The Truth About the Emirates Business Class Lounge in Dubai

My traveler experience at Dubai Airport

Finally, a flight leaving on time, I thought to myself.

If you read my previous post, you’ll know that we had to make a whistle-stop tour to India from NYC via Dubai last month. It was an epic but memorable trip, starting with my first-ever visit to Dubai Airport.

Here’s an account of that layover in Dubai.

Newark to Dubai

Our flight from Newark to Dubai was scheduled at 9:30 pm and we’d gotten to the airport well in advance, in order to avoid the Friday night traffic. This was a 12–14 hour flight, depending upon the tailwind.

Since we’d booked so late, there was no way of choosing ‘Extra legroom’ seats.

However, we lucked out on three bulkhead seats in the middle of the plane, giving us the much-needed legroom for the long flight ahead.

I strongly recommend bulkhead seats because even if they’re economy, their generous legroom makes flying much easier.

The plane was completely full. Since it was mid-winter break for all city public schools and possibly some suburban school districts and/or private schools, the departure lounge was jam-packed with children of all ages.

Kids dressed in their PJs were clutching onto their teddies, corporate men and women in suits were on their phones catching up with their email, and tourists looked excited about their travels to the Middle East. The atmosphere felt festive and fun, and I began to stop dreading the arduous flight.

The bulkhead seats were perfect. We settled into them and even managed to sleep for a few hours. After waking up, I decided to watch some comedy and enjoyed a couple of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ episodes — you can’t go wrong with Larry David!

The flight was very smooth and we landed in Dubai on time. It was 7:30 pm when we arrived and it was still light out, but we would have to stay in the airport for the next 6 and a half hours before our next flight.

Time to get cozy!

Dubai Airport

I can’t remember when exactly, but when I was a teen, I do remember stopping in Dubai but not disembarking (what was that about?). I believe we were traveling from India to London via Dubai.

I remember staying on the plane for a few hours while it was being refueled. I remember the plane doors being kept open on the tarmac and the children on the flight happily running around while the grown-ups were relaxed and just waiting patiently.

I would finally get off at the airport some 30 years later.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Dubai airport and it seemed to live up to its reputation. Clean, modern, dynamic, and lively. There was a large array of ethnic and Western designer stores everywhere and people from all over the world walked past me in this busy airport in the heart of the Middle East.

My daughter and I were happy to grab something to eat and spend the next few hours in the comfortable departure areas until our next flight. However, my dear husband, in a bid to make the journey a little easier, surprised us with entry to the Emirates Business Lounge in Dubai.

Emirates Business Class Lounge, Concourse A

I was hesitant at first, but given how hard we’d all worked last month, I thought a treat wouldn’t hurt. We followed the signs and found ourselves in an exclusive arm of the airport, with a dedicated escalator leading us to a large glass-fronted reception for the Emirates Lounge.

The beauty of this lounge is that it’s not just open to premium class passengers or Emirates passengers with Skywards points. Anyone can purchase passes. We purchased a 4-hour pass for $175 each.

Yes, that is steep. But we had more than 5 hours to go at this point. And this lounge was supposed to be one of the most luxurious and sophisticated around.

My husband also reasoned that we had a few days of hard, physical work ahead of us, so this luxury was more than justified. I was so grateful for his way of thinking.

As soon as we entered, I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the hallway, of which there were two, running in parallel on each side. It literally spanned the entire length of the terminal. I think I heard someone say it spanned 10000 sq m, but don’t quote me on that.

The sleek, long, space was furnished with thousands of sofas, tables, showers, bathrooms, children’s playrooms, bars and dining areas. Because we were on such a late-night layover, there was practically no one around, making it seem all the more exclusive.

We walked around a couple of times just to get our bearings. We finally found and settled into the main dining area, and had a grand feast from the international on-site buffet. We treated ourselves to Moet and Chandon champagne and delectable desserts, including Arabian ice cream.

We found private rest areas and settled in for a nap before our next flight. Attendants checked in to see if we needed anything before we closed our eyes and went into relaxation mode.

Another brilliant feature of the lounge is that travelers don’t need to step out of it to board their flights. The lounge provides direct access for any flight. You simply need to check where your departure gate is and walk to it from the lounge.

As I set my alarm and rested in tranquility, I couldn’t believe how lucky we were to experience this treat. While it was expensive, it felt commensurate with the luxury and standard of service we experienced for 4 hours.

To reiterate, the Emirates lounge is open to anybody, not just those flying on Emirates. A four-hour stay costs around $175.

The next time you travel, see if you can try a lounge somewhere, especially for a longer flight. It makes for a special treat in addition to your vacation.

Here are some more photos to give you a sense of this massive yet stylish space:

Have you visited the Emirates lounge in Dubai? Are you a seasoned lounger in airports? What are some pros and cons about lounges? If you’ve never been in a lounge before, do you think you’ll try one, based on my review?

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