During my recent Emirates A380 journey, I had the chance to check out the Ahlan lounge located at Terminal 3, Concourse A of Dubai International Airport (DXB). While Emirates passengers do have access to the airline's lounge, there are over a dozen lounges located across all three terminals of DXB, which other passengers can use.

Ahlan is the lounge service offered for first and business class passengers by the Dubai International Airport, which also provides the airport's hotel services. Thus, there are three Ahlan lounges located across the airport. These can be found in Terminal 1 (Concourse D) and in Terminal 3 (Concourses A and D).

Reaching the lounge

The Ahlan Lounge I reviewed was located at Concourse A, which requires the inter-terminal rail to be used. Despite that, it takes less than 10 minutes to get to the lounge from the time passengers clear immigration and security at Terminal 3. This makes it an easy-to-access lounge for passengers whose flights depart from the A gates.

Photo: Kiev.Victor | Shutterstock

The lounge is easy to find and is located right next to gate A1. The lounge entrance is the same as the entrance to the airport hotel. As such, at the entrance, you will be greeted by hotel staff, and once you inform them that you wish to use the lounge, they will personally escort you to the elevator and take you to the lounge check-in counter, which is a nice-personalized service, not many lounges provide.

Photo: Abid Habib | Simple Flying

Travelers can access the Ahlan lounges by booking time slots online at the lounge's website, depending on the time the passengers have available to spend at the airport. LoungeKey and Priority Pass members can get complimentary lounge access as well, depending on their allowances or card conditions.

Entering the lounge

Upon exiting the elevator, I was greeted by the lounge staff, who checked my electronic boarding pass and informed me of my gate and boarding start time, after which I was admitted into the lounge. My first impression was that the space was pretty open and airy, with several different seating locations and configurations.

Several sections of the lounge do not have a roof and have glass walls which provide a great view of the terminal and a premium feel. However, for passengers who prefer slightly enclosed seating and dining, there are separate areas for that as well.

Considering that I visited after the morning rush hours, the lounge was relatively empty, which made the experience even better. It is a good way to get away from the hassles of the main terminal and relax for a while before your flight.

The facilities

Apart from the fact that the lounge was located at the base of the airport hotel, several amenities are available for guests. The lounge provides shower facilities and spa services that passengers can avail of if they wish to. Additionally, there are privacy cubicles with massage chairs in them, which is a great way to relieve stress and tiredness before your flight.

As for passengers who want to get some work done before their flight, there is free WiFi that is convenient to connect to and does not require a sign-up. Additionally, there is a business center available as well for passengers who wish to work in a more optimal environment.

Like most lounges, there are newspapers available and televisions located around the lounge. However, when it comes to dining, the guests can either help themselves to the buffet laid out, or they can order items and drinks off a menu at an actual bar/restaurant-styled area.

Dining services

I decided to have a light meal and curated my plates with items from the buffet rather than order something off the menu. There was a variety of meals available which catered to passengers with various dietary requirements.

From fruit plates to salads to assortments of bread and baked goods, the options available were plenty. These were all split into separate sections, which made it easier to find the food items of choice. There were also heavy meals for breakfast laid out and a separate area full of various cereals and milk.

Because I was traveling alone, I chose to sit at one of the smaller couples' tables. With the aim of reviewing the inflight meal, I decided not to ruin my appetite and have light snacks from the buffet laid out. However, I ordered an Americano from the menu, which was presented to me in a lavish manner shortly after that.

I chose to have some hash browns along with sausages and some samosas. On the side, I chose some Arabic sweets, a fruit bowl, a cup of fresh orange juice, and a croissant with a cupcake.

The coffee was presented with an empty cup accompanied by coffee and milk in separate containers, which enabled the guests to mix and match as per their preference. Additional items such as sugars and sweeteners were also available.

After my meal, I also went to the restaurant/bar section to check out the menu available. Because it was still mid-morning time, the menu featured breakfast dishes such as eggs, pancakes, and soup. There was a menu for food items and then a separate menu with an extensive collection of drinks.

Adjacent to this, there were restaurant-style seating arrangements where passengers could enjoy their meals.

Attentive staff

The team of staff present at the lounge was extremely helpful and attentive to details. They were always at hand when it was time to clear away plates from the table and take more orders. Additionally, they always ensured that the buffet food items were well-stocked, ensuring fresh quality.

Furthermore, the team did an excellent job of ensuring guests had the best experience. The staff were always in sight to ensure they could attend to the guests when needed. This meant that the passengers never had to wait too long at the table to give their meal orders. The staff was also friendly, which made the lounge experience pleasant.

The verdict

Overall, the lounge experience was really comfortable, as it offers the perfect excursion from the hassle and crowd of the busy airport terminal. There is plenty of space for relaxation before the next flight.

While the lounge's open layout provides a spacious and comfortable ambiance, it does mean that, unlike several other airport lounges in the world, guests in the lounge can actually hear boarding announcements made at gates nearby. Depending on perception, this provides the advantage that passengers are less likely to miss their flight; however, it could be a source of disturbance for passengers just looking to relax, especially the connecting passengers who wish to rest a little before their next flight.

Overall, the Ahlan Lounge at Concourse A is definitely a great alternative lounge choice for passengers flying from or transiting through DXB Terminal 3 instead of the Emirates Lounge.