Emirates Launches New First Class Check-In at Dubai International Airport
A sleek new check-in space at DXB raises the bar for ground service—and sets a new sales hook for premium Emirates clients.
Photo: Courtesy of Emirates
Emirates has officially opened Emirates First, an ultra-premium check-in experience at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3. As the world’s largest operator of international first-class travel—the airline offers more than 25,000 first-class seats every week—Emirates has created a highly curated prelude to its award-winning in-flight experience, reserved solely for First Class passengers and Skywards Platinum members.
The newly reimagined facility is steps from Emirates’ dedicated Terminal 3 departures area and houses a serene space with warm, neutral tones, plush leather furnishings, curated floral arrangements, and design cues like Rolex clocks and a sculptural Ghaf Tree that mirrors the brand’s newest cabin interiors. Digital screens have also been eliminated and check-in can be completed discreetly via iPads while seated.
The space is part of a broader Emirates strategy to elevate ground services to meet the expectations of the airline’s premium clientele. A dedicated baggage belt for First Class check-in, swift immigration clearance, and access to Emirates’ three First Class lounges—where à la carte menus, Champagne service, spa treatments, and concierge duty-free shopping await—let the airline fully integrate luxury from curbside into cabin.
Emirates First enhances the already robust appeal of flying Emirates First, especially for clients connecting through Dubai or beginning luxury itineraries in the UAE. When paired with the airline’s chauffeur-driven transfers and new onboard enhancements (like Robert Welch caviar bowls and gloved service), the ground experience plays a critical role in justifying the airline’s premium fares.
As Emirates prepares for a long-term relocation of its global hub from Dubai International Airport to the under-construction Al Maktoum International Airport—set to become the world’s largest when completed—and continues its fleet expansion with next-generation Airbus A350s and Boeing 777X aircraft, Emirates First is a key update in the Emirates toolkit.
