Terminal 1 (Concourse D), Dubai International Airport
Introduction
This is my review of the Marhaba Lounge in Dubai’s Terminal 1, in Concourse D.
This is one of 3 lounges in Dubai’s Terminal 1 which allows Priority Pass members through the door, with the others being the SkyTeam lounge, and Ahlan lounge.
Opening Hours
This lounge is open 24 hours.
Entry Conditions
This is a lounge which is open to Priority Pass, Dragon Pass and American Express members – there may be some member airlines which use this lounge too.
Alternatively, it is possible to pay in advance (and possibly on the door) for a fee of around £50 for 3hrs.
How to Get There
Once through Security you’ll be taking a train to Concourse D.
Once off the train and on the shopping level, take a walk through to the shopping area – and pick an escalator.
I suggest the escalator to your left (with the train behind you) – but taking the one on the right you can walk around the balcony, and you’ll find the lounge.
If you’ve understood my terrible directions, you should see the lounge opposite the British Airways lounge.
Layout
Although this lounge is fairly spacious in size, there is not that much of a variety of areas.
There are numerous lounging areas around.
The lounge areas are placed around a large dining, area with proper dining tables.
Aside from these areas there is a Marhaba Elite section, a Smoking Room and a Sleep Room (which requires access given by reception). Other than that – it’s pretty much it!
Food and Drink
Drinks
All drinks in this lounge are self-service and fairly, let’s say, ‘straightforward in both their offering and layout.
This consists of a small fridge at one end of the buffet with wines, beers and spirits.
At the other end of the buffet, you’ll find a coffee machine with soft drinks fridges around it, offering Pepsi and the usual stuff.
Food
Like the drinks, all the food is self-service in a buffet format.
I was there at breakfast, and the hot food was mixed with breakfast items and curries, etc. For someone who doesn’t eat breakfast this was good news – and perhaps something which is common for lounges in the Middle East, which are open 24hrs.
Opposite the hot food buffet was also a salad bar.
Now….. here’s for the cheeky bit. I spotted an ice cream fridge, and took a photo and thought no more about it…. The when I reviewed the images I took, a few months later, I spotted that in fact there is a charge of 9.50AED (about £2.00). A bit cheeky in my view!
Wifi
The Wifi worked for me, and was fairly good during my visit.
Showers
There are showers in the lounge, but it was unclear to me if there is a charge for the use – quite possibly!
Conclusion
This is a large and spacious lounge. The drinks offering is OK, but standard Priority Pass style of fridges and the bare essentials. Likewise the food offering is fine, but by no means the best. There is nowhere really to work, or take quiet calls, beyond the dining area.
All in all this isn’t a bad lounge – but there are other Priority Pass lounges in Dubai’s Terminal 1 which I would say are better.
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