Emirates is by far the largest operator of the A380, so it’s not surprising that Dubai is the first airport in the world to have a terminal dedicated exclusively to the A380. Part of this new terminal is the new Emirates A380 First Class Lounge. I actually visited this lounge back in early 2013 when it first had its soft opening, though figured I’d review it again since it has been a couple of years, and the lounge is now fully operational.
Anyway, we were picked up by an Emirates car at around 10PM, for our 3:15AM departure to Singapore. The drive took about 10 minutes, and we were dropped off in the area of the terminal dedicated to first and business class check-in.
Dubai Airport exterior
The premium check-in area is massive, and that’s not really a good thing.
Emirates check-in Dubai Airport
Before we even went to pick up our boarding passes we took a quick look at the departures board. It’s crazy just how many flights Emirates operates in the middle of the night. The Middle East is one of the few places in the world where 3AM is “rush hour” at airports.
Emirates departures monitor Dubai Airport
It’s a long walk from the entrance to the check-in counters. Beyond that, there’s nothing actually special about the first class check-in counters.
Other airlines have improved the check-in experience by adding seating while checking in, while Emirates just has traditional walk-up check-in counters.
On the plus side, the two agents checking us in were lovely. Keep in mind that at this point my dad still had no clue where we were going, so as we went up to the counter I handed them both of our passports and explained that it was a surprise trip for my dad, and to please keep it that way. They were a bit confused at first, but eventually got a good chuckle out of it, and handed us both of our boarding passes.
Emirates first class check-in Dubai Airport
From the first class check-in area it’s a long walk to immigration and security. I really don’t have the slightest clue why the premium check-in area is so massive. And given how big it is, it’s even more puzzling that they didn’t decide to do something more innovative with the space.
Lanside terminal Dubai Airport
There was no queue at security or immigration, so we were through in a matter of minutes. From there we took the train to the A Concourse, which is dedicated exclusively to A380s.
Train to A Concourse Dubai Airport
It’s the newest terminal at Dubai Airport, and is gorgeous. Really it feels more like a shopping mall than anything else, given the layout and number of shiny lights and ads.
A Concourse Dubai Airport
A Concourse Dubai Airport
We took the elevator up to the first class lounge, which is located on level four, one level up from the concourse.
Emirates Lounge signage Dubai Airport
As we walked up to the reception desk I handed the agent our boarding passes and asked that they not tell my dad where we were headed, explaining that it was a surprise birthday trip for him. At first they had an almost concerned look on their faces, but once they understood what I was saying, they got a good chuckle out of it as well.
Emirates First Lounge entrance Dubai Airport
Emirates First Lounge reception Dubai Airport
The Emirates first class lounge in the A380 concourse is massive. Emirates has designed one of the most innovative lounges in the world. Rather than just having a first class lounge, they’ve basically designed a first class concourse. The lounge spreads the entire length of the terminal, and then you can board your flight directly through the lounge. It’s insane. Yep, in the below picture, that’s the first class lounge immediately above the concourse, and they’re equally long.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai Airport
As we entered the lounge, my dad had the same reaction I had the first time I visited the lounge — “I don’t get it… where’s the lounge?”
And that’s a reasonable question, given the number of duty free shops in the lounge. It really does feel more like a super-nice and quiet terminal than anything else… at least at first.
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge duty free Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge duty free Dubai Airport
Frankly I still don’t know what to make of this lounge. It’s overwhelming. It’s ridiculous. It’s unnecessary. It’s sterile. And it’s just kinda plain awesome. I mean, lounge overcrowding is a common complaint, but is there such a thing as having a lounge that’s so big that it no longer feels exclusive? If so, this lounge definitely fits the bill.
There’s tons of seating in the lounge. Tons. There must be over a thousand seats in the lounge, if I had to guess. I gave my dad a tour, and the craziest part is that for the first two hours we were literally the only two passengers in the lounge. It was just us and well over 100 employees.
Emirates First Class Lounge seating Dubai Airport
The lounge has tons of seating, both along the main “path” of the lounge, as well as at each individual gate area.
Emirates First Class Lounge seating Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge seating Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge seating Dubai Airport
Each gate area has maybe a couple of dozen seats and a light buffet. Here’s what a buffet at an individual gate looks like (keep in mind there are well over a dozen of these in the lounge):
Emirates First Class Lounge buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge buffet Dubai Airport
Given how huge the lounge is, it’s actually basically a mirror image of itself — both sides of the concourse have roughly the same amenities.
At the far ends of the concourse is a large main seating area, which features lounge chairs as well as table seating.
Emirates First Class Lounge seating Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge seating Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge seating Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge seating Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge seating Dubai Airport
There’s a decent size buffet there. It’s not the main restaurant in the lounge, but if you’re just looking for a snack, it’s perfect.
Emirates First Class Lounge buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge buffet Dubai Airport
In theory drinks in the lounge are self serve, though the lounge is so over staffed that you’ll be approached by about five staff eager to help if you even dare look at anything.
Emirates First Class Lounge wine Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge wine Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge Arabic coffee Dubai Airport
The lounge also has two large sleeping rooms with dozens of day beds each. While they don’t have true beds, the day beds are quite comfortable, and have pillows and blankets.
Emirates First Class Lounge sleeping room Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge sleeping room Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge sleeping room Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge sleeping room Dubai Airport
Possibly my dad’s favorite feature of the lounge was the cigar bar, given that he’s a cigar smoker.
Emirates First Class Lounge cigar bar Dubai Airport
While I don’t smoke, I do appreciate that they have a pleasant, isolated place for people that do. It’s a large bar which is nicely furnished.
Emirates First Class Lounge cigar bar Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge cigar bar Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge cigar bar Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge cigar bar Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge cigar bar Dubai Airport
As you might expect, there’s a cheese spread inside the cigar bar.
Emirates First Class Lounge cigar bar snacks Dubai Airport
My dad wanted to smoke a cigar, so I sat with him there. There’s an a la carte menu available throughout the lounge, and any of the servers can bring you anything from the menu. We decided to have a snack while my dad had a cigar.
The lounge menu read as follows:
I ordered the garlic shrimp, which were simple but excellent.
Emirates First Lounge garlic prawns appetizer
Meanwhile my dad nibbled on a cheese plate.
Emirates First Lounge cheese plate
The lounge also has a Timeless Spa, which wasn’t open the last time I visited the lounge. The spa is located just outside the entrance to the first class lounge.
Emirates First Class Lounge Timeless Spa Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge Timeless Spa Dubai Airport
As a first class passenger you receive a complimentary treatment, which we scheduled for 12:30AM.
The treatment choices are as follows:
It’s worth noting that the spa has hair and nail services as well, which isn’t the case at many other airport spas.
Emirates First Class Lounge Timeless Spa Dubai Airport
I decided to get a back massage. While it was only a 15 minute treatment, my Balinese therapist was fantastic.
Emirates First Class Lounge Timeless Spa Dubai Airport
When we got back into the lounge, my dad got a complimentary shoe shine, which is another pretty cool feature. At this point the lounge started to fill up a bit more, given that the flights between London and Australia were on the ground.
Emirates First Class Lounge shoe shine Dubai Airport
At this point we decided to go to the dining room. Emirates’ catering on late night/early morning departures is pretty weak, so we figured we’d have a snack. As I said above, you can actually order food from anywhere, so you don’t have to eat in the dining room, even if you want a full meal.
Emirates First Class Lounge restaurant Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge restaurant Dubai Airport
We started off with a glass of champagne. Emirates offers Moet in the first class lounge.
Emirates First Class Lounge champagne Dubai Airport
In addition to the a la carte menu available throughout the lounge, there’s also an extensive buffet, consisting of Western, Arabic, and Asian options.
Emirates First Class Lounge restaurant buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge restaurant buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge restaurant buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge restaurant buffet Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge restaurant buffet Dubai Airport
I’m not usually much for buffets, but the spread looked excellent, so I just tried a few different things from the buffet for dinner.
Emirates First Class Lounge restaurant dinner Dubai Airport
The biggest surprise of the night — and possibly of the trip — came when a small army of staff came up to our table as we finished our meal to present my dad with a massive birthday cake. What an amazing gesture, given that the extent of them knowing about my dad’s birthday was me mentioning it as we entered the lounge. The fact that they made him a cake with his name on it in just a couple of hours is amazing.
Emirates First Class Lounge birthday cake Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge birthday cake Dubai Airport
All too soon, at around 2:45AM, boarding for our flight to Singapore began out of gate A9. I love being able to board directly through the lounge, especially since you’re at most competing with a dozen other passengers to board, as opposed to 500.
Emirates First Class Lounge boarding gate Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge boarding gate signage Dubai Airport
Once you have your boarding pass scanned you take the elevator down to the second floor, which is where the A380 upper deck is boarded from.
Emirates First Class Lounge boarding gate elevator Dubai Airport
At the bottom of the elevator you go down a short hallway, and then find yourself on the jet bridge already. Can’t beat that!
Emirates First Class Lounge boarding gate Dubai Airport
Emirates First Class Lounge jet bridge Dubai Airport
While it was the middle of the night, we were both damn excited to board another Emirates A380!
Emirates A380 taking us to Singapore
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai bottom line
Let me start with the staff in this lounge. They’re over the top amazing. Being the only two people in this massive of a lounge for a couple of hours was borderline awkward. Every single employee we walked past greeted us. You’d almost think they were paid a commission based on you visiting their area, based on how attentive they were in seeing if anything could be done.
The Emirates A380 First Class Lounge is also innovative. It’s really not even a lounge, but rather more like the classiest concourse in the world. Being able to board your flight directly through the lounge is a huge plus. And Emirates has done a great job with the concept, though to some degree a lounge loses some level of exclusivity and coziness when it feels more like a concourse. I know that’s the ultimate first world feedback, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but…
The one area where I think Emirates could really improve when it comes to their ground service is everything leading up to the lounge. The check-in area is sterile and inconvenient, and it’s amazing how long of a walk it is from the curb to security. I don’t get why they don’t offer an escort service between check-in and the lounge, which would at least be a nice touch, in my opinion.
But all-in-all, I do think this is one of the world’s best airport lounges, along with the Air France First Class Lounge Paris, Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, and Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa in Bangkok.
If you’ve visited the Emirates A380 First Class Lounge Dubai, what was your experience?
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