Dubai Airport

Feb 2013. The immigration staff attitude is appalling. They are meant to be intimidating that can be understood but chit-chatting with fellow colleagues totally oblivious to the very long lines is rude. The assistant officers are rude. Asked an assistant about which line to go to for immigration (as the signage is pointing to another lane) got a simple finger-pointing answer. As the answer is not similar to the signage asked again about it get a harsh brush of "you listen to me". Nice modern infrastructure with barbaric soft skill.

Emirates. Lot of shops but no trolleys available and you need to keep searching to get one. Very lengthy airport so be cautious to check your gate rather than spend a lot of time running from one gate to another especially when Emirates make last minute changes. I stayed for one night in the airport hotel as my next flight was early morning the hotel staff were not courteous at all no gestures no welcome. Some gates are very remote and no shops in those areas.

Over the last few months I've used all 3 terminals for both arrival and departure except for departure from Terminal 1. DXB is a fairly good airport without being in the same league as Incheon or Changi it compares favourably with many regional competitors particularly Doha. Terminal 3 - the dedicated Emirates terminal - is the best of the three. It's modern bright and airy. Shopping facilities are generally good I've always found immigration to be relatively quick and customs is straightforward. Terminal 1 immigration queues look much longer; I was lucky enough to be travelling business class on the way in to Terminal 1 otherwise I might have been stuck in immigration for well over an hour. Terminal 1 is also clearly just a little bit more run down around the edges than Terminal 3. Metro access to Terminals 1 and 3 is straightforward and often a good alternative to taxis. Terminal 2 - where budget airlines are based - is infamously on the other side of the airport and isn't accessible by Metro (and personal experience demonstrates that taxi drivers are very reluctant to take you the short distance from Stadium the closest Metro stop) though it is walkable when it isn't too hot. But once you arrive at Terminal 2 it isn't actually that bad an experience. It may not have the facilities of the other two terminals but renovation is underway and immigration queues are often shorter than Terminals 1 & 2.

Terminal 1. Good airport. The car rentals section are spaced out very well and minimum disruption. Quite a walk from the flight to the immigration but that's what happens in a developed airport. Very clean.

Usually transit through Dubai on the way to the far east and often don't find it an easy experience. This time Dubai was the final destination. Pleasantly surprised. 30 mins after plane doors opened at an airbridge we were through immigration had collected our luggage passed customs and were out of the terminal. On our return check at the dedicated emirates business desks and security was quick smooth and painless. Terminal 3 and the business lounge was quiet on both journeys 07.30 and 13.00 by Dubai standards which was probably the main reason. Will be passing through Dubai in another month lets hope that our transit experience is as pleasant.

In transit between GLA and MEL/AKL. Was here in the mid-morning the airport felt quite empty compared with the times I have used it in the past. Concourse A has in my judgement helped a lot by providing the capacity which the airport needed; and its design seems to have corrected some of the now-obvious flaws with the older Concourse B. The train between the concourses works very well. The only grizzle is that the terminals could do with free internet terminals like Changi because the wireless doesn't work quite as well as it should. The security check for passengers in transit seemed to go quite quickly. Generally I would also add that there is no substitute for sitting down beforehand with an airport's terminal maps; they will make your time in that airport go that little bit easier.

A soulless sterile (except for the toilets) chasm of elevators and luxury-brand shops. Not enough bathrooms fairly dirty and about 100 degrees inside them. Not enough places to sit. The contrast between Emirates' aircraft and in-flight service - which are great - and this hole could not be more stark.

This review relates to the Emirates / Qantas Terminal 3. This consists of two separate concourses Aâand B connected by an underground train. Despite the massive expansion at Dubai Airport there are still insufficient gates at the terminal at peak hours meaning that some flights park on stand necessitating a long bus transfer to the terminal. Security checks on transiting passengers can be slow. The terminal itself is basically a huge shopping mall with airbridges attached but is otherwise modern clean and attractive. The terminal is very busy but despite what others have said I found plentiful seating although there are insufficient toilets. The individual concourses are easy to navigate but transfers between the concourses require a descent underground via a series of escalators to reach the train that shuttles between the terminals where rather brusque staff bark orders and organize you into queues. Same in reverse when you disembark the train at the other end. Once you reach your departure gate there is at least free wi-fi available albeit only with a moderate strength signal. If you're lucky enough as a transit passenger for your flights to arrive and depart from airbridges within the same concourse then it can be a quick and painless transfer but if you get caught up with bus transfers from remote stands and having to travel between concourses then what might otherwise be a comfortable 2 hour connection becomes a nerve wracking experience.

In August 2013 I transited through T3 Dubai Airport from Johannesburg to the UK and back. My connections were 2hrs on the way their and 4hrs on the way back. Queues at transit security moved quite fast. Used the train from terminal A to B easy to use and very efficient. Airport is very clean well sign aged no problems to get to my departures gates.

An "over large" unfriendly airport. Very surly officials slow inefficient processing. Speed queues have not yet arrived in Dubai. Fortunately we were at a quiet time. Lots of overprices shops insufficient toilets and seating areas. A visit to Changi would be beneficial.