With domed glass ceilings, tropical gardens, and twinkling lights, Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) gives the 65 million passengers that pass through it each year a brief taste of the finer things in life.
What else would you expect in a place that is home to 200 shops and restaurants, and a 23-foot sculpture of a canary yellow teddy bear worth £5million?
Its commitment to extravagance has been noted. Last year, Doha airport was crowned the best in the world, and this year it won the award for best shopping airport in the world (it has its own Apple store.)
Stopping there to transfer during a long-haul flight, I was lucky enough to review both – yes, there are two – Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounges. (In case you hadn’t spotted a theme yet, Qatar Airways was awarded the title of World’s Best Airline for the ninth time this year.)
But with so many accolades under its belt, do the lounges also deliver?
Going green
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On my outbound leg, with just 40 minutes before my next flight, I made my way to the newer of the lounges, The Garden, which opened in 2023.
Greeted by friendly staff in a private area surrounded by carefully topiared bushes, we took a snug glass lift to the next level.
What struck me as soon as I entered the lounge was just how vast the space felt. Thanks to a unique open-air design, it seemed even bigger than the 7,390 square metres it covers.
Peering over the balcony at the terminal below, I noted that the noise from the concourse doesn’t travel upward. It felt refreshing not to have that closed-off feeling some lounges offer in return for exclusivity.
Here, visitors can still enjoy the airport’s stunning surroundings while escaping the world below.
This lounge has two sections: the East Wing, which is home to a restaurant, and the West Wing, which has a Patisserie bar.
If I had more time, I would have stopped for a bite to eat at the restaurant, but with less than an hour, I decided to have a quick nosy before grabbing a snack in the West Wing.
Along with the usual complimentary food and drink, there’s also a fitness studio, manicure stations, and a spa, plus single and double rest areas if you need a quick snooze.
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On a mission, I made my way to the fridges full of Fanta and other drinks that sit below counters covered in cake and snacks.
Of course, it would have been rude not to have a glass of fizz, so I poured myself one and sat down on one of the many comfy brown leather chairs next to a table with charging points.
As I took it all in, a waiter came over to top up my glass, handed me a menu, and asked if I wanted anything to eat.
With a decent menu to choose from, including salads, sushi, and tapas, as well as sandwiches to order, I went for the roast beef ciabatta. It was a far cry from the curled-up airport sandwiches I usually wolf down while waiting for a flight.
Heading home
On my return leg, I had four hours to kill, which meant I could make the most of the amenities.
This time I took an escalator ride to the spaceship-like reception desk of the original Al Mourjan Business Lounge, which sits beside a sweeping staircase that curves up to the restaurant.
It’s open 24 hours a day, which makes sense given that lots of Qatar Airways flights operate around the clock.
After taking up the offer of a hot meal, the staff were extremely attentive, generous with the champagne, and intuitively knew how to engage with kids, whether they were tired teenagers or chatty toddlers.
There was a bar at the back of the room and a buffet on one side, which had curries, pasta, cheese, and vegetables, as well as a station for soup, bread, and smaller snacks.
However, opting for the a la carte menu, I chose a selection of sushi, while my husband went for the steak and mash. Two totally different meals, but again, both 10/10 for airport food.
With time on my side, I explored the rest of the lounge and discovered downstairs another restaurant called the Delhi, as well as games rooms with TV screens, consoles, and fusbal, plus a huge water feature.
Again, this place is vast, even bigger than The Garden, at 10,000sqm. It contains several stylish seating areas with refreshment stations, so guests can help themselves to yet another cookie or a can of pop.
This lounge was much quieter than the other, which might be down to The Garden’s beautiful surroundings and newer fixtures and fittings.
However, for me, the old was just as good as the new. The only drawback was that I didn’t get to experience the world’s best shopping airport, as it was too difficult to tear myself away from the lounge.
How do I get in?
The Al Mourjan lounges are exclusively for premium passengers.
Sadly, Qatar Airways does not grant lounge access to anyone who has upgraded from Economy to Business Class, or passengers on Business Class Lite Fares.
You can access the lounges by flying in a premium cabin with Qatar Airways or a OneWorld partner, being an elite member of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club, or OneWorld alliance.
You can also purchase a day pass for around £70.
There’s no doubt it’s expensive, but compared to what you can spend on over-priced airport snacks and lukewarm fast food, it’s definitely worth considering.
For more information, visit Qatar Airways.
