Dubai Int'l Airport by Mike Ratcliffe
27 December 2006

Arrived at Dubai airport in the early morning, only to transit to another flight. First thing it seems is although there were plenty of vacant gates (piers) we were bussed to the terminal. When we eventually arrived the security were rude and understaffed, they had the scanners turned up to the maximum, even my glasses set of the alarm, people were taking off belts, watches, shoes, no wonder the line was so long. When we had got thru security the place was jam packed, this was 6.30am, it was difficult to move around as there were so many people. Got to the gate, to find it boarding, so no chance to buy anything from duty free. The place is disorganised, people sleeping everywhere, avoid this airport at all costs, not a pleasant experience.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Mohammad Zia Ebrahimi
17 December 2006

Arrived at DXB around midnight from IKA. Really overcrowded airport with rude staff. 20 minutes for security check. peoples were sleeping on the ground. Not so clean. Expensive free shop. Prefer not to use it in the future.

Dubai Int'l Airport by N Siotto
17 December 2006

Dubai Airport is one of the best, but the down side is that it has been so a popular hub that is now overcrowded some times. Emirates Business Class lounges are not up to the airport standards.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Marc Schoell
17 December 2006

Had a rather exhausting 5 hour layover at a horribly overcrowded Dubai airport. Stumbling over prone bodies left, right and centre I finally reached the Emirates lounge (not much thanks to surly information counter staff) only to be told that the lounge was out of order due to flooding. Reaching the alternative lounge, the same air raid shelter prevailed - about half a chair to every guest, resulting in high- spending passengers propping themselves up on the floor and any other available space. Duty free not impressive compared with other airports like Hong Kong or Changi; prices not convincing, limited ranges, and spotty service. The worst, though, was the boarding process - this constituted being packed en masse into an airless, windowless dark corridor - not for the claustrophobic! Then the finale, steered on a diesel-fumed bus, for a headache-inducing wait until the relief of finally getting on the plane!! Not an airport I'll willing choose again in a hurry.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Jochem Stuetzer
10 December 2006

Transitted about 6 times during 2005/06. It is overcrowded, inefficient. Security staff areterrible at one time we were travelling with our 4 month old baby and the way they were treating us was a nightmare. Diner's Club Lounge though is top. Never again!

Dubai Int'l Airport by Gavin Stewart
25 November 2006

Quick note to take care when checking into depart DXB - signage (or lack of it) can be very misleading! Hall 1 is always Emirates UK flights. For some reason they split hall 1 so UK flights are now on your left, and non-UK on your right. There is absolutely nothing in the way of signage to tell you this. Either that or I'm just stupid. However the guy in front of me did exactly the same and many others. A wasted 25 mins at the wrong bag drop for online check in. Pity the people in the regular queue who waited twice as long in the wrong bit! Already the bag-drop queues are frustrating as you get all sorts of travellers who clearlly haven't checked in online taking their chances with the desk. What Dubai needs is a little basic traffic management as you enter check-in. Either that or 50p's worth of signage. Other than this I like Dubai airport, it's fine. Yes it can be busy but nothing worse than UK and when terminal 3 comes on line all that should ease again.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Paul Harvey
7 November 2006

Having read the reviews I expected to have a hard time in transit. Arrived and left on Emirates, bussed to the transit terminal from the plane (get off at the first stop) and then through security. Fast but long queues which can get very long. Had expected to find sleeping bodies everywhere and a terminal full of cigarette smoke but that was not the case. It was crowded (very early morning one day and early morning another) and was very much a shopping mall. If your next flight gate is a long way away, the terminal is about 20 walking minutes long and is soon to get longer. Overall, efficient and modern. Would use it to transit next time.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Sally Wright
27 October 2006

Travelling to the Far East via Dubai from the UK has not been a problem in the past however the massive expansion which is taking place has certainly made it very unattractive now. After landing, the plane taxid so far as aircraft were parked miles away from the terminal building. After walking down the steps of the plane and getting a bus (standing for about half an hour) to the terminal building it was vastly overcrowded to a ridiculous level and they clearly cannot cope with the volume of people. No hand luggage trolleys were available due to the high volume of people and there were large queues just to get in the lift to the upper level. This was in the middle of the night. After walking right to the end of the terminal building to the departure gate for the next flight we were taken to yet another bus and driven quite some distance again only to walk up the steps of the aircraft again. What should have been an easy transit stop was horrible and stressful. We had 2 hours transit time on the outward trip and 2½ hours on the return trip however in both directions we had to rush because as soon as we got into the duty free shop the flight was called. Time to start look for direct flights again and avoid Dubai!

Dubai Int'l Airport by Glenn Aylett
10 October 2006

Dubai is nothing but an inefficient, overpriced shopping centre and passenger information is terrible. I had to change at Dubai to fly to Perth and had a three-hour wait. The airport doesn't inform you until 30 minutes before you take off which gate you use for your flight and Emirates advise you that you must report to the gate at least 35 minutes before your flight leaves or they may not let you board. Luckily an hour before I took off I walked past the gate for Perth and checked in, other passengers might not have been so lucky. In other respects Dubai is way overrated. The staff in the duty free are unhelpful and the prices are no different to what you pay in the High Street. Also, some of the cafes do not advertise their prices and, when I bought two mediocre croissants at a cafe, the guy saw I had 30 dirhams and bruskly demanded 30 dirhams. I wonder if the prices were made up for each customer as a price board was nowhere in sight. On the whole, despite being very clean and modern, Dubai is a very disappointing and badly run airport. I have received better service at less illustrious regional airports than Dubai.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Philip Chilton Jones
24 September 2006

I have been going through DXB about once every two weeks for a good couple of months and have found it not that bad, apart from the number of sleeping passengers and brusqueness of the security and immigration officers which seems to be a problem which many have experienced, given the comments here. The main problem of course is a result of sheer volumes - arrive at any time of the night and you stand a fair chance of a 1 to 2 hour queue at the immigration counters. To overcome this I have got myself an e-card - absolutely great and really does work. Another service that I thought would work - but doesn't - is the Marhaba meet and greet service. The idea behind this is that, for UAE75,00, the arriving passenger will be met and escorted through a dedicated Marhaba immigration desk. Good in concept, abysmal in execution. My wife couldn't find any of the uniformed staff in the arrivals hall (I have had the same experience) and when I spoke to their counterstaff in response to her cell-phone call I received no help at all. Phone calls to the Supervisor were not answered; the Manager I eventually spoke to promised to phone back but didn't, and subsequent letters have remained unanswered. Unfortunately the service is a bit like Dubai is becoming: a really great concept but darned expensive and beginning to come apart at the seams

Dubai Int'l Airport by Peter Beddoes
16 September 2006

Travelled into DXB for the first time in August, usually use AUH and was pleasantly surprised. Expected long delays in aircraft and baggage processing but nothing. Immigration was a breeze and I kept thinking that maybe the comments I have read are not fully representative. On the whole great but the distance certainly clears any chance of DVT. Exercise or what?! Flying out was a pain because of times and that is the big problem, our incoming from BHX arrived early morning, so little incoming traffic and the outgoing was mid afternoon so again fairly quiet for European and south asia flights. Good facilities but could get out of hand.

Dubai Int'l Airport by James Halley
28 August 2006

I have given up going through Dubai. If one is in J or F class, the lounges are excellent with the ability to eat there rather than on the plane and the food I have found to be good. However the best kept secret is the transit lounge for Y class passengers. But dont think you can stroll in and use it - your transit has to be a minimum of 4 hours. Mine was 3 hours 40 minutes so unable to use it. Given the inadequate seating in the transit area this transit time seemed like an eternity. One shouldnt have to step across bodies whilst attempting to move around the concourse. And not everyone wants to buy a tax free Mercedes. One hopes that with the new facilities opening the chaos which is becoming DXB will ease, and we can all arrive/depart at an air bridge and not be bussed - I have yet to arrive from BKK at a gate. There is a real danger of DXB becoming a victim of its own success.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Eddie Mander
3 August 2006

Dubai/Emirates broke all records on my flight from Manchester on the 28th July. Normally you will have a 20 minute tour of DXB when you park on a remote stand. But this time I could have flown to Glasgow from Manchester in the same time it took to get to the arrivals hall. From the moment the bus doors closed it took 50 minutes to get off the bus. Dubai is really becoming one of the most inefficient airports in the world.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Jenny Bentley
3 August 2006

Transited twice recently through Dubai. I agree with all the comments about prices and overcrowding. If you're a premium passenger, you get slightly better served if travelling with Emirates: at lest they have their own lounge, not like the one by gate 8 where you're lucky to find a seat at all. When the screen shows the aircraft is boarding, they don't necessarily mean it: it means the gate is open so you may get stuck in an even more crowded area. There is the most ridiculous process when transiting: you have to go through security, surrender your boarding pass and they give you a card in its place and slap a yellow sticker on you. If you're travelling in business class, you then have no proof to access the lounges unless you've got your tickets ready to hand. On reboarding you surrender your card and they hunt through for your boarding pass. No wonder there are queues everywhere.

Dubai Int'l Airport by David Allan
14 July 2006

I transited in DXB twice in the last two weeks, travelling between CGK and GLA and vice versa. I'm always amazed at just how many people are sprawled all over the floor sleeping; how my flights seem to consistently depart late from this airport (I transit there 2-3 times a year) and how often passengers have to be bussed for great distances to their aircraft. One can only hope that the new terminal currently under construction will relieve these problems somewhat. (I also have to agree with the poster below regarding the ultra-sensitive security scanners too - it's the only airport I've ever been to where I have to remove not only my shoes but also my belt, my coins, my keys, my glasses, my watch, my pen)

Dubai Int'l Airport by Mark Gordon
26 June 2006

I transitted through Dubai on my way from MCT to SYD many times from 2001 to 2004. Dubai would have to be one of the most over-rated airports - the duty free is overpriced with an average selection, and if you need to stay in the transit hotel it is very expensive (compare with the reasonably priced facility in Singapore). One problem with coming from MCT was that their check-in system would not allow you to get a boarding pass for the SQ flights from DXB. This meant having to use the transit desks in DXB, where the service is very slow, and you have to go through security to get to them from the main airport area. One saving grace are the Diners Club lounges, which are the DNATA "generic" lounges, and offer excellent facilities. With a silver DC card you can use the 1st class lounge, with the normal the economy class lounge can be used.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Alex Jafarzadeh
21 June 2006

In the last three years it has become obvious that Dubai is in desperate need of their new expansion. The airport is total madness from the moment you arrive. Mob rule seems to exist with pushing and shoving being the order of the day. My flight left nearly half an hour late simply because the bulk of passengers had not even been checked into the holding area ten minutes before departure time. I'm not sure why so much fuss is made about Dubai Duty Free, apart from lower/higher prices (depending on where you come from!) it is no different from any other department store. Trolleys are the golden ticket and with such a scarcity of the damn things finding one is like finding a first class seat with your name on it. I have been completely put off by what I used to call my favourite airport and will now try and fly direct whenever possible, or perhaps transit in Doha instead.

Dubai Int'l Airport by J Palmer
10 June 2006

Clearly there aren't enough seats in DXB for the high volume of passengers who don't have access to the lounges, and people sitting and sleeping on the floors is always a problem. I think the original idea behind this was intentional, although the problem is out of control and adjustments will likely be made in the new terminal. Dubai Duty Free is now and has for a long time been a focal point for the airport and a big source of revenue, even though today prices are high and selection is average: the more that people move around looking for places to rest, and the less comfortable they are, the more time they will spend in and move through the shopping areas.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Kurt Mueller
29 May 2006

Departures: ridiculous security procedure prior to check-in (metal detectors are so sensitive you have to remove belt, watch and neck chain besides mobile phone, keys, coins and pen. Same again after passport control. Can anyone explain the logic in this? Once through the long tunnel and inside the departure hall, there is a continuous barrage of public announcements of dubious importance. Twice over the last two weeks, I have taken the PIA morning flight to Karachi, and twice the gate was shifted from the far south end (32 or 34) to the far north end (8) without any announcement having been made even one hour prior to departure. To make matters worse, the information screens are essentially useless. You are looking at four screens side-by-side, yet the actual information content is only on two screens - everything is duplicated on the other pair of screens. This means that at 8.00 a.m., you cannot see any information pertaining to a flight with ETD 9.00 a.m. Plus people sleeping on floor, smokers standing outside of smoking rooms. No longer a first-world operation.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Samantha James
25 May 2006

Make sure you hold on tight if you have to be transported to the terminal by bus. The drivers dont seem understand that driving fast around corners or stopping suddenly, hurls the people having to stand around the bus! My last trip had 2 poor tired elderly people fall over, when the driver 'braked'. When mentioning it to the driver afterwards, I was greeted with a 'blank stare'. Also got very annoyed when the x-ray men (New York gate) were more interested in watching the women go through than in watching our luggage be x-rayed!

Dubai Int'l Airport by Jackie Andrews
25 May 2006

Avoid this airport if possible. Security dreadful and disorganised, duty free more expensive than a Japanese department store and information boards only at the centre of the terminal, so if your eating or lucky enough to find a seat at the far end, you have to keep going back and forth to check your flight. Not enough facilities for the amount of people that pass through. Having to tiptoe your way through sleeping bodies can be hazardous, especially if carrying luggage.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Hani Al-Ahdal
6 May 2006

I have travelled many times in the last 3 years and arriving and departing DXB is usually a pleasure. The terminal is world class, spacious with a good selection of amenities, from coffee outlets to fast food to pubs. I usually arrive around 6pm and though the immigration is crowded I had never taken more than 10 minutes to pass. Now, I use the e-pass which makes immigration less than 30 seconds. I was never a fan of the duty free, it is not so large and the prices are high. Unfortunately many people sleep all over the place in DXB

Dubai Int'l Airport by Austin Hutchison
30 April 2006

I have to agree with Tim Longdon, Like Tim I have been using Dubai Airport since the seventies. In those days the immigration staff were gracious and friendly. The eighties saw a world class duty free and a fledgling Emirates service that was unparalleled. Then in the nineties we had development, tourism and sadly demise. I am based in Europe now and I still use Dubai Airport at least 4 or 5 times a year. Emirates premium is no longer worth the money, Dubai Airport is a disgrace and as far as the duty free goes, quite frankly the selection of electronics is better in Male or Madras. They want Benidorm, they can have it - they just cannot have Monte Carlo prices. I cannot understand to this day why the authorities allow all these long lay over travellers to sleep, camp or live on the thoroughfares.

Dubai Int'l Airport by A Diwakar
22 April 2006

Transited thru DXB en route Chennai - Birmingham by Emirates Business Class. There was a 3 hour wait. Emirates Business Class Lounge with a good selection of food and beverages. Perhaps it was during lunch time, there was minimum crowd. Many of the free Internet terminals were not working and no one was around to set it right. On my way back I had a stopover in Dubai was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which I breezed through all the formalities. I had a 96-hour electronic visa and it took less than 15 minutes of landing for me to reach the Emirates Chauffer drop counter. For the departure, the Business Class check-in was superb and in a few minutes I was seated in the Lounge, relaxing with food. However the departure was from Gate 40, perhaps relegated to destinations that are not in the preferred list of Emirates ! You walk down a long ramp and get into a bus and travel for 10 minutes and climb up the stairs of the aircraft. I would rate DXB at par with KLIA and a few notches below Changi.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Rick Mitchell
7 April 2006

I hadn't been there in 3 years and was expecting the worst when I went through on 28 March and 2 April of this year. Okay, there were some people sleeping but you see that at Heathrow. The lines were long, but I moved through passport control from the very back where the ropes start to the front in less than 20 minutes. The immigration official was friendly and welcomed me with a smile (not at LHR or JFK!). Baggage was waiting for me and I was in an air conditioned cab in a flash. My check-in done by the handling agent for non-EK flights was not very well-organized, but they smiled and apologized (not at LHR or JFK!). Carts were available and everyone I encountered was helpful. It is still an easy airport, given the volume.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Richard Myton
2 April 2006

Two experiences of Dubai in March 06, the first time in transit, the second time arriving and departing. The airport is a bit of a mess at present and presumably will remain so until the new terminal is in operation. In transit involved two 15 minute start/stop bus rides around a construction site, which was a bit of a disappointment after travelling in first class. The boarding of our onward flight consisted of a melee at the gate, which seems the norm for Dubai. On arriving for a 4 day stopover we were invited to use the fast track immigration line for premium travellers. This was pointless and had a longer queue than the other lines. It was almost worth the slow crawl just to meet the two most sullen, disinterested immigration officers in world travel. They really were a class act. Fortunately, our experience on departure was totally opposite. The dedicated check-in for Emirates first/business class passengers is superb. This time security and immigration personnel were friendly and charming. Basically, the terminal in Dubai is one long concourse, which always seems crowded. This is presumably why a new terminal is under construction. No matter what time of day it is, as one walks along the concourse, one passes groups of people huddled around on the floor asleep. Whatever its temporary shortcomings, Dubai is still streets ahead of the disgrace that is London Heathrow.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Kevin Lawrence
25 March 2006

Recently returned from a regional flight: Dubai -Cairo return. The airport still has people sleeping on the floor. The departure gate / boarding lounges are still crammed to such an extent that only half of all persons can secure a chair to sit on. The customs and security personnel seem to have become discourteous. The process of getting from the initial baggage security scan, to buckling up your seatbelt on the plane, is enough to drive you nuts, with the lack of queue control, crowded lounges / toilets / boarding areas. Not to mention the electric golf-carts that come up honking behind you on the concourse. I prefer to skip the duty free - I find it usually isn't really competitive in terms of pricing. Arriving in Dubai is not much better: you need to push your way through a sea of persons upon exiting the airport arrival door, to get to the arrivals sidewalk outside and they don't stand aside for you- you have to ram them out of the way!

Dubai Int'l Airport by Kurt Mueller
25 March 2006

Most comments focus on Dubai's Terminal 1. However, many regional carriers operate out of Terminal 2, which is dramatically different from T1. When departing, what hits you most is the almost total absence of any reliable information, with the screens above the gates often showing misleading or downright wrong information about flights and timings. Once into the gate holding area, there are no monitors to update you on any delays, and definitely no verbal announcements. Upon arrival, forget about such basics as changing money (there is a money changer, but I have never seen the desk manned over a period of six months). The only attraction is that T2 is located on the east side of the airport complex and thus more accessible for travellers from Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Quwain and RAK.

Dubai Int'l Airport by C Clark
9 March 2006

I have just had the unfortunate experience of transiting Dubai airport. Many of the comments I have read on this web site I would heartily agree with. The crowds were enormous making it almost impossible to find a seat. Getting through security was a battle & as for the loos they are totally inadequate. I have never before experienced a queue of about 20 to access a cubicle. What it must have been like in the female toilets I cannot imagine. I shall certainly avoid the airport in the future if I can.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Carole Leyland
9 March 2006

Dubai airport at present is a nightmare. On a recent trip to Melbourne, on the outward journey we had to have a bus from the aircraft to terminal and then face a mass of people from other aircraft. We fly business class and there is no dedicated section for this class. On our return we flew 1st class and was given a 1st class lounge pass for Dubai. Situated approx gate 22. Only to be told by a rude lady who scratched through the pass, to go to business lounge. Once there I asked why we had be refused and she said try near gate 9.Not likely as our onward flight left from gate 37 and I wasn't prepared to spend the time walking up and down the airport over large amounts of bodies. Emirates really do need to ask what is going on.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Mike Claridge
5 March 2006

Interested by Tim Longdon comments, and have to concur about DXB standards. Used to be an efficient airport, with an efficient airline in Emirates (one and the same ??). As Dubai itself has become a brutal, concrete Benidorm of the middle east, the airport standards have fallen to the lowest of the lows - many Spanish charter destinations in peak season are better. It seems Dubai is keen to attract the mass-market tourism that has already made the country feel cheap and tacky, and that is now sadly reflected in Emirates standards heading downhill, and the DXB airport experience being uncomfortable and unpleasant. And yes, the DXB duty free products and prices are really a waste of time. Save your money for another airport or downtown shopping.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Tim Longdon
5 March 2006

Having lived in Dubai through the airport changeover, at first the new airport was bright, spacious and a pleasant experience in comparison to the old one (where I always seemed to have to step over rows of sleeping labourers). Now however, it is too crowded, too many people sleeping on the floors (I never see this anywhere else in the world), the security staff are so rude - during transit, I don't want "belt off!" shouted at me as I go back into the departures area. The electronics in Duty Free are the oldest models, and I'm so surprised to find that in Kuwait now (which is why I have to transit in Dubai from Bangkok) the models are more up-to-date and cheaper. On the plus side, I had a 2-3 hour layover going back to the UK a couple of months ago, and even though I wasn't entitled to the free breakfast (should be 4 hours I think) they let me in and that was quite pleasant. Dubai is becoming like a cheap eastern European destination.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Vilja Wheatcroft
5 March 2006

Moving through Dubai now 100% faster and more efficient with the e-card. Really worth getting if you are a regular traveller. 15-20 mins from arrival through to baggage hall as compared with over an hour (standing in line with fractious children) at passport control in the days before the card.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Sharifur Rehman
11 February 2006

Transit in DXB from LHR on my way to NBO. I agree with a few comments made. Each time, I transit through DXB, it seems to be getting worse. I never manage to find empty seats. I don't understand the logic behind big duty free stores and no adequate seating. A good airport should have a relaxing atmosphere, not a stressful one.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Mark Bickerton
11 February 2006

My experience of DXB tends to reflect the time I am there. Between midnight and 2am it is packed full of people and not great, and there are always anxious lines at the security check at transit. Arriving between 10am and 4pm is fine - airport is quiet, clean and pleasant. The shopping is nothing special, but there is a gym, which is a nice thing to do if you are there for a few hours. The J class lounge has quite good food, but often very busy. F class lounge is similar.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Eddie Mander
10 February 2006

Flew out of Dubai to Manchester 8th February. The Emirates business lounge at gate 9 is really poor; there was no wi-fi access available and no terminals to access the internet. The staff on the desk really couldn’t care less and to them customer service is a dirty word. Ask them to sort out a problem and they have a mythical phone call to make with a promise to come and see you when they have finished. Of course they never do. With an airport like Dubai they should be one of the top airports in the world but with their current staffing problems and lack of services they never will be.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Robert Bradford
27 January 2006

I have transited Dubai Airport many times - each time the experience is getting worse. Last month I along with many others lost my bag while transiting from Kuwait to Bangkok via Emirates to a codeshare with Thai Airways. It took Emirates 4 days to get my bag to Bangkok even though they had my name on a list with other passengers whose bags had been left in Dubai. Another friend had same problem this week in coming from London to Bahrain on Emirates through Dubai. Dubai Airport is now crowded and no longer a pleasure to transit that it was a few years ago.

Dubai Int'l Airport by David Springett
19 January 2006

I first visited Dubai airport in 1972. It was hot and smoky, with filthy toilets, people sleeping on the ground, inadequate seating, poor attitude of gate staff, stroppy security people all with charisma bypasses, long queues for everything overcrowded and with passengers being bussed to planes. It is 2006 and nothing has changed except the scale. Dubai is positively the worst transit experience I have experienced for a long time - how can a 2 hour on-time transit result in an almost missed connection?). It means that Emirates will also lose my business (3-4 UK/Asia J class trips a year) in favour of another transit point unless they get their act together. Apart from the shopping, which I do not find particularly cheap, I see that I echo everyone's opinion.

Dubai Int'l Airport by K Lawrence
8 January 2006

A few observations, positive and negative, from someone who has used Dubai Airport at least 40 times. Not good: Dubai Airport seems to always have people sleeping on the floor in the concourse, which cheapens the feel of some area's. The facility for wrapping suitcases in cling-wrap, is chaotic, with only one attendant present and no concept of queuing or "first-come-first-served" being practised by the attendant. Whomever shoves their suitcase the closest, gets the next slot. Regarding the fast-food area's - people puff away in these non-designated area's, and I have never seen anyone telling them to refrain. Thirdly, the Civil Aviation Lounge is getting crowded these days. On a positive note, the E-card gate is great, airport is modern, immigration staff are quite friendly.

Dubai Int'l Airport by R Calvert
3 January 2006

It would appear Transit is the issue - we travelled from Heathrow to Dubai return last week and it was superb. The airport was spotless, well laid out, plenty of seating (I know is an issue) and the passport control took 4 minutes. We arrived at night and at the same time as another 747 from Frankfurt - Passport Control simply swung in to action and opened more booth's as well as having people directing you.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Martin Fogg
13 December 2005

Arrived from MEL on Emirates 5 December 06.30. Bussed to transit arrivals where only 2 security lines took 55 minutes to clear. Emirates J class lounge was full. Had to ask a passenger to remove bag from seat to get a seat. Long line for the 3 showers on lounge ground floor.. Wife reported it was just as full on first floor. Complete bedlam although staff were trying to clear up as quickly as possible. Lounge was not as good as Malaysian J class at KL. Sheer numbers seemed to be the problem at Dubai.

Dubai Int'l Airport by K Christiansen
30 November 2005

As everything in UAE it has to look most expensive, high quality etc. etc. But - You have to pay unreasonable high fee just to park your car and it's very difficult even to find parking. You have to wait hrs. in line to get your entry visa. That service is equal to nothing. Most busy time at DXB is during night - but just every second desk at immigration is open at that time. So prepare yourself - you have to wait hrs. just to have your entry visa. When departing DXB it's a mess. You practical have to strip! You will be told to remove shoes, belts etc. And you have to pass 3 checkpoints. And when in the departure lounge! People are sleeping on the floors, toilets are dirty and tax free are more expensive than in Dubai. To the outside DXB presents itselft as one of the best in the world. As a passenger I would rate DXB as medium.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Karen Edwards
30 November 2005

Travelling through DXB as a "special needs" passenger with limited mobility is an absolute pleasure. I was met at the gate with a wheelchair and taken to the Special handling lounge, and collected again 45 minutes before my flight and delivered to the gate. Couldn't thank the staff enough, and certainly wouldn't want to have to queue with the throng. My husband and two small children also got the same treatment. The special lounge is quiet and relaxing with free tea and coffee - bit like a business lounge without the alcohol and internet connections. No complaints here!

Dubai Int'l Airport by Clive Temple
30 October 2005

Martyns comment (29 June) surprises me that in that he thinks a 10-15 minute walk to baggage claimis considered good. The worst thing about DXB is that the gates are the other side of the runway and involve a long walk either way. The staff in the new arrivals duty free area joke. I asked a Russian shop assistant if they had any sherry and she literally laughed in my face and said 'I don't know, too much in shop'.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Simon Jovi
25 October 2005

Transited through DXB twice within the last month. Overall found the airport to be much better than described in a lot of the postings here, however, seating truly is a problem. While the gate areas seem to have plenty of seating, there truly is a shortage in the general seating area forcing people to sit/sleep on the floor. The other posting about roofless smoking areas is true too as the smell of smoke permeates throughout the airport.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Ahmed Zuhair
24 October 2005

I have used Dubai mostly as a transit point. Facilities are excellent and the business class lounge is superb. One thing that the authorities need to seriously look into is the attitude and behaviour of security personnel. They act like wild cats we normally see on National Geography. I don't think they have the slightest idea of customer care or basic humanity. My recommendation to the authorities is to train them in treating everyone equally. After all this what their religion teaches them as well.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Mats Genberg
9 October 2005

Second visit to DXB last week. All was very smooth. Arrived with KLM at 23,30 with wife + 2 kids but immigrations was quick! One thing I love is that once you pass customs you are in the area with all the rent-a-car companies. And with lovely subcontinent service your car is driven up 50 metres from the exit doors with engine on and AC running and a guy loading our luggage. 45 min's after landing, we were on the highway to Abu Dhabi! At most airports you get sent by buses to remote parking places or something. On way back you just call the company, get out of your car among the taxi stands and have it driven away valet style. So neat! Check in was OK, but I expected a separate line for us that had already checked in via Internet. Staff was great and said AF had that system, but for reasons unknown not KLM. Staff let economy pax use business class counter when there where no pax waiting. Dubai Duty Free is nothing! Not even cheaper than the malls down town. The much advertised car-raffles are just regular "1 in 1000" lotteries that you find in any car magazine. CPH or AMS are way better as shopping goes. DXB has a little Hermes booth. CPH has a shop! No real restaurants. The good thing is that all gates are very close to the shopping area. Plus that the thing is beautiful in a crazy way, and kept very clean.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Charles Wilson
6 September 2005

Having arrived on a 20 minute flight from AUH at about 01:15 myself and 4 friends then proceeded to wait 2 hours in the queue for immigration. Slow moving queue due to the sheer number of people. It was a total nightmare. Was there any apology for the delay ? NO!!! given DXBs busiest time is at night they really need to buck up their ideas.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Wallace Shum
19 August 2005

Transit and landing in DXB for a few times and find out the main problems is the termainal is too narrow and the design for the closed gate area is not very good too. Because of the narrow terminal design, seat is not enough and just around the gate area or inside the gate. So for those people who have long transit have to seat/sleep on the floor... which make the airport dirty and look messy. For transit, I wait over 15 min to go through security check points. For check in, I wait for over 45 mins, too. Staff are rude throughout the airport, no matter EK staff or custom officer or immigration office or even duty free sales are rude. They are not even asking me for something, but order me to do something! What ICN/HKG/SIN offer and provide are worldclass, no matter DXB use billions to built a great terminal, if the software cannot catch up, they will always fall behind to those other world class airport!

Dubai Int'l Airport by Arthur Ward
29 July 2005

I thought the new terminal at Dubai would be right up there with the best but what a dissapointment. Yes, its modern but every time I have passed through I have found the same obvious problems. Not enough seating, plenty of airy space but not enough seating outside the gates. The idiot designed 'roofless' smoking areas scattered through the terminal means that the smell of smoke gets around the terminal.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Michael Fudge
29 June 2005

Nobody seems to have mentioned Terminal 2, on the other side of the airport. This is the terminal that passengers from Central and South Asia, and Eastern Europe are forced to use. The queue to enter the terminal runs out onto the footpath, the toilets, duty free, and cafeteria at the entrance are all terrible. Once inside the departure terminal there is another duty free area which is a little better and the lounge isn't so bad. There is a long bus ride to the planes. Anybody would think that the UAE government consider passengers who travel through Terminal 2 to be second class citizens. 

Dubai Int'l Airport by Martyn Rogers
29 June 2005

From getting off the aircraft to the baggage claim was only a 10-15 min walk, by the time we got there our cases were already going around! - that never happens at LHR or LGW. Immigration was empty and we were through that in 2 mins flat. On the return the emirates check in was smooth with only a short queue, took about 10 mins to go through passport control and again a 10 min walk brought up to all the duty free shops etc. Had no problems with dirty toilets or queues for them and found plenty of seating. Maybe the duty free prices weren't as cheap as you are lead to believe but that's only a minor thing. We departed from gate 1 and again that was no more than 10 mins away. Maybe we were lucky as we arrived at DXB at 2000 and our return flight was at 1430 and the airport was busy, perhaps it's a different story at it's peak departure/arrival times!

Dubai Int'l Airport by John Debicki

23 May 2005

Transited DXB on flight from Manchester to Perth W.A.. Aircraft unloaded apparently miles from anywhere. Coach transfer to terminal held up in a series of ground-traffic queues (inexplicable as it was the middle of the night) which resulted in a 20-minute journey, most passengers standing tightly-packed, and thus pretty uncomfortable after a 7 1/2 hour flight. Surely it can't be that difficult to find a conventional pier for a large, inter-continental aircraft (A330) in the middle of the night. Large queues at the X-ray machine with a scowling, curt individual who seemed to be running things. He required the removal of shoes and belts from so many people in front of me, I actually removed mine in anticipation and to save time. We all understand (and welcome) the need for security but transit passengers have already been comprehensively screened and there needs to be a balance. A spot of cheerfulness and a friendly face also would not go amiss in order to mitigate the worst effects of the inevitable delays caused in these circumstances. My visit to DXB was a disappointment. First, I found signing poor ( I eventually asked a shopkeeper which terminal I was in). The toilets seemed few in number with such long queues in the ladies' that we sought out McDonald's to see if they might have a separate ladies' toilet (they did not). The Costa coffee outlet was the most obvious place to get a drink but it was full, often with people not drinking but compensating for the fact that seating seems in short supply at DXB. There did not seem to be other outlets specifically devoted to the service of a hot drink. The food hall was small and not a patch on many other international airports. There were sleeping bodies on the floor everywhere along the route to the gates which I thought gave the place a squalid feel. The Terminal was light and cheerful with a good selection of duty-free shops, etc. (Singapore is infinitely better though). But what is the large, flying-saucer thing hanging from the ceiling? It looks cheap, dated and irrelevant. I know that DXB is undergoing a major expansion programme but it needs to think carefully about its existing service, standards and facilities at the same time. MAN-PER is a route I fly once or twice a year. I shall try to make my future stops at Singapore.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Hakan Ibrahim

11 May 2005

I completely agree with comments by I Wong, there was two x-ray machines used to check a full A340-500, completely pathetic if you ask me. The airport is great however it needs to be a bit better organised. If it wasn't for EK I would never transit DXB.

Dubai Int'l Airport by I Wong

6 May 2005

DXB is an airport with top-class facilities, but managed by third-class minded people. Transited via DXB twice from GLA to KUL and return were chaos, the ground staff did not know how to lead passengers went through security checks. Arriving at midnight with lots of passengers stuck in front of the security checks. It seems to me that the management is just interested in earning passengers' money but no plan to improve level of services offered (including conducting courses to their staff on how to deal with passengers in more polite and caring manners).

Dubai Int'l Airport by Paul Dunseath

28 April 2005

I flew out Emirates to London and onward to Belfast. The flight was great as usual but the departure lounge, What I can say ??? If it wasn’t so sad, it was nearly laughable. My flight was to leave at 07.45am, so I was at the airport 05.30am. I was checked in quickly and after just a short time shopping (living in Dubai, I had completed my shopping) proceeded to the dept gate around 06.15 am to find I had to stand in line until nearly 7am. There was many transfer passengers, and more importantly old and infirm people who needed a seat, when I tried to speak with the attendants I received the usual “not my problem” attitude that is so common in Dubai. We eventually did get through to the lounge and low and behold half of the passengers had to stand, not enought seating - we then got on to the plane to find out that we were delayed for an hour and a half due to rubble on the runway. I spoke with the inflight supervisor, who understood and accepted the problems, and to be honest the in-flight service and hospitality was first class as always however sadly the lack of proper trained personnel at the departure gate does nothing to promote Emirates as the premier airline. Finally when I explained to the personnel at the gate the answer I got was “ what to do” and when I further more explained that I would be making a forward complaint the flippant reply was “ whatever” I requested to speak to both the supervisor and or the person in charge, I am still waiting. I am not a complainer, but this service is totally unacceptable not to mention uncalled for, when we pay for a professional service the least we expect is good manners and servility not rudeness and unprofessionalism.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Marios Blachandreas

21 April 2005

Although Emirates is one of the best airlines I have ever flown with, there is a huge need for improvement at DXB airport. I was flying business class DXB-ATH, nobody informed me about any special checking for C/CL passengers and I queued at the one and only check in counter for ATH flight. I got to the airport 3 hours prior to the Dep. of my flight just to do some shopping with tranquility. I found the whole procedures very stressful and I managed to get to the gate 42!!! just 20 min before departure and considering that I made my shopping running. Where is  process management? I thing that people down in DXB must reconsider the whole airport thing / immigration and distances within the airport to avoid drag Emirates airlines "downwards".

Dubai Int'l Airport by Derek Tan

11 April 2005

I just came back to UK from a trip to Malaysia. As I travelled via Emirates (great airline!), I had a short transit at Dubai Airport. I must say that the immigration needs a reality check as the queues are far too long and tedious. And the lack of toilets! Its so frustrating especially when you travel with children and are desperate for toilets! There were queues even to use toilet facilities! Emirates is a great airline but if I have to land in Dubai and experience this kind unnecessary inconvenience, I must say no to Emirates the next time around.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Katherine McWhirter

7 April 2005

I love Dubai but am seriously reconsidering travelling with Emirates due to the appalling airport. Unless you are youngish and fit I would suggest you ask for wheelchair transport. The distances are dreadful. I don't think I can add more than has been said below. For a country where the hotels are luxurious - their Arabian Adventure Tours efficient, Emirates a great airline - it is all let down by the Airport. The only way to avoid the transit problem is to stay overnight and then make sure you have used the loo in your hotel before arriving at the Airport. It is such a complete contrast to the service, cleanliness and politeness you find in 90% of the hotels.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Deborah Eichholz

26 March 2005

I have been in and out of Dubai International Airport for some years and I can agree with the assessments on the conditions of the toilets. Absolutely disgusting. The people at Immigration and Passport Control are rude beyond comprehension. If this is the face that the UAE wishes to show to the world, that's all well and good, but for a country utterly in love with commercialism and attracting as much money as possible, it is inexplicable. The shopping is great, if you just can't leave without one more piece of jewelry, but it just screams " mall ! " The long walk between the planes and terminal is a difficulty, especially if you have been flying for 14 hours or if you have a disability. Not one of my favorite airports.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Robin Richardson

22 March 2005

Dubai airport looks great but it ends there. Other people comments I agree with. They make boarding announcements of the usual nature, but with only one small door to access the airbridge, it is then a free for all. premium pax are given no benefit whatever. Information desk staff are very rude. The toilets are fit for animals only, at peak times. Emirates Business class lounge is good, except too crowded as people hog seats with bags and coats and fake being asleep - why? The internet also is poorly serviced.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Jason Birbeck

9 March 2005

AKL-MEL-DXB-LHR with Emirates in Feb. Found airside security a real pain, it appeared there were only 2 x-ray machines for the hordes of people. Agree with others' comments, DXB is just one big humid shop focussing mainly on luxury items. Gents toilets on the lower level not really a joy to behold either!

Dubai Int'l Airport by P Maclachlan

7 March 2005

I'd just like to add that anyone who is a UAE resident and uses DXB frequently really should spare the hour or so and the few dollars it takes to go to a DNATA office and get an e-gate card. With apologies to all the other people involved, it's rather wonderful to get to the immigration area - which can often be filled with around 1500 people waiting to be processed - and find that you are the one and only person using the e-gate line. It can save you at least an hour, probably more. I've noticed that even airline crew use it now as it's actually faster than their dedicated desk. Come to think of it, I probably should have kept this little secret to myself!

Dubai Int'l Airport by S Dewan

24 February 2005

DXB is a prime example of how not to expand an airport. Although one had to be bussed to the aircraft, the old airport was manageable. There was one first class lounge, common to all airlines. Though crowded, it was adequate. Now, one has to walk forever, in a hot, muggy terminal and wait forever in long lines. Avoid it if you can.

Dubai Int'l Airport by P G Lau

17 February 2005

Despite the jam at the taxi stand for dropping off passengers, long walks to the immigration and multiple security check points, my colleague and I encountered rude staff at the customs and security check points. Front desk staff at check-in counters were arguing with each other, showing unhappy faces over the counter in front of a line of passengers waiting for check out – Gate 15. At the screening points luggage were handled roughly resulting in a broken LCD screen of my DELL notebook. This I realised upon returning to my office. I wonder what is the use of all 4 security check points when the officers are not even looking at the screen when luggage were conveyed through the X-Ray machines. Overall, during my trip on 15th Feb 2005, I feel the airport would be better with more lighting. I managed to wall from Gate 1 to 43 and found the earlier sections were very dark. Toilets were dirty and crowded. More resting areas should be provided for passengers in economy class as they were sleeping on walkways and benches. This is not what visitors would like to see in a world class airport. Though my driver told me about the in-progress expansion of the airport, all I encountered during my trip was not promising. Front liners who are dealing with passengers should be trained to be more professional, extending good if not excellent services to clients. At least this would tally off the hard work of those who work hard behind the scene to make the airport an ever improving and nice place to be. I hope my next stop at Dubai International Airport will be a better one.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Sadiq Hassan

15 February 2005

My main gripe about Dubai is the long walks. Gate 1 to 24 takes around 10-15 minutes just to walk. However, in all other ways I think Dubai airport is amazing. There are 6 or 7 transit areas, and rather than going to the first one you pass, go down the walkway a little more and you may find an empty one. The lounges and shopping in Dubai Airport are also excellent.

Dubai Int'l Airport by Zack Galt

4 February 2005

I used to love the “new” Dubai Airport when it opened, since it was a big change from the old terminals where one had to be bussed to the aircraft and board via stairs. It also had a great sleek feel about it and it felt good to be able to have a transit stop there. However, my most recent experience being at Dubai Airport has disenchanted me greatly and it hurts to say that the airport is now definitely going down the drain in standards and anyone passing through there will likely have a “bad” experience. Long lines at transfer desks, especially between 11pm and 5am. Dubai Airport needs to setup more transit desks and transit security points so that more passengers can get through transit quickly. Transiting it not bad during the day and is not that busy during the day, but it is horrible at night at Dubai airport. Standards are poor - Filthy, dirty toilets. All the public toilets available at Dubai Airport are filthy, overcrowded, and a disgrace to passengers seeing Dubai for the first time. My flight into Dubai landed around 1am and I had to use a toilet desperately before my connecting flight at 4am. I went from restroom to restroom starting near gate 14, and every bathroom I entered had dirty toilet stalls and huge crowds. Every time I found an open stall, the toilet seat was covered with water and other filth, along with the floor and the walls surrounding it. The hand-held bidets (like a small shower) used to wash oneself with would be lying on the floor and were probably the source of all the water. This happened at least 9 times and I almost gave up on finding a good place to use a toilet. Then I saw a lone janitor enter one of the bathrooms and I quickly asked him as to why the bathrooms are so dirty, with water and filth everywhere. He replied that the manual laborers transiting from the developing countries around the region usually dirtied the toilets and there was nothing he could do. He also advised me about a bathroom he had just cleaned a few gates away and that I should hurry to use it before someone dirtied it once again. It is extremely warm and muggy inside the airport. Dubai itself is a very very hot place, even in the winter, where temperatures range around 28 Celsius (the high 70’s in Fahrenheit). It does not cool down much at night either, and both times I transited through Dubai in January, the airport was kept extremely hot. I do not know if they don’t use air-conditioning during the winter or whether there are too many people in the terminal building, but I was extremely warm and sweating my whole time there. Dubai Airport should reevaluate their air-conditioning policy and keep temperatures lower. A cool and calm passenger can have a much better time shopping at their Duty Free instead of someone who is feeling all hot, sticky, and muggy due to the heat inside the airport. It was very hard to shop in the Duty Free without feeling hot and breaking into a sweat.