I have a 7 hour layover at Dubai airport on Saturday.    I have never been to this airport, so any suggestions on how to kill my time there?   I will be flying on Emirates.

you have a few options 

1.if your'e  a gold/silver member of Emirates you can use the lounge,if not then you can pay to get in marhaba lounge not sure of the cost but you can google and book if you want .

2. there is a snooze pod in Dubai airport if you want to sleep in a bed ,again I am not sure of the cost ,but they have a website.

3.If you browse the duty free section this will take a few hours at a leisurely pace as its big  ,but not 7 hours ,apart from that there isn't much to do at the airport and depends which concourse your departing flight is as maybe you will have to get the train ,only 3-5 minutes shuttle time to the other concourse if this is needed.

4.There is a bar called McGettings in the airport if thats your thing .

If you plan on having a few beers then I would assume a lounge would be the cheaper option. The Heineken bar inside the airport is not cheap at all. 

Am guessing if its your 1st time you wont have any card with Emirates.  Depending on the time you are there it will make a huge difference to the crowds, late night through early morning it is like a zoo (even difficult to find a seat in the emirates lounges).  The Marharba lounges are a good idea, I did it once but I think limited to 3 hours, cant remember the price but I did cover it with food/drinks so broke even on the deal.  Besides that there is not much to do/see.

On 8/2/2016 at 9:42 PM, Upnotover said:

Am guessing if its your 1st time you wont have any card with Emirates.  Depending on the time you are there it will make a huge difference to the crowds, late night through early morning it is like a zoo (even difficult to find a seat in the emirates lounges).  The Marharba lounges are a good idea, I did it once but I think limited to 3 hours, cant remember the price but I did cover it with food/drinks so broke even on the deal.  Besides that there is not much to do/see.

We arrive in Dubai at 19:00  and depart for the USA at 02:20   so that is probably the bad time to be there.    I'll check out the Marharba lounge that you and paul suggested.

I just arrived myself (ek377) and it's fine here now until around 11 or so....security will be empty and shops quiet, I'd do any shopping first and head for the lounge after.

Marharba Lounge is ok but not really worth paying for

 

Although, that said, if you're intending even 2 or 3 drinks in the airport bar you may as well pay the 175 dirhams (IIRC) and get some food and unlimited booze, nice seats, etc

 

I live in Dubai and get access cause of my debit card. They are throwing access out these days, nearly every bank on credit cards gets you access. I assume sky thingy membership will do it also if you have that

 

If you have visited Dubai before then be warned, we just completely changed the airport terminal, including the shuttle trains to gates, etc. Marharba is not where it was before, up to next level and in a corner