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Review: the Al Safwa First Lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha – monumental

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This is our review of the Al Safwa First Lounge at Hamad International Airport, Doha in Qatar.

Last week, Rob and I took our first-ever joint trip – in six years of working together – to visit the Qatar Airways management team and try out the (genuinely gamechanging) new Starlink wifi service. You’ll be pleased to know that despite spending four days together we didn’t fall out!

On our way home we got a tour of new developments at Hamad International Airport in Doha, including the new D and E piers. We decided to end our tour in the Al Safwa lounge so we could remain until our return flight departed. We’re clever like that!

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

It is almost a decade since we last wrote about Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Lounge so we thought it was well worth revisiting. It was also my first time in the lounge, so this time you’ll get my perspective!

Where is the Qatar Airways Al Safwa lounge?

The Al Safwa lounge is located in the southern end of the terminal, where the big yellow teddy sculpture sits. This is convenient regardless of whether you’re starting your journey in Doha or simply transiting, as it is where you exit both local and transfer security.

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

Any First Class passengers starting in Doha do not need to enter the main terminal but can exit straight into the lounge following security, similar to BA’s First Wing at Heathrow.

For everyone else, you enter via the main terminal floor. The southern end is roughly triangle shaped. The Al Mourjan business class lounge is on one side whilst the Al Safwa First Lounge is on the other.

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

Access is via a set of escalators or lifts to the third floor where you’ll be checked in by one of the lounge staff:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

The Al Safwa lounge is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As with the rest of the terminal, crowding can vary drastically depending on the time of day. The busiest times are leading up to the three Qatar Airways’ departure banks at 1am, 8am and 5pm.

As we found on our airport tour, outside of these times the airport and lounges can be spookily quiet and you may be just one of literally a handful of people there.

Al Safwa lounge entry requirements

There are only a handful of ways to get into the Al Safwa lounge:

  • Anyone travelling or connecting on or off a First Class flight, either long haul First Class or regional First Class
  • Anyone travelling in First Class on a oneworld airline such as British Airways
  • Any Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum members travelling in business class, plus a guest

Of course, Qatar Airways does not have First Class on most of its aircraft. Long haul you will primarily find it on the handful of A380 aircraft.

The cheapest qualifying ticket would be a regional Qatar Airways flight in First Class, such as Doha to Dubai. These aircraft are sold as First Class / Economy Class rather than Business Class / Economy Class.

You can also pay to upgrade to the lounge for 600QAR (around £120) if you are flying Qatar Airways business class and would have Al Mourjan lounge access. This excludes the cheapest ‘business class lite’ fares which do not come with lounge access, although all Avios redemptions in business class qualify.

British Airways Gold card holders or oneworld Emerald members may NOT access the lounge unless flying in First Class. You will be sent to one of the Al Mourjan lounges if you are in business class or one of the two oneworld Emerald lounges if you are in economy.

Inside the Al Safwa lounge

The only way to describe Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa lounge is ‘monumental’. It doesn’t feel like a normal airport lounge thanks to the scale it works on. It is more comparable to a cathedral, mosque, mausoleum or state monument than anything else.

I mean, just take a look at the architectural sheets of travertine stone that clad the walls:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

It’s hard to convey just how vast the space is due to the lack of guests for a human-sized comparison. In the centre of it all is a gigantic water feature with a single icicle of water flowing into a large reflecting pool:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

In total, the lounge has seating for around 500 guests. It never felt like it simply because there is so much wide-open space (and, frankly, because there were nowhere near that many people there!).

At one end you have an expansive dining area with a la carte menus and views across the airport which are revealed by massive, ten-metre high sheer curtains.

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

Elsewhere, you’ll find an ‘outdoor’ terrace that is open to the rest of the terminal. This is the brightest part of the Al Safwa lounge which is otherwise more cavern-like in its design.

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

Original artwork and antiquities from the National Museum of Qatar and Museum of Islamic Art are displayed throughout:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

This is complemented by other giant installations including a vast Keith Haring painting:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

There is a lot more to it. Other parts of the lounge include a smoking room where you can purchase cigars, a spa where you can pay for treatments and even a jacuzzi. Showers are free and offer the same Diptyque amenities as in the Al Mourjan lounges:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

An entire wing of the lounge is dedicated to families, with three games rooms depending on the age group:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

…. as well as nine first-come-first-served private family ‘suites’ which are soundproofed:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

A special kids’ menu is also on offer.

Meanwhile, if you’re on a layover of four hours or more you can use one of the twelve double or single occupancy bedrooms that are available, again on a first-come-first-served basis:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

Each of these comes with a proper bed, desk and even fully equipped bathroom. You can use these bedrooms for free for up to six hours, with additional time available for a fee.

There’s also a duty free shop which comes with a tailor for any alterations you might need. Rob was delighted to get a tear in the lining of his jacket fixed – the quality of the work was excellent and the service was free.

Other facilities include a media room and a business centre.

Food and drink in the Al Safwa lounge

For anyone looking for a quick snack, a small deli area offers a micro buffet:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

Anyone in search of a proper meal should head to the main dining room. This features an a la carte menu and waiter service with a breakfast menu from 5am – 10:30am and lunch and dinner for the rest of the day. An afternoon tea service is also available, from 3pm until 5pm.

You can see the full menu on the Qatar Airways website here. Starters include poached lobster:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

…. and wagyu beef carpaccio:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

Neither Rob nor myself had a main course (I had the two starters above instead) but options include grilled chicken breast, pistachio-crusted rack of lamb, grilled salmon and chicken mandi.

When it comes to drinks, you can request these from the central bar or one of the lounge staff will come round asking if you’d like anything. Champagne includes Lanson Le Black Label Brut and a Philipponnat Royale Réserve Brut Rosé:

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

The wines are virtually all vintage, from 2017 to 2022 – you can see them at the bottom of the menu linked above.

Review: the Al Safwa First Class lounge at Hamad Airport, Doha

Conclusion

The Al Safwa lounge in Doha is not a lounge. It is a monument to luxury travel. No other lounge anywhere in the world is quite like it.

There are things you could do to improve it further, particularly when it comes to the amenities. For example, the excellent Diptyque shower amenities are the same as in the Al Mourjan business class lounge and on board in business class. Why not offer an even more exclusive brand partnership in Al Safwa?

The answer, of course, is that Al Safwa isn’t actually that exclusive given that you can get in with a regional First Class ticket. The ability to pay c £120 if you have a business class ticket also means that access is available to many people should they want to pay.

Visiting Al Safwa is not really about the facilities, or the food, or the bar, as good as they all are.  It is about being inside one of the most architecturally imposing interiors of any lounge (or, frankly, any 21st century building) in the world. For Qatar, the lounge is a statement of its ambitions.

Most cathedrals are designed, in some way, to cower you into feeling the power of the spirit.  This is a secular, 21st century interpretation.  

Comments (125)

  • BJ says:

    Anubocy know if the new Qatar lounge is open in BKK yet? And are they kedping everybodh out except those flying J or F? Is existinh lounge closing or being used for status holders in Y?

    • Gagravarr says:

      Was the same one as usual about 2 weeks ago! With the same gaps in hours as they only cover their own flights. Staff were very apologetic as they ushered me over to the JAL lounge at 8.30pm. I believe it’s the same rules as LHR, so OneWorld business class, no status guests. Still the best OneWorld lounge in BKK by a mile

      • BJ says:

        Thanks, ‘m surprised it’s not done yet. Space looked very large so I wondered if it might be a new OW lounge for all carriers.

    • Vit says:

      Yes, my partner was telling me about this as travelling out this weekend but don’t think it is ready yet as far as I know. I will chat to the staffs this Sunday to see if they have any insight and report back.

      • BJ says:

        They’ve been working on it since last summer, I’ve seen them build condos faster in Bangkok. Hope it’s worth the wait.

  • David says:

    Like others I was underwhelmed by the quality of the alcoholic drinks available in there. Gone are the days of Krug and similar champagnes – the Lanson is the same as in the Al Mourjan (business) lounges and is only around £30 a bottle. Whilst the space is more impressive than the Concorde Room at Heathrow, at least the champagne there is different and the Pommery Cuvee Louise 2006 is around £180 per bottle.

  • ChampagneSocialist says:

    If I flew into DOH on long-haul (>5h) QR F, but am connecting on a separate ticket onto BA-coded and BA-metal CW, would I have access to Al Safwa?

  • Badger says:

    I found it underwhelming as a “lounge” despite it being spectacular as a space. Food was ok, signage was poor & it all just felt so soulless. They really need to open one at the Garden end as so many flights go from down there.

    • BJ says:

      The problem with lounges at Doha (apart fro widespread lounge overcrowding at times) is that the feel like an extension of the terminal building rather than a space within it.

  • Gerry says:

    Similar to some other commenters, I find Al Safwa underwhelming as a lounge. Impressive architecture, yes, but imo food is pretty average (definitely not the same league as eg CX F lounge in HK or Delta One lounge at JFK), cheapish champagne is often served in wine glasses rather than flutes and showers are always a zoo/long wait.

  • Vit says:

    Speaking of which, I will be transiting via DOH this weekend. 13.5hrs. I am keen to get out and explore a bit but maybe just cannot be bothered? or should I? Any suggestion of place to stop by or visit?

    Alternatively, last year we used Al Safwa lounge but I can just explore the new business lounge at the Garden end and spend some hours working…

  • DP says:

    I was very underwhelmed also and really wonder what all the fuss is about. Yes, it’s striking architecturally but the F&B offering is no better than Al Mourjan in my humble opinion. I certainly wouldn’t ever pay the surcharge to visit!

  • Tom says:

    Another vote for feeling underwhelmed by the Al Safwa.

    It was virtually empty on my one and only visit. I found the vibe utterly soulless, and the staff lazy and inattentive.

    My partner and I were seated ‘outside’ (on the balcony area), and we had to walk ‘inside’ to track a staff member down for simple requests, like a glass top-up, that should be intuitive to service oriented employees.

    Food was mediocre, no Wagyu or lobster when we visited. Drinks were just adequate.

    I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to visit again and I don’t support the gushing review here.

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