- Introduction: A Quick Jaunt On Saudia, Jet, And Tunisair
- Review: Korean Air First Class Lounge New York JFK Airport
- Review: Saudia First Class 777-300ER New York To Riyadh
- Review: Saudia First Class Lounge Riyadh Airport
- Review: Saudia First Class 777-300ER Riyadh To Dubai
- Review: Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights
- Review: Marhaba Lounge Dubai Airport
- Review: SkyTeam Lounge Dubai Airport
- Review: Jet Airways Business Class 737 Dubai To Mumbai
- Review: The GVK Lounge Mumbai Airport
- Review: Jet Airways First Class 777-300ER Mumbai To London
- Review: Yotel London Heathrow Terminal 4
- Review: SkyTeam Lounge London Heathrow Airport
- Review: Tunisair Business Class A320 London To Tunis
- Review: Sheraton Tunis
- Review: Tunis Airport Lounge
- Review: Tunisair Business Class A330 Tunis To Montreal
A friend dropped me off at Dubai Airport Terminal 1 shortly after 11AM, plenty early for my 3:10PM flight to Mumbai. I had a bit of work to catch up on and also wanted to review a couple of lounges, so I left plenty of time.
Dubai Airport Terminal 1 check-in hall
Unfortunately this turned into a bit of an issue at check-in. Even though the Jet Airways check-in counter was open, they insisted I couldn’t yet check-in for my flight (and for whatever reason I couldn’t check-in online). However, after asking again and explaining I only had hand baggage, they eventually let me check-in, after a roughly 20 minute wait.
Jet Airways check-in Dubai Airport
Dubai’s Terminal 1 is quite empty during the day, so there were no queues at immigration or security. I found myself airside within five minutes of when my boarding pass was issued. Once airside I had to take a train to get to the part of the terminal where the lounges and gates are located.
Dubai Airport Terminal 1 airside
I followed the signage in the direction of the lounges, which are all located in one area on the second level of the terminal.
Dubai Airport Terminal 1 lounges
I was amused by the solution the airport had for pretending that the Qatar Airways lounge never existed on the lounge directory — that’s quite an interesting situation.
Dubai Airport Terminal 1 lounges
Jet Airways uses the Marhaba Lounge for their premium cabin passengers, which is also a Priority Pass lounge, so can be accessed with any number of credit cards with lounge access. As a reminder, here’s a table with some of the major credit cards offering Priority Pass memberships, as well as their respective guesting rules:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
At the entrance I presented my boarding pass and invitation, and was promptly admitted.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge Terminal 1 exterior
The lounge itself was reasonably decent, at least compared to some of the other outdated lounges I’ve visited in the Middle East in the past. The furniture was at least reasonably modern and in good condition.
Near the entrance was a small seating area with maybe a couple of dozens seats.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge seating
Past that was the biggest part of the lounge, which consisted of dozens upon dozens of seats. Most were arranged as small dining tables with two seats each.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge seating
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge seating
Then off to the side were some padded leather chairs for relaxing.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge seating
In the back of the lounge was yet another small room with maybe a couple of dozen seats.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge seating
The weirdest part of the lounge was what was past that. There was a glass door leading to another room with no signage, which had plenty of seating.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge seating
That led to yet another room. However, as I got there an associate came running up to me to ask which airline I was flying. When I told her Jet Airways, she said I wasn’t allowed to use this lounge. Very odd, as there seemed to be a lounge within a lounge, though there’s not actually any signage as to where one lounge ends and the next one starts.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge seating
When I first arrived the lounge was fairly full, but it emptied out quite a bit by 1PM.
Back towards the entrance of the lounge was a self serve buffet. There was a selection of liquor, water, soft drinks, and wine.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge drink selection
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge drink selection
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge drink selection
Then there was a reasonably decent food selection.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
There was salad, pasta, finger sandwiches, wraps, yogurt, sweets, whole fruit, etc.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
There was also a selection of about half a dozen hot dishes. I generally try not to eat hot food in contract lounges, so I only took a few pictures — the food for the most part wasn’t my taste, but didn’t look bad.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
Then there was a selection of Arabic coffee, juice, and packaged carbs.
Dubai Airport Marhaba Lounge buffet
I spent about an hour in the lounge getting caught up on work, and then headed over to the nearby SkyTeam lounge so I could review that, given that it’s also part of Priority Pass.
With my flight scheduled to depart at 3:10PM, I headed to my departure gate at around 2PM. My flight was departing from gate D18, which was a ways from the lounges. It was about a 10 minute walk, and that’s with walking at a very fast pace.
Dubai Airport Terminal 1 Concourse D
Dubai Airport Terminal 1 Concourse D
There were two Jet Airways flights departing just minutes apart (one to Delhi and one to Mumbai) from adjacent gates, which caused a bit of confusion among passengers. At 2:15PM boarding began, a full 55 minutes before departure. There wasn’t an announcement, but rather they just started letting people onboard, so I quickly followed, in hopes of snagging some cabin pictures.
Dubai Airport departure gate
Marhaba Lounge Dubai bottom line
There are Marhaba Lounges in Terminals 1, 2, and 3, which I believe makes them the largest operator of contract lounges at the airport. Ultimately this was a perfectly fine contract lounge. I’ve certainly been to nicer contract lounges, though I’ve also been to much worse ones. At least this lounge had reasonably modern furniture, was clean and spacious, and had functioning Wi-Fi. I wouldn’t arrive early to spend any time in the lounge, though it’s also not a bad place to kill some time.
Stay tuned for the next installment, to see how the SkyTeam lounge compares.
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: The Business Platinum® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees).
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...
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...
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...
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!
@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?
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.
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).
"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
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.
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?
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?