Looking for ideas on what to do at Dubai Airport during your layover? Here are top experiences on offer inside DXB...
From rooftop swimming pools and standout spa facilities, to tax-free shopping and a plethora of luxurious lounges to choose from, there's so much to experience inside Dubai International Airport. Whether you're departing from DXB or looking for things to do at Dubai Airport during your layover, this guide to the award-winning airport will help you plan your trip
Top ways to relax and unwind inside Dubai Airport
If you plan on spending some time at the Zen Gardens inside Dubai Airport, save yourself the detour—the once-beloved Zen Gardens appear to have quietly closed. That said, there are still plenty of things to do at Dubai airport to unwind and relax
Travellers looking for a place to rest can book one of the Sleep ’n Fly pods available in Terminals 1 and 3. These nap-friendly cabins and shower suites are bookable by the hour and ideal for a quiet recharge.
Families however, may prefer the Premium Plaza family suites or the Marhaba lounges, which feature sleeping and shower rooms along with dedicated kids rooms, kitted out with Playstation consoles (pre-booking dependent), for a more comfortable layover. Alternatively, Dubai International Hotel located in T3, offers a mix of spacious suites, family rooms and executive rooms, combined with its G-Force Health Club. Here, guests and paying airport passengers alike can enjoy the pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room, as well as the gym facilities ahead of their next flight.
For those looking to freshen up, free male-only and female-only shower facilities are located throughout Terminals 1 to 3. Though with spa services available in lounges, stand-alone mini-spas spread across the airport, and the DXB Spa within the airport hotel, you could easily convert your time inside Dubai Airport into a quick spa-break in itself.
Spa Options at DXB Lounges
Emirates First Class Lounge: Complimentary massages, facials, and manicures for first-class passengers travelling with Emirates
Emirates Business Lounge: Free for business class passengers and paid-access for Economy passengers flying with Emirates to gain access to the Timeless Spa which offers facials, nail treatments and an assortment of massages, facials, and nail treatments
Ahlan Lounge: Express treatments, grooming and full-body massages
Spa & Wellness Beyond the Lounges
World of Wellness (T3, Concourse C): Here, you can book O₂ facials, cryotherapy, wave loungers, haircare, henna, and sleep cabins for those looking for the full works
XpresSpa: This 24/7 grooming parlour offers a range of massages, facial treatments and nail care
Be Relax (T1 & T3): Choose from a menu of beauty and wellness treatments such as face yoga, facials and deep tissue massages, to barber services and hair styling services
Which lounges are inside Dubai Airport?
There are a number of airline-specific or private lounges for passengers travelling on carriers without dedicated lounges inside Dubai Airport. Offering a mix of spa treatments, world-cuisine options, family-friendly facilities and business travel services, these lounges offer a number of things to do in Dubai Airport. Here’s a quick comparison to help you find which lounge is right for you:
Lounge | Access Type | Key Amenities | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Emirates First Class Lounge | Passengers flying on Emirates First Class. Access can be purchased by Economy passengers flying with Emirates too. (Payment must be made using a credit or debit card—miles are not accepted) | Private check-in à la carte dining Cigar bar Complimentary spa services Direct gate boarding | Premium Emirates flyers seeking total comfort, privacy, and seamless pre-flight experience |
Emirates Business Lounge | Passengers flying on Emirates Business or Skywards Gold members. Access can be purchased by Economy passengers flying with Emirates too. (Payment must be made using a credit or debit card—miles are not accepted) | World cuisine buffet Private shower facilities Paid access to the Timeless Spa Business centre Dedicated private nap areas | Business travellers needing a work-ready space with elevated comfort pre-departure |
Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minors Lounge | Airline-arranged only | 24/7 child supervision Snacks Wi-Fi Play and gaming zones | Children flying alone |
Ahlan Lounges | Elite-status passengers flying economy or premium economy on partner airlines (e.g., SkyTeam, Etihad, etc.). Business and First Class customers flying with specific partner airlines may also have access. Ahlan-branded membership or airline-specific upgrades may be offered as part of certain fares or packages. | Sleep and shower facilities À la carte dining and buffet options Spa services Fast-track immigration and VIP meet & greet | These lounges are comfort-focused, luxury, that sit as a mid-way option between economy and Emirates First/Business Class lounges. |
Marhaba Lounge | Pay-per-use or access via a lounge pass | Buffet Kids’ rooms Sleep rooms | Families with kids |
Plaza Premium Lounge | Pay-per-use or access via a lounge pass | Hot meals Quiet zones Showers Family suites Workspace | Budget-conscious travellers looking for luxurious amenities in a relaxed environment |
Assisted Travel Lounge | Request via airline or airport | Trained staff Mobility aid Sensory-friendly seating Private waiting space | Travellers with reduced mobility, neurodiverse needs, or elderly travellers needing assistance |
Al Majlis VIP Lounge | Pay-per-use (advance booking required) | Private suite Immigration and customs fast-tracking services Baggage handling Limousine to aircraft transport services | VIPs, dignitaries, travellers looking for more private travel support |
Transit at Dubai International Airport
PRO TIP: Some premium credit cards in the UAE include complimentary access to airport lounges, such as the Emirates NBD Visa Signature and Infinite cards via the DragonPass app, and Mastercard Airport Experiences via LoungeKey. Check the T&Cs of your card for eligibility and remember to bring your physical card or digital pass with you. It's also important to keep in mind that lounge access is subject to capacity limits.
Does Dubai airport have a prayer room?
There are a number of multi-faith prayer rooms inside Dubai Airport for travellers of all faiths, which are clearly signposted throughout terminals 1-3.
Prayer rooms are gender specific and marked either for male or female travellers, and your nearest one can be located using the DXB online map.
Prayer rooms include ablution/wadu facilities for muslim travellers, and there is also a mosque located by the parking facilities in terminal 2.
Is all the food inside Dubai airport halal?
Food won’t be a problem at Dubai International Airport for those travelling late at night or in the early morning as DXB is operational 24/7, which extends to its dining and drinking facilities, making it ideal for layovers.
There are large number of 100% halal certified venues to choose from inside Dubai Airport, including global chains, as well as the Emirates lounges. However, other outlets, including the Marhaba, Plaza Premium and Ahlan Lounges may include both halal and non-halal options within their menu. Passengers with strict dietary requirements should check certification and signposting to ensure that their chosen meal option is suitable rather than assume that all food within the airport is halal.
With a plethora of world cuisines available at the numerous cafés, bars, restaurants and grab-and-go outlets within DXB, vegetarians with non-ovo requirements and vegan travellers will find a number of options, especially at the Indian restaurants throughout the airport, that cater for non-dairy, eggless and plant-based palettes.
Travelling with kids cheat sheet
DXB is the world’s busiest airport, which might seem overwhelming when travelling with children, however, the airport is very family friendly and caters to families flying with infants, toddlers, and teens with a suite of services to make the journey enjoyable. From kid-friendly lounges and dedicated play zones, to nurseries and even a dedicated gaming lounge, this is your cheat sheet for travelling with kids inside Dubai Airport.
Infants:
Baby-changing and nursing-friendly zones are available throughout Terminals 1–3, making feeding and changing easy. There are also nursery services to assist with baby care at the airport, which can be organised via the airport’s Guest Experience Ambassadors.
The hour-by-hour ‘Sleep-n-Fly’ pods are also particularly great to assist with on-the-go and unpredictable nap-times for parents and families travelling with young children, and stroller rental services can be booked through Marhaba and Emirates lounges, which also assist families with priority boarding.
Toddlers:
In addition to the sleep pods and buggy rental facilities, which are also useful for families travelling with toddlers, there are also a range of things to do at Dubai Airport focused on entertaining little ones. There’s a dedicated DXB family zone where young kids can play and let off steam, a non-negotiable pit-stop at the LEGO store in terminal 3, and family-friendly attractions such as a Nutella bar, a trampoline playground, Bounce, and Candylious, a sweet-themed pick-n-mix snack bar, along with kids-specific magazines if flying with Emirates.
Teens:
Older kids won’t be left wondering what to do at Dubai Airport either.
Though pre-booking is required, the child-specific rooms within the Marhaba lounges can come equipped with Playstations, and the airport itself is home to a dedicated gaming lounge for video game fanatics.
Importantly, for minors travelling on their own, Emirates operates a secure and robust unaccompanied minors service, which includes access to a private lounge with trained specialists on-hand for assistance, and food facilities on-site.
A guide to duty-free shopping at Dubai airport
While shopping in Dubai is not tax-free, shopping inside Dubai airport can offer tax-free savings of up to 20–30 % on luxury goods, such as perfumes, electronics, watches, sunglasses, designer apparel, and even 24k gold. Here’s a snapshot of what shoppers can expect:
Category | Highlights | Best for |
|---|---|---|
Designer fashion | Chanel, Burberry, Ferragamo, Longchamp, Tiffany & Co. | Seasonal exclusives and discounted high-fashion |
Lifestyle brands | Adidas, Nike, Rayban, Victoria Secret | The coolest and latest fashion trends for a fraction foe the price |
Emerging regional designers | Emirati District | Emerging UAE labels to discover upcoming local talent |
Beauty and wellness | Aesop, Dyson, Jo Malone | Bespoke kits and cutting-edge grooming tech |
Luxury confectionary | Fortnum and Masons, La Rosist Rose | Indulgent snacks to brighten your next flight |
Premium drinks | The Macallan Boutique, Le Clos | World’s finest whiskies and wines to take back home |
And importantly, don’t forget to take part in Dubai airport’s duty-free raffles, where participants famously have a 1-in-5000 chance to win $1MUSD in the Millennial Millionaire draw, or could buy a luxury car or motorbike with the Finest Surprise draws.
Explore Dubai Beyond the Terminal
If you’ve got a really long layover at Dubai Airport, consider exploring Dubai itself (visa permitting). Bag storage is available to purchase throughout the airport and an Uber or taxi ride will take you from DHX to Dubai Mall in under 20 mins. Plus, given the free public showers inside DXB, you could even spend a few hours on Jumierah Beach. Alternatively, check out our list of Dubai’s best museums, if you want to keep out of the sun but get a dose of the local culture on your layover, or are looking for things to do on a stopover in Dubai.
5 Tips for a smooth layover inside Dubai airport
Now you’ve the ultimate list of things to do in Dubai Airport, here are five additional tips to follow for a seamless and stress-free layover:
Bookmark this guide for easy access when you’re in the airport
Download the Skyscanner app for live flight updates
Check out our guide on what to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled
Find out what’s permitted and what’s prohibited in hand luggage
Search for hotels near Dubai Airport
