Hi,

I shall be transiting DXB with a 8.15 hours layover. I have been issued a Complimentary Voucher by Emirates for Transit Stay at DXB. I am told that they usually provide accommodation at Copthorne for economy passengers. The only reason I have booked with EK is to get a good night's sleep because my next leg of journey is 15 hours.

Has anybody experienced EK providing accommodation at Dubai Airport Terminal Hotel on Request. If so, is there a particular email ID on which this request can be made?

Thank you very much.

For economy, it's normally the Millennium. It's 5 minutes from the airport.

They won't put you up in the Airport hotel. Not even F or J passengers get that.

Thanks for your reply. How fast is immigration at DXB? I shall arrive at DXB at 00.05 hours and have the connecting flight at 8.20. So how much time should I expect to be at hotel? Also the breakfast vouchers they give, are they redeemable at the hotel or at their lounge at DXB Apt (I am unlikely to avail BF though)

Breakfast voucher would be for the hotel.

What passport are you using? There are now smartgates that can be used for certain nationalities. That would speed up the immigration process.

I think you'll only get around 4 hours sleep at the hotel unfortunately.

Any idea which those are? When did they introduce this?

I haven't been travelling a few months now via Dubai, so maybe it's new.

I actually went through Dubai Immigration a year ago. I didn't need a visa, but they put a entry stamp in my passport. Therefore the smart gates will not even put a stamp on the passport?

I think these are the countries, could not find specific information if all no visa countries qualify:

The first time through takes a bit longer as you will not be registered and they need to scan your retina. After the first visit you don't need to talk with anyone or get a stamp. There are special lines for non-register and it moves pretty quick.


Andorra
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States of America
Vatican City

Thanks! My country is right in there. No more stamps, no more talking to an agent. YAY!!

This is available for all international arrivals, right?

Note that you need to have a Smartgate (Biometric) Passport to use the Smartgate Machine.

If your Passport has this logo on it, then it is Smartgate compatible.

Either the Millennium or Arabian Park. If it's the latter, I'd suggest the OP stick it up in the lounge if he/she has status. Never have I been to a hotel as horrifyingly dirty as that hotel. Prostitutes galore by the poolside, bedsheets stained with god knows what, carpets that smell worse than NYC subway stations, and the list goes on and on. EK has put me up in that hotel 3 times, but never will I step foot in it again. Granted, it's free and one shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. However, I would pay triple their rack rate to get a room in any other hotel near the airport.

Thanks, all!

I am not from a country eligible for smartgates.

Thank you for your words of caution against Arabian Park!! But I understand that I will come to know of the hotel name only after reaching transfer desk after clearing immigration. If I refuse I shall have to reenter to access the airside. I dont have eligibility for lounge access.

Thanks

Very impressive.

Thanks!