Dubai airport lounges: which one to pick by terminal
Dubai airport lounges: which one to pick by terminal

Dubai airport lounges: which one to pick by terminal

In Dubai the useful question is not which lounge is the best, but which terminal you depart from. Terminal 3 belongs to Emirates, with its own lounges in every concourse; Terminal 1 houses the British Airways and SkyTeam lounges, and Terminal 2 the flydubai one. The options open to everyone change accordingly, and there are some everywhere.
If you fly Emirates in business or first, or hold Skywards Gold or Platinum status, there is little to decide: the Emirates Business Class Lounge is in Concourse A, B and C of Terminal 3. The Emirates First Class Lounge is open in concourses A and B, while the one in C is closed for works and its passengers are directed to the lounge in B. Worth noting: the Emirates business lounge also accepts a paid entry, unlike the British Airways and SkyTeam lounges in Terminal 1. Without a premium ticket, in Terminal 3 the go-to options are the Ahlan Lounges run by Dubai Airports and the marhaba Lounges of dnata. There is one of each in every concourse, you get in with Priority Pass or by paying, and they stay open all night, which makes them useful for overnight connections too. The Ahlan lounges also accept DragonPass; the marhaba ones admit only Priority Pass or payment.
Which lounge to choose
Lounge Where Hours Priority Pass Paid entry Showers
Ahlan Business Class Lounge T1 Open 24 hours Yes Yes Yes
Ahlan First Class Lounge T1 Open 24 hours No Yes Yes
Sleepover T1 — Yes Yes Yes
marhaba Lounge T1 Open 24 hours Yes Yes Yes
marhaba Lounge T2 Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
Ahlan Lounge T3 Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
Ahlan Lounge T3 Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
Ahlan Lounge T3 Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
Game Space T3 Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
Jumeirah Arrivals Lounge T3 Open 24 hours No — Yes
Plaza Premium Lounge T3 Open 24 hours Yes Yes Yes
Sleepover T3 — Yes Yes —
Sleepover T3 — Yes Yes —
Sleepover T3 — Yes Yes —
marhaba Lounge T3 Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
marhaba Lounge T3 Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
marhaba Lounge T3 Open 24 hours Yes Yes —
British Airways Lounge T1 — No — —
Lufthansa Business Lounge T1 — Yes — Yes
Lufthansa Senator Lounge T1 — No — Yes
SkyTeam Lounge T1 — No — Yes
flydubai Business Class Lounge T2 — No — Yes
Emirates Business Class Lounge T3 Open 24 hours No Yes Yes
Emirates Business Class Lounge T3 Open 24 hours No Yes Yes
Emirates Business Class Lounge T3 Open 24 hours No Yes Yes
Emirates First Class Lounge T3 Open 24 hours No — Yes
Emirates First Class Lounge T3 Open 24 hours No — Yes
Emirates First Class LoungeTemporarily closed T3 Open 24 hours No — Yes
Independent T1 Priority Pass
Ahlan Business Class Lounge

Gate area D, level 2, above the departure gates

Spa treatments and showers, in addition to the buffet.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access for business passengers of airlines without their own lounge and with Priority Pass and DragonPass; paid entry is also available. Maximum stay of 3 hours, extendable for a fee.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Spa and massages
Independent T1
Ahlan First Class Lounge

Gate area D, level 2

The first class version of the Terminal 1 Ahlan.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access for first class passengers of airlines without their own lounge and with DragonPass; paid entry is also available.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Spa and massages
Independent T1 Priority Pass
Sleepover

Opposite gates D6 and D7

Single and double cabins for sleeping by the hour; one of the packages also includes a shower.

Paid entry: single cabin for 2 hours, double for 1 hour, or single for 1 hour with shower. Access also with Priority Pass and DragonPass.

  • Showers
  • Rest area
Independent T1 Priority Pass
marhaba Lounge

Gate D arrivals area, before passport control: reached by the internal train towards the gate level

Children's area and prayer room, useful for arriving or transiting passengers.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass or by paying at the door, open to passengers of any airline.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Children's area
Independent T2 Priority Pass
marhaba Lounge

Departures area after security, opposite gates F3 and F4

Welcomes passengers of any airline departing from Terminal 2.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass or by paying at the door, open to passengers of any airline.

  • Hot food
  • Bar
Independent T3 Priority Pass
Ahlan Lounge

Concourse C, near gate C13

Those departing from Concourse C will find the third Ahlan of Terminal 3 here.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass and DragonPass or with a day pass, open to passengers of any airline.

  • Hot food
  • Bar
Independent T3 Priority Pass
Ahlan Lounge

Concourse B, near gate B26

Hot and cold buffet here too, in the second of the three Ahlan lounges in Terminal 3.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass and DragonPass or with a day pass, open to passengers of any airline.

  • Hot food
  • Bar
Independent T3 Priority Pass
Ahlan Lounge

Concourse A, level 6, near gate A1

One of the three Ahlan lounges in Terminal 3, with hot and cold buffet.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass and DragonPass or with a day pass, open to passengers of any airline.

  • Hot food
  • Bar
Other T3 Priority Pass
Game Space

Concourse B, near gate B27

The first airport gaming lounge in the region: PlayStation and PC titles to play alone or in multiplayer, at any hour.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass, for one visit, or paid by the hour.

Other T3 Before security
Jumeirah Arrivals Lounge

Arrivals hall, after customs

Designed for arriving passengers, not departing ones, with a barista for drinks.

Hours
Open 24 hours
  • Showers
Independent T3 Priority Pass
Plaza Premium Lounge

Concourse A, west wing between gates A2 and A3

A Family Suite and a play area for those travelling with children, plus the Aerobar bar and Arabic, Asian and international cuisine.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass and American Express Platinum; paid entry is also available.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Children's area
Independent T3 Priority Pass
Sleepover

Concourse C, lower level of the duty free area; reception at departures level, near gate C14

The cabins are on a different floor from the reception: check-in is done beforehand, at departures level.

Paid cabins, bookable by the hour. Access also with Priority Pass.

  • Rest area
Independent T3 Priority Pass
Sleepover

Concourse A, opposite gate A1, in the duty free area

Cabins, pods and bunk cabins for sleeping by the hour, with a desk in every space.

Paid entry, with cabins bookable from 2 hours. Access also with Priority Pass and DragonPass.

  • Rest area
Independent T3 Priority Pass
Sleepover

Concourse B, between gates B14 and B18

Cabins and pods to rest by the hour in Concourse B as well.

Paid cabins, bookable by the hour. Access also with Priority Pass.

  • Rest area
Independent T3 Priority Pass
marhaba Lounge

Concourse A, west end, near gate A3

An alternative to the Ahlan lounges for those without access to the Emirates lounges, with a smoking area and VIP room.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass or by paying at the door, open to passengers of any airline.

  • Hot food
  • Bar
Independent T3 Priority Pass
marhaba Lounge

Concourse C, east end, between gates C21 and C23

The third marhaba lounge in Terminal 3, the option open to everyone in Concourse C.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass or by paying at the door, open to passengers of any airline.

  • Hot food
  • Bar
Independent T3 Priority Pass
marhaba Lounge

Concourse B, north side near gate B21

An alternative to the Emirates lounges for those flying without status or a premium ticket.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access with Priority Pass or by paying at the door, open to passengers of any airline.

  • Hot food
  • Bar
Airline T1
British Airways Lounge

Concourse D, first floor

For First passengers there is the Concorde Dining Room, with an à la carte menu of Middle Eastern and classic British dishes.

Access for British Airways First and Business passengers, Executive Club members and oneworld status holders. No paid entry.

  • Hot food
  • Bar
Airline T1 Priority Pass
Lufthansa Business Lounge

Concourse D, mezzanine

Lufthansa's business lounge, next to the Senator Lounge.

Access for business passengers, Miles & More members and Star Alliance Gold status holders.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
Airline T1
Lufthansa Senator Lounge

Concourse D, mezzanine

Lufthansa's top-tier lounge in Dubai, next to the Business Lounge.

Access for first class passengers, Star Alliance Gold members and HON Circle members.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
Alliance T1
SkyTeam Lounge

Concourse D

Over 960 square metres with hot and cold buffet, a self-service bar and two showers available on a first-come basis.

Access for First and Business passengers, or with SkyTeam Elite Plus status, on international flights of Air France, China Eastern, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. No paid entry.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Children's area
Airline T2
flydubai Business Class Lounge

After passport control and security

Business passengers board with a dedicated bus that leaves directly from the lounge, opened on 16 December 2024: 900 square metres for over 200 people.

Access for flydubai business passengers and for Emirates Skywards Gold and Platinum members.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
Airline T3
Emirates Business Class Lounge

Concourse B, gates B16-B18

The Emirates business lounge in Concourse B, on the same level as the first class lounge.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access for Emirates Business and First passengers and for Skywards Gold and Platinum members. Paid entry is also available.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Spa and massages
Airline T3
Emirates Business Class Lounge

Concourse C, near gates C9 and C23

The Emirates business lounge for those departing from Concourse C.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access for Emirates Business and First passengers and for Skywards Gold and Platinum members. Paid entry is also available.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Spa and massages
Airline T3
Emirates Business Class Lounge

Concourse A, upper level

One of the three Emirates business lounges in Terminal 3.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access for Emirates Business and First passengers and for Skywards Gold and Platinum members. Paid entry is also available.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Spa and massages
Airline T3
Emirates First Class Lounge

Concourse A, upper level

Emirates first class lounge, one of the two currently open in Terminal 3.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access for Emirates First passengers and Skywards Platinum members.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Spa and massages
Airline T3
Emirates First Class Lounge

Concourse B, gates B16-B18

While the first class lounge in Concourse C remains closed for works, this one in Concourse B also welcomes its passengers.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Access for Emirates First passengers and Skywards Platinum members.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Spa and massages
Airline T3 Temporarily closed
Emirates First Class Lounge

Concourse C, near gate C23

Closed for refurbishment works.

Hours
Open 24 hours

Lounge closed for works: Emirates First passengers and Skywards Platinum members use the Concourse B lounge.

  • Showers
  • Hot food
  • Bar
  • Spa and massages
Departing from Concourse A gives you one more card to play: the Plaza Premium Lounge, between gates A2 and A3, also accepts American Express Platinum and has a Family Suite with a play area, the detail that makes it the natural choice when travelling with small children. The Aerobar and a kitchen ranging from Arabic to Asian round off the offer. If the goal is to sleep during a long layover, classic lounges are not enough. Sleepover rents cabins by the hour in all concourses of Terminal 3 and in Terminal 1, in front of gates D6 and D7, where one of the packages also includes a shower. In Concourse C it helps to know that the reception is on the departures level, near gate C14, while the cabins are downstairs. If you prefer to stay awake, you can head to the Game Space in Concourse B, a lounge with PlayStation and PCs open at any hour, where Priority Pass is valid for one visit. In Terminal 1, on level 2 of the gate D area, the Ahlan Business Class Lounge welcomes business passengers of airlines without their own lounge, Priority Pass and DragonPass holders and anyone paying the entry fee. It has showers and spa treatments, but the stay is limited and can be extended only by paying. The British Airways Lounge is reserved for BA premium passengers and oneworld status holders, with the Concorde Dining Room for first; the SkyTeam Lounge serves the international flights of Air France, KLM, Korean Air, China Eastern, Kenya Airways, Middle East Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, and offers showers on a first-come basis. Finally, in Terminal 2, the flydubai Business Class Lounge has a peculiarity: a dedicated bus takes business passengers directly from the lounge to the aircraft. Economy travellers find the marhaba Lounge opposite gates F3 and F4, open to passengers of any airline.
In Dubai the choice comes down to a few questions. Which terminal you leave from: Emirates is all in Terminal 3, the other airline lounges in Terminal 1, flydubai in Terminal 2. What gets you in: a premium ticket or status opens the airline lounges, Priority Pass opens Ahlan, marhaba and Plaza Premium, and paying at the door works almost everywhere. And what you need: for eating and working a classic lounge is enough, for sleeping you need the Sleepover cabins.
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