Dubai Airport
2010 Best Airport
REGION: MIDDLE EAST
In this section you will find some of the more entertaining comments, traveller airport reviews as well as our Dubai Airport Guide with info on WiFi, lounges, facilities and services....and yes, even the names of some airport hotels in case you decide that sleeping in the airport is not for you!
Traveller Comments....
"if you are traveling with emirates and you have to spend more than 4 hours in the airport you get a meal FOR FREE. They don't advertise or tell you this but there is a sign near the McDonald's." (amy groves)
"Slightly gaudy interior design but that tends to be the Dubai way." (an aid worker)
"the quietest time i had in the airport is during the 5 minutes i spend in the toilet." (?)
Recent Review
Terminal 1. Photo by Dubai International Airport
by Miniman1207
"I was on a trip to china and actually chose to get tickets with 'Emirates' (awesome flight with great service and personal tv yet cheap) just to see DBX airport. As everyone else, I had read the review by Sysman (57 likes) and was excited to experience a night (around 12 hours) in DBX. Unfortunately it was not at all that good. The free meal is true though (if you are flying with 'Emirates' and have to be in the airport for more than 4 hours. Go to the 'information' closest to burger king (around gate 202/204). You can get Thai, McD or sandwich/pizza. Wifi sucks but at least you don't have to sign up for anything to get it. In Sysmans review the lounges of the airport are glorified, but there are no free lounges for anybody flying on economy class. The 'quiet lounges' signs that can be found around the airports are lies, the lounges are either being redesigned (the area seems to be under maintenance) or they simply do not exist anymore. It generally seems that other than the actual free meal, there are no free meals in this airport.
Sleeping: I've explored the airport pretty thoroughly and this is what I think you should know:
The airport is shaped like a gigantic turd. There is really just one street up and down the airport (with some exceptions) and although it seems like there are multiple floors, but they are brief and seem more like optical illusions. This shape means that there practically aren't any corners (no coziness) :(
Exceptions: Now in the fanciest part (gates 201-232) there are extra lanes on each side of the main street, and this is where the comfy chairs are situated. There are a lot of them and I'm sure that if you look around and have a bit of patiens you will find one at least at night time (I got one in a sec). It's actually quite ok and not at all as noisy as on the main lane, but there is no privacy and if you are sometimes a bit of a pussy when it comes to the security of your belongings (like me), you should go to the area around gate 136-150 (like i did). The chairs are not that nice and the floor is hard although there is a rug on it, but this is the only abnormality in the airport (it has corners ^^). It is like a pimple on the turd-shaped (or if I may) penis-shaped airport. It takes you away from all the stress and noise of the airport though you can't avoid the announcements. But in the morning it is just as crowded as the rest of the airport (at least that is how it went for me)."
The last review for this airport was in 2012. Have you been there recently? Tell us about it!
Dubai Airport Guide
Airport Lounges
- Business Class Lounge - Terminal 1 - Airside, near Gate 8. Hours: open 24 hours
- Marhaba Lounge - Terminal 1 - Airside, between Gates 123 and 125. Hours: open 24 hours
- Marhaba Lounge - Terminal 3 - Airside, Concourse 2, east end of Level 4. Hours: open 24 hours
- Quiet Lounges - there are two lounges that offer reclining chairs. Location: airside, near Gates 9 and 23. Rate: free
Airport WiFi / Internet
- Free wireless internet access is available at the Dubai Airport.
- Internet kiosks are located beside Global Link (Gate 16) and Connect. These touch screen kiosks can be operated by those who have a Etisalat internet account or by swiping a credit card. Additional internet kiosks can found opposite the DCA First Class Lounge (Gate 9) and the Irish Village (Gate 23).
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the Dubai Airport is not for you, there are a few hotels at the airport...
- Dubai International Hotel - located inside the airport on the third level of the Sheikh Rashid Terminal.
- Holiday Inn Express - two minute shuttle bus from the airport
- Millenium Airport Hotel - two minute drive from the airport
More Services, Facilities and Things to Do at the Airport
- Food
>>>Landside: unknown
>>>Airside: Irish Village, Safar Restaurant, Starbucks, Food Court (on the Departures Level between Gates 113-115) has McDonalds, Round Table Pizza, Le Matin Francais, Bistro (Lebanese), Jashan (Indian), and Tansu Kitchen (Chinese and Mongolian barbeque) - ATM
- Health Club
Passengers can use the swimming pool, jacuzzi and gym on an hourly basis. Fees range between Dhs 15 (approx US$ 5) and Dhs 30 (approx US$ 8). Massage services are also available. - Prayer Rooms
Four rooms - two for women and two for men - have been dedicated for offering prayers within the Concourse and two in the Arrivals terminal. - Car Rentals
Asia Rent a Car, Autolease Rent a Car, Avis, Budget, Cars Rent a Car, Continental, Diamond, Dollar, Europcar, Fast, Hertz, Patriot, National, Sixt, Thrifty, United. Location: Terminal 1, Arrivals.
Airport Transportation: Getting Around
The airport operates a shuttle bus between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
Airport Hours
open 24 hours
>>>Read All Dubai Airport Reviews
Last Updated:
The information in this Airport Guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airport's and their web sites. When you see "information not available" and "unknown", the airport has a lousy web site and/or has been uncooperative in providing information. The information above is subject to change without notice. Use it for informational purposes only to help you during your stay. To report errors, or to add/change any items quoted in the guide, please email me.
