Dubai Airport

In this section you will find 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!

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. [ see more info about this below ] - amy groves

Recent Review

Terminal 1. Photo by Dubai International Airport
[ submit a photo ]

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 2013. Have you been there recently? Tell us about it!

>>>Read All Dubai Airport Reviews

Dubai Airport Guide

Airport Lounges

Business Class Lounge - Location: Terminal 1, Airside, between Gate C8 and C10. Hours: open 24 hours. Showers are available. Lounge Access: book online for US$ 42 (3 hours) or US$ 47 (5 hours).
Marhaba Lounge - Location: Terminal 1, Airside, between Gates C23 and C25. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: US$ 45 per person at the door or online.
Marhaba Lounge - Location: Terminal 3, Airside, Concourse A, between gates A3 and A2. Hours: open 24 hours. Showers are available ($). Lounge Access: US$ 45 per person at the door or online.
Marhaba Lounge - Location: Terminal 3, Airside, Concourse B, east end of Level 4 on the north side of the concourse, near gate B21. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: US$ 45 per person at the door or online
First Class Lounge - Terminal 1 - Airside
Ahlan Lounge - Terminal 1 - Airside
Al Majlis - Terminal 1 - Airside
Business Class Lounge - Terminal 3 - Airside, Departure Level, Concourse 2, Near Gate No: 19. Hours: open 24 hours
First Class Lounge - Terminal 3 - Airside, Departure Level, Concourse 2, Near Gate No: 19. Hours: open 24 hours

Quiet Lounges - there are two lounges that offer reclining chairs. Location: Terminal 1, airside, near Gates C23 and C9. Rate: Free. Pack some warm clothes and headphones. This airport gets cold and noisy.

Airport WiFi / Internet

Free WiFi is available at the Dubai Airport. Connect to the "MAXSPOT" network.
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

There is a hotel inside Dubai Airport in addition to other hotels near the airport that offer a free airport shuttle:

Dubai International Hotel - located inside the airport on the third level of the Sheikh Rashid Terminal.
Holiday Inn Express - opposite Terminal 3. (Shuttle Hours: a two minute shuttle bus departs every hour on the hour from Terminal 1 and 3).
Premier Inn (Shuttle Hours: 24 hours - departs every 30 minutes).
Snooze Cube - Located inside Terminal 1, these compact rooms come with bed, TV and internet. Rates: $16 per hour

More Services, Facilities & Things to Do at the Airport

ATMs / Cash Machines - Yes
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: Arrivals section of each terminal.
Children's Play Area - Location: Airside, between Gates 12 and 14
Currency Exchange - There are foreign exchange counters open 24 hours at Gates 8, 18 and 22 (Airside).
Food / Dining - Thanks to a few readers, they tell me that there are a few food and beverage concessions that are open 24 hours including: McDonald's • Baskin Robbins • Costa Coffee. See also Meal Vouchers below.
Health Club - Passengers can use the swimming pool, jacuzzi and gym on an hourly basis. Location: G-Force, Airside, Fees range between Dhs 15 (approx US$ 5) and Dhs 30 (approx US$ 8). Massage services are also available.
Information Desk - "one above each end of duty free airside T1. Landside has dedicated "May I help you?" staff walking around in blue polo shirts". (submitted by a reader)
Luggage Storage / Lockers - Short term baggage storage is available in two areas of the airport: Terminal 1 (Arrivals - near RTA Taxi Area) and Terminal 3 (Arrivals - near Baby Changing area/washrooms). Hours: open 24 hours. Rates: from AED 20 (up to 12 hours)
Meal Vouchers - If you have a 4+ hour layover, you are eligible to receive a free meal voucher. To receive the voucher, go to the Transfer Desk H2 (Location: Airside). The vouchers are valid at 5 restaurants. Thanks to @legalnomads on Twitter for this information.
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.
Security Office - Location is unknown. Do you know? Email me
Showers - Showers are available in the Business and First Class lounges. According to Ananara on our Facebook page, there are free showers in Terminal 3, gates 225-232, opposite starbucks. You need your own towels.
Smoking Rooms - Location: Airside, Concourse 1
Tours - There are tour operators that offer short city tours in the Arrivals Area. (submitted by a reader)

Airport Transportation: Getting Around

The airport operates a free shuttle bus between Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. They run every 10 minutes (approx).

Airport Hours

open 24 hours

Questions?

If you have questions about this airport that are not answered here or in the airport reviews visit our Facebook Page and submit a question.

Travel Resources

Dubai Hotels - search for deals, check availability and read reviews