Abu Dhabi Airport, United Arab Emirates
Introduction
This is my review of the Etihad Business Lounge which I visited flying from Abu Dhabi back to London Heathrow.
This is a lounge is huge and easily in competition with other Middle-Eastern carriers, such as Qatar Airways and Emirates.
This is a huge lounge and sits over 3 levels – so I have split this review across in the usual way, adding in the levels as required.
Visited
January 2025 at 08:00
Entry Conditions
I am still getting my head around the Etihad offering and their services, but I believe I am correct in saying you can get access to this lounge when:
- Flying First Class with Etihad
- Flying Business Class with Etihad
- You are an Etihad Guest Platinum Member
- You are an Etihad Guest Gold Member
I believe I am right in saying this lounge is not shared with any other airline – but I could be wrong!
How to Get There
In my case, I came from connecting Security, so after going through the scanners, I headed down the escalators and made a left.
From here it is very clearly signposted, but if in doubt – head towards D Gates and Gate C27.
You’ll walk past the First Class entrance, and will see the Business Class entrance on the right hand side. After meeting the very enthusiastic staff, it’s either an elevator or escalators to 3 levels of lounge luxury!
Layout – Level 0
The Spa
Walking in to the lounge, on the right hand side you will see the spa. Here there are paid-for treatments. I believe this also may be connected with the First Class lounge, and may well be free if flying First Class. For Business Class guests, you have to pay.
Treatments start at around 180AED and go up to around 550AED – which is probably the amount you’d pay in a hotel or somewhere similar.
The Restaurant
Turning left as you walk in to the Etihad Business Lounge, you’ll first see some high-table seating to sit and relax, overlooking the apron of the airport.
Carrying on into the lounge will take you to the restaurant area, which has a whole load of different seating for eating.
Layout – Level 1
Showers
Generally speaking this level is the shower level (with some additional seating to wait).
The showers in the Etihad Business Lounge work on a waiting list basis, and I was given a buzzer which went off when a shower was available.
The bathroom was immaculate, with the shower offering hot water and a number of amenities available if required.
Other areas
Although the showers make up most of the area, there is also a kids playroom and various seating.
There is also a games room for bigger kids (and adults)!
Another great feature about this area is its seating overlooking the apron of the airport.
Layout – Level 3 (The Roof)
Level 3 is perhaps the most ‘happening’ of the levels.
At one end you have a Smoking Room, complete with cigar menu!
On this level you’ll also find the dining room.
At the other end of this lounge, you’ll find the bar!
Between the Smoking Room, Dining Area and Bar there is various styles of seating for relaxing or sleeping.
Walking through the end of the bar, you will see further casual seating and various other areas for working or sleeping.
Food and Drink – Level 0
Drinks
On Level 0 there is a bar (which also doubles as a barista bar), or there are a number of self-serve fridges and drinks machines.
Food
This particular area offers a wide variety of food. Sadly, I was there at breakfast time which isn’t my favourite meal – but I can only imagine what is available for lunch and dinner.
The food included traditional English breakfast items, omelette station, breads, cheeses, some curries – pretty much anything you could ever want.
Food and Drink – Level 1
Level 1 doesn’t really offer much in the way of F&B, other than some fridges and coffee machines.
Food and Drink – Level 2
Drinks
Perhaps the biggest attraction of Level is is the large bar. Here, the bartenders will make you practically any cocktail – as well as offering a huge range of other beers, wines and spirits.
I have to confess to having a small Expresso Martini, even though it was extremely early! However, dotted around the lounge a numerous self-serve fridges and coffee machines.
Food
Dotted around the main coffee areas, you’ll find various snack stations with biscuits, crisps and chocolate.
However, as alternate to the food area on Level 0 – there is self-serve food buffet. There is no live cooking, and the food options seemed to be more limited – but you’ll still get a plentiful Full English here, or cheeses and pastries, etc.
Unless I am wrong……and happy to be proved wrong……despite the dining area, there is no a la carte dining – all the food as I understand it comes from the buffet. This was a little odd in comparison to the Etihad Heathrow lounge, which did offer a la carte dining.
Wifi
The Wifi in the lounge I found to be very reliable and fast. I had quite a few work things to do, and the Wifi was perfect for that purpose.
Conclusion
This is a huge lounge across multiple levels. On my visit there was plenty of seating, so it felt very spacious – and I’d be interested to see how that changes in peak times.
There were a few things I felt was missing from this lounge. Firstly, I felt that it needed somewhere more ‘business like’ to take calls or do work – unless I missed it (which is quite possible), there was nowhere really to work or print. Secondly, there was nowhere to sleep – the Al Mourjan Lounge and Platinum lounges in Doha do have those well thought about with their sleep rooms/pods.
Perhaps another small factor, is comparing the Al Mourjan Lounge, which is Qatar Airways flagship lounge for Business Class travelers – it is really designed as if it is a central feature of the airport. However, this lounge by Etihad did feel like they were designing around a space that was free – as opposed to considering it ought to be a flagship feature of the airport.
Aside from those two things, all in all this is really an excellent lounge and I look forward to hopefully visiting again at a lunch or dinner time to experience that experience!
Comments (1)
Etihad – LHR to AUH [B787-9] in Business Class - Review (Heathrow to Abu Dhabi)says:
March 17, 2025 at 9:14 pm[…] Abu Dhabi I visited the Etihad Business Class Lounge, which I have reviewed here. This was an exceptional lounge – but interestingly didn’t have a la carte dining […]