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Airport ReviewsDubaiTravelUAE

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

by kumamonjeng July 29, 2019
written by kumamonjeng July 29, 2019
Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

During my Spain & Portugal trip, I have the chance to transit at Dubai International Airport (DXB) before arriving in Madrid Spain. We were flying with Emirates A380 from Singapore. There are three terminals, 1,2 and Terminal 3 (DXB) which is for Emirates, Qatar Airway, Gulf Air and Qantas flights. There are lots of things to do if you are at Terminal 3.  Let’s find out my airport review here.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Terminal 3 DXB has one of the best facilities at Dubai Airport, I shall review with you the retail therapy, food and drink, spa and smoking area here. Well, before that, let’s find out more about Dubai, it is a famous business hub and travel destination. Not sure if you are aware, if you are traveling to Europe from Asia, most likely your flight will stopover in Dubai International Airport. It is because it is centrally located in the world and acts as an intercontinental link. Dubai International Airport is also the largest airport in the Middle East and in the world by international passenger traffic. Base on CNBC news, the airport has handled 89.1 million passengers in 2018, slightly below target but still remaining the world’ busiest for international travelers.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Let’s go Shopping

The Duty-free Mall can be fun and lot of things to look at, there are even alcohol which may be a little surprise for me. (Side note, drinking alcohol is illegal in Dubai, except for tourists or residents with an alcohol licence). Electronics, Pharmacy, souvenirs, perfumes, jewelry, and gold are the items you will see displayed at the airport. The duty-free allowance includes 4l of alcohol, 400 cigarettes or 2kg of tobacco and 200ml of perfume.

Check out the Top 10 souvenirs to buy in Dubai International Airport. 

The top 10 things are great for souvenirs as they are cultural and traditional to the Middle Eastern.  Affordable and easy to bring back for your loved one.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Luxury Designers Shopping

Top designer stores are here, such as Chanel, Gucci, and Salvatore Ferragamo. If you want some high-end shopping, there are a number of big brands here.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

“Win This Car” Prize

Do not forget to enter the lottery for the million-dollar car after you have done your shopping.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Spa & Manicure

Spa & manicure are great places to relax and chill.  Have your manicure done while waiting for your connecting flight. Relax also offer express manicures and pedicure if you are in a rush.  Waxing services are also available, including treatment from eyebrow waxing, legs or full back wax 🙂

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Dubai Airport Toilets Review

The toilets are clean and neat to use but one thing that catches my attention was there is an Abulation area near the entry of the toilet. This area is for wiping parts of the body, a type of ritual purification for Islamic procedure. We don’t usually see the Abulation area in the toilet in other parts of the world.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Toilet cubicle

I was quite impressed at how clean the toilets are despite the airport is always very crowded and packed.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Emirates Baby Strollers

This is a super family-friendly airport, you will find a rack of complimentary strollers at T3. These strollers are there to help you transfer from one gate to the next or shop in the duty-free shop with your kids. This is really a plus especially for families traveling with kids.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Prayer Room

There are several prayer rooms at the airport and even a mosque at T3. The prayer rooms are separated for Muslim men and Muslim women.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Winston Smoking Lounge

There are smoking rooms (Winston Smoking Lounge) at the airport, go look for them before you light up your cigarette.  Please note the airport is a non-smoking zone.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Resting Zone

Reclining style chairs are available in various Rest Zones around the airport, but they generally tend to stay full. Gate areas have chairs, but most have armrests making them unfriendly for sleepers.  The recliner chairs located throughout T3, Concourse A is great to take a nap.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Dining at Dubai Airport T3

There is a huge selection of restaurants and bars and fast-food chain, McDonald’s.

McDonald’s

Always very crowded no matter what time of the day, even in the midnight.  Open 24 hours.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Jack’s Bar & Grill

Crowded and the decoration and ambiance are great. Place for you to taste the steak and a good burger.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Flour + Stone Bistro – (Lebanese)

The Bistro at Dubai Airport is the perfect place to experience traditional Lebanese food at good prices.  Check out their Manakish Zaatar, traditional Lebanese variety of pita bread spiced with Zaatar.   Similar to a pizza, this is Middle Eastern version made of soft pita base topped with zaatar spice mix.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Other Flat Bread

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Cho Gao Asian Cuisine

Missing some Asian, then go  Cho Gao located between Gates A6 and A7 at the Concourse A “West Side”.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

VAT refunds

Tourists and visitors can claim refund on VAT paid on purchases they made during their stay in the UAE.  There is a minimum spend of Dh250 for goods to be eligible for the scheme. There will also be a Dh4.50 charge for each tax-free tag that is presented at the point of refund.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

UAE home to one fo the world’s highest percentage of immigrants and you can see it in the Dubai Airport. I have spotted lots of airport workers were from the Philippines, India, and Africa.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Other facilities – Snooze Cube

There are other facilities which may interest you such as Snooze cube, there are little rooms with a bed and tv for you to catch a nap.  A minimum stay of two hours is required to rent the Snooze Cubes. Rent it only if you have lots of time to kill. (Note the Dubai Airport is very large so walking from one point to another may require a lot of time.  Don’t be late for your departure if you are renting a Snooze cube).

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Zen Garden & Play Area

For kids, there is a dedicated play area and the Zen garden. 🙂

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Emirates A380 Review

Emirates is one of the best airlines, ranked the world’s fourth-largest and the largest and best in the Middle East. If you are traveling to Europe, then most likely you will choose Emirate because it offers a competitive price.

Boarding takes slightly longer time as this is a very large plane with almost full capacity as we travel during peak season in December. (600 passengers)

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

The economy cabin is configured with 10 across seats in a 3x4x3 layout with reasonable seat width. A pillow, blanket and headphones are provided.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Each economy seat features an in-flight entertainment screen in the seatback. I really enjoyed the In-Flight entertainment as it has one of the best entertainment programs, lot of new movies, classics movies, drama, from Hollywood, Bollywood, and Asian (Japanese, Korean, Thai and Chinese). Emirates claimed to have taken home Skytrax’s award for Best In-Flight Entertainment 14 years running.

Safety video in Arabic with English caption was run before the takeoff.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Food and Beverage

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

The menu was handed by the attendants to all passengers. Beverages were served and it was not a stingy serve, a small bottle of wine was generously given. I have several meals onboard and they all tasted good, I won’t say very delicious but better than a lot of the flight that I have experience. The good thing is they give you real metal silverware which is easier to eat.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

My choice of lunch is Salmon with rice.  I think there is another choice of BBQ chicken with potatoes of fish. So fish or chicken?

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

Final thoughts:

Dubai International Airport is huge and crowded 24 hours a day. I remembered it was midnight when I was flying from Bacelona to Dubai on my way back to Singapore, the crowds is still very busy, after all, it is a major transit hub.

Dubai International Airport & Emirates Airline A380 Review

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Abulation areaAirport ReviewAl Rifai RoasteryAlBaba SweetbaklawaCho Gao Asian CuisineDining at Dubai Airport T3Dubai Airport Toilets ReviewDubai International AirportDXB AirportDXB Zen GardenEmirate ShopEmiratesEmirates A380 ReviewEmirates Baby StrollersFlour + Stone Bistro – (Lebanese)ghutraGold in DubaiGulf AirJack’s Bar & GrillkunafaLottery in DXBManakish ZaatarMiddle EastPatchi ChocolateQantas flightsQatar AirwayResting Zone in DXBSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum booksSnooze cubeSpa & Manicure in DXBUAE immigrantsVAT refundsWinston Smoking Lounge“My vision” by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
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15 comments

Joanna July 29, 2019 - 2:01 pm

Emirates is one of my favorite airlines to fly with, when I go to the other side of the world. The A380 is a proper beauty, my favorite plane to fry with. I have transited through Dubai airport several times and I was always impressed with the airport and the cheap prices it has. If only there wasn’t a restriction on how much stuff you can buy from outside Europe.

Reply
Coombe Mill July 29, 2019 - 5:03 pm

I always think the airport is part of the whole holiday experience. This certainly looks like one of the better airports to enjoy.

Reply
Fatima D Torres July 29, 2019 - 11:06 pm

There’s so much gold throughout Dubai. A friend returned with the most precious pieces from their trip.

Reply
Kristen July 30, 2019 - 1:17 am

The shopping in that airport alone makes me want to book a trip. Airports make me nervous when I don’t know the layout, this is such a great share.

Reply
Suzanne Spiegoski-Decamps July 30, 2019 - 1:35 am

Sounds like a good airport. I am glad you enjoyed your experience.

Reply
Alysa July 30, 2019 - 8:06 am

I’ve heard so much about Emirates! Great to read a review.

Reply
Lyosha Varezhkina July 30, 2019 - 12:06 pm

That is so helpful! i normally don’t give much though about the flight and airports focusing on the destination. Airports are all good to me, being in the airport is making me happy with real reason.

Reply
Netski U. July 30, 2019 - 1:28 pm

It’s one of the best airport for me even though it’s crowded. And Emirates is an amazing airline.

Reply
Rose A (@mail4rosey) July 30, 2019 - 2:11 pm

I’m always happy to hear about retail therapy. My oldest wants to visit Dubai.

Reply
tanviidotcom July 30, 2019 - 6:15 pm

Dubai is definitely on of my favorite airports. You could easily kill hours there, especially if you are flying Emirates.

❥ tanvii.com

Reply
Catherine July 30, 2019 - 7:35 pm

I’ve not been at an airport in so long but my goodness looks like quite the snazzy place! How airports have changed!

Reply
Yeah Lifestyle July 30, 2019 - 8:28 pm

Dubai Airport is one which we frequent ever so often and I do love the new additions to the food restaurants and the snooze cube which I definitely would want to book myself into

Reply
Lisa July 30, 2019 - 9:32 pm

I’ve passed many times through Dubai airport so know it well. It’s huge and quite overwhelming too. I do like the number of food options they have there, though it’s quite expensive from what I remember!

Reply
kumamonjeng July 30, 2019 - 11:16 pm

Dear Lisa,

Glad you too experienced a couple of times and yes the food selection is huge.

Reply
alexandra cook July 30, 2019 - 11:10 pm

So many things to love about this airport in Dubai! It’s really beautiful out there.

Reply

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I am the travel writer for Thinkerten. I lived in Japan, Australia, Malaysia and now based in Singapore. Speak 4 languages, Japanese, English, Malay, and Chinese. There are the many types of travels one can experience and mine are mostly focus on self-driving/road trip to explore the places I wanted to see and learn about. Only if you get out of your country, you will see the real you and understand more about yourself, to realize of your own identity, your own culture, and your root.

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