and eventually on to LAX. The First leg of the flight was delayed four hours which caused us to miss our flight to LAX. EK provided a hotel and transportation, but we got into LAX 24 hours laters than anticipated...
Lucky -
Long time reader needing some advice. I wasn't sure where to ask this, but this seems as good of a post as ever. Was on a EK flight from KHI to DBX and eventually on to LAX. The First leg of the flight was delayed four hours which caused us to miss our flight to LAX. EK provided a hotel and transportation, but we got into LAX 24 hours laters than anticipated causing me to miss an extra day of work. Do I have any basis for compensation with regards to the original delay and then subsequently the missed flight? The reason for delay wasn't weather related, all they said was that they couldn't get the required paperwork from Dubai to take off on time. Any advice from you or any other readers would be greatly appreciated.
You should try using this lounge when it is busy (eg late at night / in the morning). It gets crowded. Every seat taken... it is a vastly different experience and not in a good way.
@ "ting tong":
if you harbor racist views, don't be a coward by hiding your racial background and instead pretend to be Asian
Same with above - the other business class lounge is nowhere near this nice!
What's the standard tipping policy at the Spa facility? Great review!
I've been traveling in and out of Dubai since 1988 and have experienced the changes EK have made in their Skywards frequent flyer programe mostly to their benefit. However their business lounges around the world are truly amazing. The complimentary Chauffeur service is reliable and well organized. I was last in the Delhi & Dubai lounges in December 2016 and will be traveling business class next month so look forward to that.
Tiffany, can you elaborate on "most". Thanks
@ Francisco C -- Cathay Pacific allows awards between Australia and Hong Kong, or between Hong Kong and Europe, for example.
I agree the decor is curiously dated given it's relatively new.
I have been Skywards blue, silver, gold and then again silver which is my present status. Given the fact that EK has changed the rule for free upgrades the premium memberships have little value now. But if there's something I still get excited with is the Business class lounge even when I fly coach on Emirates. It's the best that I have experienced so far. The free Costa coffee, the sumptuous meal and drink option...
I have been Skywards blue, silver, gold and then again silver which is my present status. Given the fact that EK has changed the rule for free upgrades the premium memberships have little value now. But if there's something I still get excited with is the Business class lounge even when I fly coach on Emirates. It's the best that I have experienced so far. The free Costa coffee, the sumptuous meal and drink option can't be matched by anyone. Big isn't synonymous of good, but in this case it's big and definitely the best as per my knowledge.
Hey Ben, how did you use AS MP miles for this journey. I thought MP awards have to originate in the US. Your US flight started with air Canada in Tampa and I don't believe they are MP partners so how did that work out? Unless I am mistaken on this fact.
@ RD -- Most Alaska awards have to originate or terminate in North America, but can go in either direction.
dear credit,
what kind of stuff do you snort?
best regards
How was it sitting with all dem burqas they make my yellow skin crawl and all those induans in the lounge.
The three things I love about OMAAT:
1) airline & hotel reviews
2) Tiffany
3) our dear @Credit.
Did you run into a lot of the enemies, the Muslims? I hope you gathered a lot of Intel on these creatures. Heard they have three hands and four legs and eat little kids for breakfast.
The fuhrer wants to reward you with a medal.
Heil drumpf
Interesting. I flew through Dubai a couple months ago on my to Chicago from Delhi. My flights went in and out of concourse B, so I went to the business class lounge in that concourse for my overnight stay. It was nowhere near as large and impressive as this lounge. While happy to have a lounge to stay in for my long layover, I wasn't bowled over.
Just wondering why you got someone to drop you to the airport rather than using the complimentary chauffeur drive?
@ Sean M. -- Alaska award passengers no longer get complimentary chauffeur service, unfortunately.
@Lucky, did you actually time how long it took to walk the whole length? It wouldn't surprise me given how thorough you are.
I've been in the lounge several times and somehow missed the chairs with ottomans, the partitioned areas, and the ice cream fridge. Obviously I'll have to walk round more next time!
@ Malc -- Hah, I didn't, but the 12 minute number sounded about right. I'll time it next time -- good point!