Dubai-based marhaba, dnata’s airport hospitality brand, is revealing a brand-new design and experience at one of its flagship Dubai International Airport lounges after an extensive renovation.
Travellers can expect an entirely new marhaba offering at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 at the launch of the newly-designed lounge experience, set to be rolled out from Dubai to marhaba airport lounges across the world. Now complete and ready to welcome passengers travelling out of Dubai, this new lounge serves as a proof of concept for the new ‘marhaba global lounge experience’, including a variety of features set to appear across its portfolio of international lounges.
A highly-anticipated, bespoke feature for the Dubai market will be offered through the introduction of a second, enhanced PDL Salon & Café for the city – offering a unique salon experience for travellers.
Shahab Al Awadhi, Head of marhaba Global, commented: “After opening our first airport lounge in Dubai in 2000 at Dubai International Airport, marhaba has grown from strength to strength, now managing 12 airport lounges at eight airports in six countries.
“The refurbishment of one of our original marhaba lounges in Dubai represents the marhaba of the future, with a customer experience and hospitality focused approach to its design and layout. Its six, distinct new spaces have been designed to suit the needs of every type of traveller, offering something for everyone.”
The new marhaba airport lounge experience at Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3, Concourse B follows the new ‘marhaba global lounge experience ’, which offers at its core six, distinct new areas to feature in marhaba lounges, worldwide. The new areas – Lounge, Studio, Dining, Play, Relax and Flex – are designed to meet the needs and wants of travellers across the world, with the aim to create memorable travel experiences. An overview of the areas and anticipated new features, include:
1. Lounge
Visually this area is in red, and provides guests with the opportunity to pause and relax after a warm welcome at reception, with adjustable furniture, an artificial fireplace as a focal point, and offering plenty of charging points. An area to sit back, relax, read a book, or work in a more casual way.
2. Studio
Visually this area is in green, and offers the perfect spot to catch up on work and ensure travel time is productive. The styling resembles a café and provides plenty of light, charging points, cosy capsules where guests can insulate themselves while taking a call, or to have some solo thinking time.
3. Dining
An important part of marhaba’s Arabian hospitality, the dining zone is based at the heart of the new lounge design and offers guests nourishment and refreshment, day or night. There are a variety of table options available, ranging from large dining tables and benches to smaller and more intimate booths, ideal for families.
4. Play
Providing a warm welcome for families, the ‘Play’ zone is located next to ‘Dining’ so that parents can enjoy their meal while still being able to watch their kids play.
5. Relax
A tranquil area for travellers to relax, the ‘Relax’ zone is a quiet place with comfortable recliners where sleeping is easy.
6. Flex
Whilst the new ‘marhaba global lounge experience will provide consistency across lounges worldwide, ‘Flex’ is an area which can be repurposed for the particular needs and wants of travellers in each local area, anything from a yoga studio to a salon. In Dubai, expect a brand-new salon from PDL, a Dubai-based brand renowned for its services, experience and delicious coffee.
The new ‘Flex’ zone of the marhaba lounge at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 will be based on the original PDL Coffee Co & Barbershop, a home-grown brand located at the heart of the Al Safa area. The first café and spa under one roof to open in Dubai – PDL is expanding its existing offering at the marhaba lounge to include services for both male and female travellers. Staying true to its original approach, customers can expect a unique salon experience, a range of services and the chance to taste its popular coffee.
Essa Al Marzoogi, CEO of the Gainsborough Group, commented: “We’ve tried our best to replicate the original PDL experience with in the airport environment, and guests will now be able to enjoy our male/female serviced salon whilst waiting for their next flight. Travellers have a choice between manicure/pedicure’s, shaves, haircuts, a blow-dry, even shoulder and head massages, and can book their preferred service in advance. I believe there is no other lounge at present providing salon services with beautiful views of the runway.
“The new marhaba lounge is fantastic, with its new design, layout, experiences and location offering travellers the perfect mix. We look forward to providing great services and hope to enhance the travel experience for people flying out of Dubai International Airport.”
After opening its first lounge outside of Dubai in 2005 in Zurich, marhaba has taken a focus on expanding its global reach to better serve its international customer base.
Al Awadhi concluded: “Dubai is an established global hub for travel and we are proud to be a part of its growth story, and of the expansion of its home-grown travel services internationally. As the base and foundation of marhaba airport services, including our local Meet & Greet and global lounge offerings, we look forward to revealing our brand-new lounge design at Dubai International Airport with Arabian hospitality and innovation in focus, and taking this internationally, as we have done successfully throughout the course of marhaba’s history.
“We revealed a first look at the ‘marhaba global lounge playbook’ in 2019 with a new, consistent look and feel along with outstanding service to be provided across all of our destinations, and we are delighted that our customers can now experience this first-hand where the marhaba story began, in Dubai, and in time, worldwide.”
To experience the new marhaba lounge, visit Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, Concourse B. For more information on marhaba airport services including its lounges and Meet & Greet services, see www.marhabaservices.com.
