If you are travelling to Asia, Africa or the South Pacific from Europe you could choose to fly with Emirates airlines. They will in nearly all cases fly through Dubai giving you a stop over of a few hours.

Dubai airport, like everything in the city, is elaborate. When you arrive and have cleared security – the first thing that will get your notice is the size of the ceilings, combine that with the architecture of the roof and you have a terminal building that feels very spacious.  The decor of the buildings are I would describe as over the top and although there is plenty of space – something about the ambience of the terminal is a little encrouching, I think it could be to do with the array of light and ornaments…but that is probably personal taste.

What I really like to do in this airport is make my way to the Transit hotel (located one level above the shops and restaurants) where for a nominal fee of around $5 you can use a lap pool and jacuzzi. I usually pass on the lap pool and spend my time relaxing in the Jacuzzi which is perfect after sitting on an 8 hour flight and before doing another one of equal length!

The shops are the same as anywhere else – and I destinctly remember being underwhelmed at the choice and “savings”- although the prices are helpfully listed in the local currency as well as dollars and euros – and helpful touch to help to separate with your cash! There are plenty of places to eat and the resturants are round the back of the shops separated from the main walkway so there is a little more peace there. so you can have you McDonalds, or Chinese food overlooking the runway through a huge wall of glass!

Dubai is a nice airport – and I use the word nice because of its obvious ambiguity. The shops are nothing special, the food is the same choices you would have in London, Brisbane, Atlanta or Reykjavik, the architecture is good and the transit hotel has good facilities. To conclude would be that this could be an airport anywhere in world just with a hint of elaboration that is becoming so common in the United Arab Emirates!