If you have a layover at Dubai Airport, you may be looking for a comfortable spot to catch some Zzzz’s before your next flight. To help you, we’ve compiled this sleep guide to share the best places to sleep at Dubai Airport. Thanks to traveller tips and reviews, this sleep guide will tell you all you need to know to get the best night’s sleep at the airport.
If you have slept here and want to share tips or photos about your experience, write a review. This helps us keep our sleep guides up-to-date for future sleepy travellers.
For more information about DXB, check out our Dubai Airport Guide.
Can You Sleep Overnight at Dubai Airport?
Airside
From free rest zones to sleep cabins and plush airport hotels, there are plenty of options for you to get some shut-eye.
There are plenty of seating options, plus designated rest zones with comfortable reclining chairs throughout the airport. However, given the huge number of transit passengers moving through the airport, it might be challenging to find a seat.
Unfortunately, gate area seating tend to have armrests on them, making them unfriendly for passengers looking to lie down and sleep. You may need to sleep on the floor if you are looking to catch some zzzz’s closer to your departure gate. The carpeted floor of DXB is no stranger to sleeping travellers. If you don’t get your hands on one of the seats, bring a sleeping mat and spread out on the floor for some rest. The floor areas are open plan though, and you won’t be able to find many hidden nooks and crannies for privacy.
Landside
If you are planning to sleeping in the public area of the terminals overnight, unfortunately, we don’t have any reviews for landside sleeping at the time of this update. Write a review to help future travellers planning to sleep in the public area of the airport.
Where Can You Sleep for Free in Dubai Airport?
DXB has a few rest zones where travellers can lie down and get some shut-eye. The rest zones are located throughout the secure zone of terminal 3. Beware, though, the airport is busy airport with many transit travellers, so the rest zones tend to fill up quite quickly, snag one when you can!
You’ll find the rest zones in the following areas:
- Terminal 3, Airside, Concourse A – near Gates A1, A16, A21, A24,
- Terminal 3, Airside, Concourse B – near Gates B7-8, B10-11, B14-23, B25-27, B29, and B31-32.
What Are Some Tips for Sleeping at Dubai Airport?
If you want to get some rest in DXB, here are some tips for making it a more comfortable experience:
- Temperature – It can be very chilly in this airport. Arrive prepared with a blanket and extra layers. A hoodie would be a good idea, and even a sleeping bag if you can!
- Lighting – Like any terminal building, the lighting can be a nuisance. Come prepared with shades or something else to cover your eyes, like a T-shirt or a towel.
- Noise – With flights going through the night, this airport rarely sees any downtime, so it can get pretty noisy. Expect typical airport noise like frequent loudspeaker announcements, TVs blaring international news, and the chatter of the many travellers. It may quiet down for a couple of hours, between 2:00 AM – 4:00 AM, but it’s best to be prepared with earplugs, noise-cancelling headphones, and even a white noise app on your smartphone if you want to get any rest.
For more tips, check out our tips for sleeping in the airport.
Are Showers available?
If you’ve had a night snoozing on the cold airport floor, you’ll probably need a shower to loosen up your stiff joints and warm you up before your flight. Paid showers are located in Terminal 3, between the following Gates: B13-19 and C18-22. The G-Force Health Club, near the Dubai International Hotel, has shower facilities, with packages starting at AED 45. Several pay-to-use lounges also have shower facilities. See our Dubai Airport Guide for details.
Is There Anything Open 24 Hours?
Thankfully, if you sleep at Dubai Airport overnight, you will find that most dining options are open 24 hours. Plan your midnight eats and check out the airport website to see if your favourite restaurants will be open.
You’ll also be able to pass the time with some late-night shopping as most of the shops are still open through the night. Including Dubai Duty-Free and Carrefour.
Are Lounges Available?
Dubai Airport has a several lounges that economy class passengers can pay to use. None of the lounges have designated rest zones or sleep rooms. Learn more about lounges in our Dubai Airport Guide.
Are There Hotels Inside Dubai Airport?
If you’d prefer some privacy and comfort plus the guarantee of a restful night’s sleep, The Dubai International Airport Hotel is a traditional hotel located inside Security. You must be a transit passenger to check in here. (That means you won’t be able to access your checked luggage). Rooms are rented in blocks of 6, 12, or 18 hours.
Two more sleep options are located inside the Secure zone, though they are for shorter stays in less traditional hotels. The Snooze Cube in Terminal 1, Gate C22, rents private compact rooms by the hour, with a 2-hour minimum. Sleep n’Fly Lounge, in Terminal 3, opposite Gate A1, has igloo-style sleep pods that accommodate up to 2 people. Pods can be booked from 1 hour to overnight, and you can pre-book some time slots.
Other hotels located directly at the airport but outside Security include the Holiday Inn Express and Premier Inn. See the hotel section in our Dubai Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Dubai Airport.
Is it Safe to Sleep at Dubai International Airport?
At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at DXB. Although always keep your wits about you, and if you’re not feeling safe, have an extra cup of coffee and sleep on the plane!
As a precaution, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:
- Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport alone or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras where you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you, and they will direct you to a safe spot.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone, we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
- Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with only earphones and a laptop bag strap, but without the iPods or laptops that were attached. The same goes for important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body so no one can get them without waking you up.
- Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall so that it would be hard for someone to access it.
- Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee, stay alert, and stay awake. You can always sleep on the plane!
Have You Slept at Dubai International Airport?
Help us keep this page up-to-date for future airport sleepers, write a review about your experience sleeping in DXB Airport.
