Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge Doha Review

The Al Mourjan Lounge is located at the hub of the fast-growing Gulf carrier, Qatar Airways. This lounge spans a whopping space of almost 10,000 m2, approximately the size of 10 Olympic-size swimming pools. Featuring a stunning traditional Arabian-rich interior fused with modern touches, it is the epitome of world-class lounge luxury both in its scale and presentation. The facility is reserved exclusively for passengers with an onward business or first class ticket, in other words those holding oneworld Sapphire or Emerald grade status alone are not eligible to access. I've frequented this lounge enroute to the US and Europe on several occasions, but here is a summary of my latest lounge experience.

Points Finder Lounge Rating:

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• Pros
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• Lounge details

General information and lounge layout

Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge Reception. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

The lounge is accessible from the duty-free plaza south. Qatar ground staff are posted at the base of the escalators scanning guests' boarding passes before permitting eligible guests to travel up the escalator to level 3, the lounge entrance. Unless assistance is needed at the front desk, passengers generally bypass the reception and head straight into the lounge.

Lounge hallway. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

This is a two-storey lounge, the main level features plenty of seating, a business zone, showers, quiet area, game room, family spaces and a deli serving ala carte sandwiches plus snacks. The mezzanine level, accessible by a lift or the spiral staircase, features the restaurant and bar.

Lounge seating. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Bamboo garden at the main level. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Deli and sandwich bar. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Mezzanine level dining area. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

What I liked

Spacious and impressive indoor features

The open areas, bronze walls, silver metal accents and high ceilings give the lounge a modern art exhibition hall feel. Coupled with the iconic indoor water feature and a grand spiral staircase that wraps around a gigantic chandelier. Although the lounge is enormous, there is generally a beverage station located not too far away, which is ultra convenient.

Main level of the lounge. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Spiral staircase and giant chandelier. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Quiet zone

Dimmed private cubicles with large couches are available if you have a longer transit and would like to take a nap. Since these cubicles are not individual rooms with soundproofing, a 'snorer' in the midst will undoubtedly transform the entire quiet zone to not so quiet one. Thankfully it was peaceful during my visit. These cubicles are allocated on a first come first serve basis, so it's best to check availability as soon as you arrive to avoid missing out. I was lucky to score one this trip!

Quiet zone cubicles. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Couches and TV each private cubicle. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Seat with personal screens

Many seats are equipped with individual touch-screen tablets which display the local time and flight information. This comes in handy given there are not audio flight announcements in the lounge. I'd love to see this concept developed further. How about in-lounge entertainment?

Lounge seating with touch-screen tablets. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Universal power and USB outlet. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Dining options

Here you can find a diverse range of food options including Western, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, I chose a light snack, mezze and foul (a traditional bean dish.) Tea, coffee, juices, champagne and alcoholic beverages are similar to those available in-flight, with the exception of Qatar's signature Marsala Chai.

Buffet food station. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Chicken biryani, salads and hummus. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Dessert station. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Ala carte sandwich menu. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

What I didn't like

Very crowded

While there is ample space in the general area, the restaurant upstairs gets overcrowded at peak times, in particular during the morning rush. Due to the lack of tables, some passengers had to move to the sandwich bar at the other end of the complex, which serves only a la carte sandwiches and light snacks.

Restaurant dining area during a quieter time. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Slow buffet service

During my recent visit I had to make multiple trips to the buffet counter as staff struggled to restock food to meet the demand. Often, there were one or two dishes temporarily not available while waiting for more to be prepared in the kitchen.

Long shower wait time

This isn't generally an issue during quieter periods as there is more than one shower zone; one in the middle of the lounge and the other adjacent to the quiet zone. Interestingly, showers are gender specific. In the past my wife and I found ourselves having to wait an hour for our turn in the respective shower zones. The shower itself is quite spacious but it really needs some ventilation, it feels like a shower and a sauna combined. So I generally opt for a cold shower here.

Vanity in the male shower zone. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Points Finder's Lounge Rating: 4/5 stars

Overall, the Al Mourjan Lounge features an impressive space that lives up to the standard expected of a world-class five-star airline. Within the facade it's an extensive place to relax and recharge before your next flight. Some of the highlights include the calming indoor water feature, generous lounge seating and a rest zone. As far as the restaurant and showers are concerned, the passengers have outgrown the existing lounge capacity, so you could be in for a long wait during busier times. Unfortunately this will likely worsen as Qatar Airways continues to expand. Given the size of this lounge, perhaps additional amenities such as a lounge spa or a gym would make this lounge a truly outstanding one.

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.

Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge details

Opening hours

Open 24 hours

Location

Level 3 at Hamad International Airport. The lounge is accessible from a set of escalator from the duty-free plaza south, across from the "giant yellow teddy bear."

Entrance to Al Mourjan Lounge. Image: Enoch Foong/Finder

Access

• By cabin class: Qatar Airways or Oneworld First and Business class passengers.
• By tier status: Unfortunately, Sapphire-grade oneworld members in economy are directed to a separate and less impressive "Business Class" lounge.
• By purchasing access: Economy passengers have the option to purchase access to Al Mourjan Lounge at the check-in counter.