‘Emirates First’: New exclusive check-in opens at Dubai Airport
Designed for privacy, comfort and faster processing at Emirates Terminal 3
DUBAI: Emirates has officially opened ‘Emirates First’, a newly reimagined check-in experience located in Terminal 3 of Dubai International (DXB).
Designed exclusively for Emirates’ First Class passengers and Skywards Platinum members, the refined space blends privacy, luxury, and efficiency in a premium airport environment.
As the world’s leading operator of international First Class travel, with 26,800 seats available weekly, Emirates continues to raise the bar for ground and inflight services.
What is ‘Emirates First’?
Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer, commented: “We invest heavily in upgrading our ground products, and Emirates First is one of the areas that will offer a unique and private environment to our First Class customers and Skywards Platinum members. We know our customers value privacy and convenience, and this will provide another level of hospitality to the check-in experience, as part of our efforts to continuously uplift the overall travel journey.”
From the moment travellers arrive at the dedicated First Class departures zone, they are welcomed into a serene, opulent setting. A striking golden entrance signals the threshold to the Emirates First area, where a personal host confirms access eligibility, ensuring a smooth and discreet welcome.
What does it look like?
Inspired by Emirates’ premium lounges and newest aircraft interiors, the design fuses elegance with tranquillity. The space features soft earth tones enhanced by Emirates’ signature gold and bronze, with grand wooden and marble flooring, plush carpeting in seating zones, and luxurious leather and fabric chairs and sofas.
Large pillars frame the space, while a backlit Ghaf Tree – symbol of the UAE – adds a cultural touch. Signature Emirates Rolex clocks display times across major global cities, and a prominent floral arrangement sits atop a sleek podium, completing the space’s sense of sophistication.
How does the check-in process work?
Travellers are invited to remain seated while check-in formalities are completed on iPads by Emirates agents, ensuring both comfort and discretion. For families, one member may check in the group while others relax in the seating areas. For those who prefer a more traditional method, marble and brass counters are available for check-in and baggage drop, linked to dedicated First Class baggage belts.
All visual advertising has been removed, and instead, guests are surrounded by curated ambient lighting, natural greenery, and thoughtful silence – creating a tranquil pre-flight atmosphere. The new zone ensures that the start of a journey is as memorable as the destination itself.
What happens after check-in?
Once check-in is completed, customers are ushered through streamlined Security and Immigration procedures. From there, they proceed to one of three Emirates First Class Lounges in Terminal 3, where they can enjoy à la carte gourmet meals, premium beverages including fine wines and Champagne, complimentary spa treatments, business facilities, family zones, and concierge-style duty-free shopping.
This experience extends globally, with Emirates First Class passengers enjoying complimentary access to 43 exclusive lounges worldwide, along with Chauffeur Drive Service for door-to-door airport transfers in most destinations.
More for premium flyers
The launch of Emirates First follows a series of enhancements for premium flyers announced in May. These include a keepsake menu narrating Emirates’ wine and culinary stories, new engraved Robert Welch bowls for unlimited caviar service, rustic cheeseboard slates, and upgraded cabin service featuring white-glove hospitality onboard.