DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 19 August 2008 : by J Fox

Customer Rating : 4/5

My experience was better than other travellers. Immigration was relatively quick and the area well signed. On departure I found all quite straightforward and no long queues despite being a busy time of day. I found the Duty Free Shopping over rated.

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 2 July 2008 : by David Pryer

Customer Rating : 4/5

3 hour transit at Dubai from a Beijing to a Manchester flight leaving at 0755h. This is a very busy time for the airport but bus transfer and security check were prompt and there were apologies for the bussing. Inside the airport the best advice is to avoid all public and business lounges and head straight to the hotel's coffee shop - a haven of peace.

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 24 June 2008 : by B Murphy

Customer Rating : 2/5

Regular user of Dubai airport. Some positives: free wifi access at the airport, which is excellent; UAE Gate facility excellent for residents - however the facility often does not work. Some negatives - Duty free over-rated - very poor range of clothes shops for example. The worst aspect - recently left my car in the long-term car park for a week and had to pay 1060 AED! This is a complete rip-off!

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 17 June 2008 : by N Sutherland

Customer Rating : 2/5

Went through twice in May and June, transit Emirates both times. A lot of the problems have already been mentioned and are mostly geared around crowding and the lengthy bussing issues, which will hopefully be alleviated with the expansion of the terminal. I thought the Terminal Security checks were merely superficial and really just going through the motions. I thought the Duty Free Shopping was reasonable in both selection and price. Overall the Terminal was better than I had feared given some of these reports, but there is plenty scope for improvement and no way could you make a reliable connection of less than 2 hours.

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 3 June 2008 : by Oliver Drissen

Customer Rating : 1/5

Arrived in Dubai at 6am on a very far away parking position. Transfer by bus to Terminal took 40min since we had to wait for ages before entering the terminal. As described before the airport is horribly overcrowded. Nowhere to sit and even to enter the wash rooms it was necessary to queue for 15min. Had to connect four times in the past year in Dubai and every time the experience was disgusting as described.

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 29 April 2008 : by David Allan

Customer Rating : 1/5

Aside from the oft-mentioned overcrowding/refugee camp look of the terminal, with people sprawled all over the floors, overflowing lounges and F&B outlets, interminable walk from the aerobridge to arrivals (assuming you were lucky enough not be be parked at a (truly) remote bay and bussed to the terminal); the numerous rude and overly-demanding security checks (why is no other airport so strict?), an hour's wait to pass immigration (at 2.00am!!) was the cherry on the cake for me. Although I live 10 minutes' drive from DXB, I'll be using AUH even more often than I have been doing from now on - or at least until the new Terminal 3 opens.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Oliver Broadhurst

23 April 2008   Customer Rating :

Makes Heathrow Look Good! We transferred with Emirates through Dubai en-route from Melbourne to Heathrow. Bus from plane to terminal, long wait to get off bus, long queues and chaos for re screeening. Rude and arrogant staff. People everywhere lying all over the place, didnt bother with the shops as too crowded. Will not fly Emirates again due to the Dubai experience - Changi in Singapore is much better. On the way over to Melbourne our bags missed the transfer in Dubai and had to be delivered the next day, also duty free from Heathrow was been confiscated. Dubai - Dont do it!

Dubai Int'l Airport review by G Lindley

16 April 2008   Customer Rating :

I will from now on avoid the national airline of Dubai simply because of the this airport. Nowhere to sit and relax unless you join the bodies strewn around on the floor and seats. Overpriced duty free and surly staff. I could go on, but suffice to say I will not be back. Overrated and overpriced.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Michael Kinghorn

15 April 2008   Customer Rating :

I was horrified when I arrived a transit passenger back in March. After disembarking the flight from London, we had to be bussed to the terminal, which took around 10 minutes, before going through security checks. The seating situation was appalling - people were lying all over the place, wherever they could find a space. Shopping was adequate and there were the same shops here that you would find at any other airport. They were good on value as well. The cost of cigarettes and alcohol at Dubai was less than what it was in Bangkok. Parking at a remote stand for every flight made it feel like I was flying with a low cost airline. Having to go outdoors into the heat was not particularly pleasant. I have visited a number of airports in recent years; London LHR, Seoul ICN, Hong Kong HKG, Bangkok BKK, New York JFK, Los Angeles LAX etc and none of these were half as bad as Dubai.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by B Silverberg

15 April 2008   Customer Rating :

Check-in desks are fine, though you have to go through level 1 security even to get to them. Outbound customs took forever. From there to the gate was a pretty long distance, but golf carts chauffer people around easily. Shops were nice, and architecturally the airport is good. Remote gates are truly remote. Seating was fine, and even full chairs with ottomans were available in some places. In-bound, there's lots of walking between the gates and the old terminal as well. I had a fast-pass voucher for customs, so I don't know how long it would normally take. Overall, though, really no complaints for an international airport. (In comparison to JFK, for instance, the distances are longer, but the ATC and luggage claim seem better organized.)

Dubai Int'l Airport review by G Wyndham-Jones

15 April 2008   Customer Rating :

Arrived 1100, departed the next day 2300. Inbound, the aircraft parked on a pier: outbound, the aircraft was on a remote stand. I found the airport hassle-free, although the distance you have to walk (because you have to pass underneath the aircraft parking area to get to the main terminal) is somewhat far. On arrival, Immigration tends to be slow - I can understand that there could be queues if a number of flights arrive together. However, slow immigration = bags circling the carousel by the time you get there. Outside the terminal, area now less congested, and fairly easy to access taxis and hotel buses. Outbound busier, with the departures entrance area too small to accommodate the numbers of people both queuing and trying to push loaded trolleys in both directions, but still fairly relaxed once you have checked-in your bags, although the security checks are over-zealous (the guy in front of me was asked to remove belt, shoes, watch, money, mobile phone, and, finally, spectacles). Once in the main terminal, if you don't want to shop, get out of the central area of the building and head towards the end where your flight will depart from: there are lots of seats, and you don't have to wait at your gate: if you wait at a gate which is not taking flights, there are plenty of spare seats - you then head towards the gate for your flight about an hour before it is due to leave. Similarly for the washrooms: those in the central area are heavily used : go to the ends of the building, and washrooms are cleaner and less congested.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Christophe Mage

11 April 2008   Customer Rating :

Went to DXB on transit to Maldives three times in two weeks. When arriving from Zürich the plane was not connected to the terminal and we drove a long time in the bus. Passing immigration in a huge hall with a big queue. Back a few days later at 1 pm - airport was crowded as you couldn't imagine with no chair even in restaurants. Check-in area was not bad and quite efficient. Trip back from Maldives to Zürich by DXB was ok, no delay in the airport.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Mark Godbolt

1 April 2008   Customer Rating :

Chaos and Over hyped! There are always thousands of people asleep on the floor and chairs, with shoes and bags all over the place. Duty free shops below average, not a huge variety. The price of gold is not too bad. The toilets are a bit hit and miss, sometimes they are filthy and sometimes ok. If you land after 10.30pm do expect a wait to get through immigration. The immigration hall is packed out between 10.30pm and 1.30am. DXB makes Heathrow and Gatwick look 5 star. DXB could learn a lot from Changi and Schiphol, probably the best airports in Europe and Asia.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Simon Smith

27 March 2008   Customer Rating :

Through Dubai on way to/from Jeddah. The whole place is bursting at the seams, long walks from the jetties (if you are lucky to get one), 1.5 hour delay in bags getting delivered, pretty average duty free with inflated prices, a severe shortage of seats and people sleeping all over the place. I would give it a wide berth.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Tomas Degenaar

23 March 2008   Customer Rating :

This is a horrible airport. Bodies laying everywhere in every imaginable position. A huge terminal which is nothing more than a hollow façade and a true chaos in every aspect. Even the palm trees are fake. The shops are messy and without any grace.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Kevin Tunnicliffe

4 March 2008   Customer Rating :

I have experienced this airport at its worst and today was lucky enough to see it at its best. Security tight, but moved quickly. Immigration when we flew in had been swift and efficient and the same operated on the way out. Staff were thorough but pleasant. There are two business class lounges at the airport and in the past I have experienced them at their worst, overcrowded and dirty. Today there was seating for all and staff attentive and food / beverage choice excellent. The main problem - a delay of an hour because of "congestion at the airport and in the air over Iran".

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Stuart Sage

2 March 2008   Customer Rating :

No problems other than what did appear to be extremely rigorous security checks - think I was checked at least 4 times before boarding my flight! Duty Free is overpriced and selection is pretty poor - I'm sure it used to be a great deal better than this but that was 14yrs ago when I last passed through Dubai. Arrival was fantastic - we were out of arrivals about 30 mins after landing (and that included a trip to the duty free to stock up on booze!).

Dubai Int'l Airport review by J Hassett

26 February 2008   Customer Rating :

I transited twice in February and no problems. First transit 0100-0300, next 1230-14:30. All flights by jetways from terminal. Airport staff polite and efficient. Toilets busy, but clean. Duty free shops overpriced, but nice to wander around. Plenty of seating at gate lounges. Maybe we struck lucky.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by G Macpherson

21 February 2008   Customer Rating :

Dubai Airport desperately needs to get the expansion finished; transiting through the airport more often or not is a chore. With the rapid expansion of Emirates this has lead to a shortage of gates, so it’s quiet common to get crammed on a bus to the main terminal and from it, even if your 1st class or business. Perhaps they should take a lesson from Moscow and provide a separate bus for 1st Class and Business so they can beat the queues at Immigration or Transit. The airport it self is chronically overcrowded during the early hours or late in the evening and the business class lounges are frequently mobbed. Instead of normally going to one of the business class lounges I usually head straight to the gate as it’s usually more comfortable.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Karsten Sander

7 February 2008   Customer Rating :

I did recently transit through Dubai en route to India and back from Hong Kong to Europe. I was quite disappointed about this airport after all positive comments I have heard before. Main issues: extremely crowded in all areas, even first- and business class lounges - too often aircraft does not dock at terminal but stops somewhere on a remote parking position requiring very long bus transits. This airport requires an urgent capacity expansion (which I do understand is under way), until then, I will avoid transiting through Dubai.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Ian Tracey

4 February 2008   Customer Rating :

Avoid arriving at Dubai late in the evening. Queues at immigration are generally OK, before 10pm, but as many long haul flights arrive after this, it starts to back up, and you can easily spend two hours in the queue if you are arriving after midnight. It helps to be very fit, if you are using this airport. the walk from check in to departures seems excessively long. Duty free is excellent. Very good selection at exceptionally good prices. Not so the food and drink outlets. A beer will set you back over 5 UK Pounds, and most of the food on offer is overpriced too, and not very good. Not enough seating areas, so expect to see people with long layovers, sleeping on the floor everywhere. When the new Emirates terminal is finished, I would hope to see massive improvements, which Dubai airport desperately needs. Currently, a trip through this airport can be a real nightmare, and I dread each trip through there.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by J Taverner

4 February 2008   Customer Rating :

DXB at 0200hr, long bus ride until new terminal later this year. Usual chaos, but Emirates lounge not full and plenty of seats and hot and cold food. DXB at 1400 on return, much quieter and Emirates lounge half empty. Plenty of food and drinks, good internet access. DXB can only improve with new terminal

Dubai Int'l Airport review by M Jurcevic

31 January 2008   Customer Rating :

I travelled several times through the airport and expectations were not met. My personal experience was that passport control, multiple x-rays, waiting for information, waiting for baggage carts, waiting for planes, waiting for duty free sales service, waiting for more baggage x-rays, waiting, waiting, waiting. I can tolerate the bus ride as this is only part of the airport upgrading but given the reported high profits the airport and hotels make (as reported online) the level of customer service is limited. Those who know how to get around make the most of the airport and given that unsecured flights feed into Dubai the level of arrival security is very high. Perhaps if the arrivals hall was 20% the size of the Duty Free Store then it would probably work better. The multiple checks would have made me feel safe except for the fact that in some locations such as boarding gates the staff were barely out of school and every one of my questions were referred to someone else via phone. Then if you want a seat change you have to go to an area which is unsecured thus causing the loss of your baggage trolley and another session with security clearance on level 3. I thought that was a poor oversight. For all of the glitz, hype and glamour the overall product is mechanical and far from customer oriented. Of course if you fly Business Class or better then you can avoid most of this and get a fast-track voucher for customs and sit in your own lounge. Then the prices overall in DXB were terrible. I didnt mind the transient visitors, they were only stuck there because the hotels are not cheap enough. When you look at the price of 3-star economy hotels near the airport you start to think about prices similar to Amsterdam and Frankfurt with 4-star hotels. At least the Burj-Al-Arab is reasonably priced in comparison to Paris 5-star hotels. However, making a booking is a complete mystery to me. I seldom plan these things and having to go through Arrivals in order to enter Departures was quite an adventure. I had to push through dozens of excited taxi drivers and then spend many enjoyable hours rubbing shoulders with people who cant be bothered to read signs, so the service desk was bloated with numbers of people who didnt need to be there and all of whom thought that scream of crowding the desk with 2 cubic metres of luggage and 10 relatives would make things go faster. One of things I didnt appeciate about DXB was the disrespect that customers in Departures showed to the staff and generally cluttered and crowded the staff so that I couldnt move my luggage without risking injury to someone. The red lines on the ground are merely decorations as the airport authority spends no money on crowd management. The secret to getting a free hotel in DXB is to arrange a 10 hour gap in connecting flights - this automatically forces a free hotel room. That is why so many of the long connections are 9 hours.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by James Halley

31 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Clearly the best kept secret at is the existance of an Emirates lounge for economy transit passengers who have more than 4 hours to wait. I found it by accident but as my flight was only 3 hours and 50 minutes later couldn't use it! Despite makng the point that waiting in the general areas would seem like 4 hours (and more), the receptionist would not be moved from the stated policy. And my United gold card (Emirates' partner in the region) wasn't worth a toot. I have given up flying through DXB. And I'm not interested in buying a tax free anything let alone a Jaguar car!

Dubai Int'l Airport review by P Anastasiades

30 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Complete and utter chaos! No where near enough seating for the throngs of people transiting in Dubai. 9 hours in transit would have been OK if I didn't have to wait 1.5 hours to get through passport control at about 1:00am, not to mention the additional hour it took me to get there after landing. On arriving the first time, a 30-minute bus ride from the plane to the terminal was a disgrace after flying for 16 hours. Signage was generally good though. Despite generally liking the EK experience, I will be avoiding Dubai, at the very least until the airport upgrades are complete.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Trevor Hoad

17 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Dubai airport is chaotic and shambolic with people sleeping in any available space they could find with long queues for everything. As I had a 7½ hour stopover Emirates provided a hotel overnight but passport control with massive queues took 2 hours which is a joke compared even with the heightened security now days to the other major airports I have arrived at. The elderly couple beside me travelling to Brisbane took over 2½ hours so I was lucky in a way. Arrived and departed from a gate on the way out but were bussed to and from the terminal coming back. Hopefully this practice will cease when the dedicated Emirates terminal opens in May. Basically the airport seems unable to cope with the amount of passengers arriving/departing at busy times.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by Abdul Rahman

9 January 2008   Customer Rating :

LHR-DXB-KUL with unexpected 8hr+ wait in DUB. Utter nightmare. rather than the expected boarding gate now open on screen, DXB-KHL leg came up a full 8 hours (that's a working day!) later. Flight was described as 'rescheduled' rather than delayed. So 8hrs to kill - desperate, I paid $20 or so to enter a lounge, as this was better than the floor. A sign next to the door said, 'No Sleeping'. I headed for a secluded alcove and sat at a table with a book. Within minutes my face was in the book and blissful sleep washed over me. Minutes later I was rudely awakened by a prod in the ribs with a stick! A stick which then pointed to the sign near the entrance which read 'No Sleeping'. The thing to avoid is Dubai airport, which means avoiding Emirates full stop.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by David Allan

3 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Arrived at DXB (on EK) at 1.00am this morning - aircraft parked at a (very) remote bay, from which we had a 25-minute bus ride to the terminal. There then followed a one-hour wait at immigration - if this is the best DXB can do when it claims to be encouraging more inbound tourists, it leaves a lot to be desired. Finally managed to exit around 2.30am to get a cab home - and faced another 20-minute wait. I certainly hope things improve when the dedicated EK Terminal 3 opens in May this year - they certainly can't get much worse.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by T Clift

3 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Arriving at about 02:30 in the morning, transit was smooth, shops were all open. Sleeping passengers everywhere on the floors, so finding somewhere to sit and wait was nearly impossible. Meanwhile signs proclaimed it to be a no smoking airport while bang in the middle was an unventilated smoking area polluting the air all around it. I guess they're getting there, but not there yet.

Dubai Int'l Airport review by J Taylor

2 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Second time I have had the misfortune to spend a couple of hours at DXB and just as bad as I remembered. The toilet facilities an absolute disgrace - dirty and smelly. It was ridiculously over- crowded with no spare seating anywhere and people laid asleep on floors everywhere. Duty free prices are ok but nothing special and the usual 10 minute spent travelling on a bus from where the plane parked to arrivals.