Marhaba lounge, Dubai International Airport

This review is written from the terrace over looking the world famous Dubai Duty Free shopping facilities in the Dubai International Airport. Welcome to the Marhaba lounge in the Emirates Airline’s dedicated Terminal Three.

For anybody who has yet to experience the most sophisticated check-in in the world, do try Terminal Three. You can swipe your frequent flyer card or a bar-code on your e-ticket and never speak to a soul, and more impressively self-baggage check-in is not only a reality, it works flawlessly.

Personal nostalgia

This correspondent’s first ever experience of Dubai was the Duty Free in the middle of the night on a flight in 1993, and this shopping destination has therefore maintained a soft-spot ever since. It remains a remarkably price competitive duty-free and the range of products available has expanded vastly over the years.

Back to the Marhaba lounge. This is fashioned in the popular minimalist style and offers complementary drinks and snacks for passengers awaiting their flights.

The wireless Internet is poor but pass through the gap behind the bar and a full business centre lies ready for Net access. Dubai has excellent broadband connections so this is a blessing for the always connected executive who might miss that vital email.

Less busy individuals can enjoy a free glass of wine and there is a waiter who not only collects the empties but also refills them too.

Haven calling

It is pleasant to wait for a flight removed from the hoy palloy downstairs and there are magazines and a TV screen to peruse. There is also plenty of space so that you do not feel crowded or pressed for time.

The quality of the food could be better. The sandwiches are a little dry and the pasta and noodles lacking in imagination. Perhaps there is a need to maintain a difference with the doubtless superior Emirates First and Business lounges but this need not be it.

However, if you need to linger a while in Terminal Three and have tired of the duty-free shopping then find a comfortable chair in this lounge and chill out. Terminal Three really rocks!