At Sharjah Airport, I had a 2½-hour layover between two flights with Air Arabia.

My expectations of a low-cost terminal were met quite accurately, but I was all the more surprised by the local lounge with its very original name The Lounge.

If you have access as part of your scheme (I use Revolut Ultra), The Lounge is a great choice when transiting through Sharjah. I’d even consider paying for entry here, as the lounge has a really good selection of food and an atmosphere that’s incomparably more pleasant than the terminal.

I describe the entire flight from Prague via Sharjah to Bangkok in a separate review of Air Arabia.

Where can you find The Lounge The Lounge, and what are its opening hours?

The lounge is in the transit area of the airport on the first floor, opposite the main security checkpoint. Turn left after the duty-free shop and follow the signs.

It is open 24/7, including for early morning and late-night connections.

Please allow for a maximum of 3 hours in the lounge and bear in mind that, in accordance with airport regulations, entry is only permitted from three hours before your scheduled departure at the earliest.

During busy periods, staff may restrict access. The lounge is not suitable for sleeping overnight: there are no particularly comfortable reclining seats anywhere.

How do you get in and how much does entry cost?

You don’t need to fly business class to the ‘ The Lounge ’ (in fact, I don’t think that’s even possible via Sharjah). The options are as follows:

• Revolut Ultra: Entry for cardholders is included in the plan. I used this myself during my visit. I explain when Ultra is worth it in my article on Revolut and airport lounges.
• Priority Pass or LoungeKey: The lounge accepts both programmes. Check your app to see if access is included in your membership.
• One-off entry: You can buy this in advance via Marhaba for 37,19 eur for 3 hours. Prices are subject to change. However, when I tried to book, my payment via the Marhaba website didn’t go through; in that case, you can buy access via GetYourGuide at 44 eur.
• Voucher from an airline or travel agency: This is only valid for a specific booking. A standard Air Arabia ticket does not automatically include entry.

Breakfast at six in the morning? Surprisingly excellent

I arrived at the lounge at 6 am. I was expecting a few pastries and a coffee, but the hot buffet offered meat, rice and several other dishes. The selection was really generous for that time of day.

To be honest, I can’t really recall many lounges that have such a rich selection of hot food, and not just in the early hours of the morning.

Really brilliant!

I enjoyed the cold section even more. The salads and Middle Eastern specialities were exceptionally good, and it’s precisely because of them that I’ll remember this lounge. There weren’t many sweet treats, but after a night-time flight, I didn’t mind at all.

The coffee from the machine, on the other hand, is something I’d give a miss next time. It really wasn’t up to scratch.

Drinks on offer also include water and tinned soft drinks. On this journey, my drinks even passed the subsequent security check on the way to the gate; I wouldn’t count on that as a guaranteed rule for every flight.

The surroundings, power sockets and showers

At first glance, The Lounge feels bright and quite spacious. The view of the airport tarmac is a big plus for me.

There were plenty of seats in comfortable armchairs, and every one I saw had a universal socket.

There are also plenty of traditional tables where you can eat in peace.

However, space does not guarantee an empty armchair. At peak times, the lounge fills up quickly and it’s harder to find a seat.

And what about the shower? I didn’t use it during my visit. Marhaba and LoungeKey do offer showers, but at an extra cost. I couldn’t find out anywhere how much it costs, as I was told at reception that the shower is currently out of order.

💬 Have you been there yourself? Do you know how much a shower costs in the Sharjah lounge? Let us know in the comments below the article – thanks!

Is it worth it?

I reckon so. Thanks to Revolut Ultra, I got in without having to buy a separate entry ticket, and I really wasn’t expecting such good food and a pleasant place to wait in Sharjah.

The lounge is open all day and night, so it’s also useful for early morning departures.

Personally, I’d even consider paying for entry, as the Sharjah Airport terminal isn’t among the nicest or most pleasant I’ve ever seen.

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