After three fantastic days in Dubai it was time for us to head off on the next leg of our adventure across Asia. Our flight was departing from Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) so we stopped in for a visit to the Marhaba Lounge.
Marhaba Lounge Dubai Terminal 1 Location
The Marhaba Lounge in Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport is post security near the main atrium of the terminal. After taking the train from the security checkpoint, follow the signage for Gates D1-12 and D22-27.
The lounge is located up a set of escalators and off to your left down a short hallway. You’ll see signage for Airline Lounges as well as the Gulf Air Falcon Gold Lounge directly ahead and the Marhaba Lounge is located to the right.
It is worth noting that there are five different Marhaba Lounges at Dubai International Airport. In addition to the Terminal 1 lounge, you can find Marhaba Lounges in Terminal 2, Terminal 3A, Terminal 3B, and Terminal 3C.
Marhaba Lounge Dubai Terminal 1 Hours of Operation
The Marhaba Lounge Dubai Terminal 1 is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Marhaba Lounge Dubai Terminal 1 Entry Requirements
There are many different ways to access the Marhaba Lounge and all passengers should have some sort of access. The lounge is a contract lounge for premium passengers on multiple airlines operating from Terminal 1.
The lounge is part of Priority Pass as well as the Plaza Premium Lounge group. We ended up accessing the lounge via the Priority Pass membership that comes with my American Express Platinum Card.
Finally, access to the lounge can be purchased for durations ranging between 2 and 8 hours. The pricing is somewhat odd as a six hour pass is significantly more expensive than an eight hour pass, with costs ranging between $53 and $159.
Marhaba Lounge Dubai Terminal 1 Layout
The Marhaba Lounge in Terminal 1 is laid out as one large rectangle broken into three sections. As you enter the lounge, there is a small seating area off to your right while the remainder of the lounge is located to the left.
Furnishings are the same throughout the lounge with red and tan lounge chairs located at each end of the lounge and a large dining area in the center.
Around the exterior of the lounge you’ll find a kids room complete with multiple TVs and seating areas.
There is also a smoking room located in the lounge. Fortunately, the ventilation is good and you could only smell the smoke if you were standing by the door.
Between the smoking room and the kids space there is a secondary seating area. Frosted windows overlook the terminal area but, otherwise, there is no natural light in the lounge.
While we didn’t have a chance to utilize it during this visit, showers are available in the lounge for an additional fee. This is nice considering a number of long-haul flights operate from the terminal.
Marhaba Lounge Dubai Terminal 1 Food and Beverage
For a contract lounge, the food and beverage selection was quite good. Our short visit fell as breakfast was ending and the lounge was transitioning over to lunch. Multiple types of bread, breakfast pastries, and muffins were on offer along with a selection of jellies and jams.
For the hot dishes there were sausages, some sort of bean dish with bread, and miniature pancakes for breakfast.
On the center buffet counter is a display case that had a variety of sandwiches and desserts available. These were placed out as the lounge transitioned from breakfast to lunch.
On the beverage front, the center counter had three large containers which held apple juice, orange juice, and an fruit flavored water.
Two coffee machines are available in the lounge as well as a small cooler filled with single servings of ice cream.
Finally, a self service bar area with liquor, wine, and beer is available in the lounge. Some bar snacks consisting of potato chips and mixed nuts are also available. Canned sodas and waters in the coolers located underneath the counters.
Atmosphere
We visited the lounge around 11:00a on a Saturday and found it to be relatively calm. There was plenty of seating available and it was far from crowded. Due to delays at security, we didn’t have as much time here as I expected. For a contract lounge, the space is perfectly adequate and is a good space to relax before boarding your flight.
Summary
The Marhaba Lounge located in Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is spacious and has a good food and beverage selection for a contract lounge. Given the number of long-haul flights that depart from the terminal, the option to take a shower is nice, though it comes with an extra fee.
The relaxed atmosphere coupled with the myriad of ways to access the lounge should make this a popular choice for passengers traveling through Dubai.