The Emirates Lounge Dubai Terminal 3 Concourse C Review

Dubai International Airport is one of the busiest and largest airports in the world. Home to Emirates, Terminal 3 is massive and includes three interlinked buildings (concourse A, B and C) plus their corresponding gates. Spread over the three concourses there are a total of seven Emirates lounges for business and first class travellers to dine and unwind in before their next flight. During a relatively short transit enroute to Zurich, I decided to check out the nearest Emirates lounge to my departure gate in concourse C.

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General information and lounge layout

Concourse C of Dubai's terminal 3 is equipped with a separate business class lounge and a first class lounge in the middle of the building. I visited the Emirates Lounge, which is an additional facility at the far end of concourse C that accommodates premium passengers coming through this busy terminal.

The service desk at the Emirates Lounge in concourse C. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Following the entrance through a rather glossy and shiny reception, I arrived in the atrium that bridges the two wings of the lounge. Within this space there is a circular padded bench with a sculpted art piece set in the middle. The left wing features a buffet dining space, the business centre and quiet zones and the right wing has more seating and a shower facility. A shoe butler was also present in the lounge, providing a shoe polish service at a cost. The lounge is well maintained and decorated with furniture following a beige and brown colour scheme, with a touch of local influence in the interior.

The Emirates Lounge in concourse C. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

The Emirates Lounge seating. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

A bathroom in the Emirates Lounge, concourse C. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

The Emirates Lounge business zone. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

What I liked

The food options

Breakfast was served during my visit. I found a decent spread at the buffet counter; items you would find in a standard continental breakfast, for example, pastries, cereals, cold cut meats and cheeses. Eggs and sausages were also available. I ventured to the Mediterranean and Asian section, where I found Antipasto ingredients (for example, olives, artichokes and sun dried tomatoes), samosas, a vegetarian chickpea curry and congee. The dessert department was surprisingly well-stocked for breakfast, with cakes, Arabic dates and baklava. If all things fail to impress, perhaps an ice cream from the Ice Cream Tub might do the trick. It's never too early in the day for an ice cream!

Fruit, yogurt and cakes. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Mushroom congee and beans. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Sandwiches and salads. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Arabic desserts. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

The Ice Cream Tub. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

It was a quieter lounge

Over the course of my visit, the lounge was periodically filled with large groups of passengers, yet the seating was adequate so I had no trouble finding a place to park in the main lounge and dining area. This lounge is a good alternative when the concourse C business lounge gets filled, particularly during peak hours. A dedicated quiet zone is also available here if you prefer to recline for a nap, but I didn't get a chance to test this out due to my short visit.

The Emirates Lounge dining area. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

The quiet zone in the lounge. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Lounge seating and TV. Image: Foong/Finder

Great tarmac view

Despite a dusty morning with reduced visibility of the tarmac, I enjoyed viewing several A380s approaching the terminal through the sizeable windows that span the entire length of the lounge.

The power outlets and screens

A power outlet and USB ports. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

A good number of universal power outlets and USB ports are installed throughout the lounge, with the exception of in the dining area. However, a pin-secured charging station is also available if you decide to charge your devices while you're having a meal or using the shower. Multiple TV screens are installed in the lounge, broadcasting news, sports highlights as well as flight information.

Lockers at the charging station. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

What I didn't like

The smaller range of service offerings

The Emirates Lounge in concourse C does not offer a complete range of features as seen in the other Dubai lounges. Given it is a much smaller lounge compared to the business lounges in concourses A and B, you do not get the full dining experience here, such as the "global flavours" international buffet and the Costa barista-made coffee served in concourse B. Although Moët and Chandon Champagne is available here, it does not have the full range served at the Moët and Chandon Champagne bar in concourse B. Besides that, there is no direct boarding from the lounge such as that offered in concourse A. Overall, this lounge does not stand out when compared to the other lounges in Dubai.

Self-service drinks bar. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Self-service coffee machine. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Beeping noises

This may sound ironic, but I found this lounge both quiet and noisy at the same time. While the crowd here was smaller, the renovation noises next door during my visit were rather unpleasant, particularly the intermittent loud beeping coming from a reversing vehicle. It definitely affected the lounge atmosphere. I hope these renovation related noises are temporary rather than a recurrent nuisance for the guests here.

Enoch's Emirates Lounge Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)

With seven lounges in Dubai, Emirates travellers transiting in Dubai are spoilt for choice. The Emirates lounge, located at the far end of concourse C, is a reasonable alternative to the business lounge in concourse C. Being a smaller lounge, in some ways it feels like an overflow lounge facility rather than a fully-fledged lounge at the hub airport. The lounge does not provide a full range of service offerings compared to the other Dubai lounges. For this reason, you may choose to visit the business lounges in another concourse if time allows (don't risk missing your flight, though, as it is a huge terminal). On a positive note, the lounge is less crowded and it still offers a decent experience. Overall, I rate this lounge 4.5 stars and I certainly hope the noise issues will improve in my subsequent visits.

THE FINDER LOUNGE REVIEW PROMISE: Our lounge reviews are based on a visit to the actual lounge during normal operation. We offer an honest and open critique from one of our frequent flyer experts and update with any relevant news as it comes to hand. Being in a lounge should always be more pleasant than just being stuck with waiting at the gate, but we won't shy away from highlighting issues. Learn more about how our scoring works.

The Emirates Lounge Dubai Terminal 3 Concourse C Details

Opening hours

24 hours

Location

Located airside and at the far end of concourse C between gates C9 and C11. The Emirates Lounge is not to be confused with the business lounge, which is located in the same concourse beside gate C22.

The Emirates Lounge (yellow) and the business lounge (red) Image: Supplied

Dubai Airport concourse C. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Access:

• By cabin class: Emirates First and Business Class* passengers (including QF codeshare).
• By tier status: Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum Tier members, as well as Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold members and above.
• By membership: Qantas Club members (travelling with Emirates on QF codeshare ticket).
• By paid access: US$130 + taxes (non-members), US$100 + taxes (Skywards members discount).