Pearl Lounge at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi [Review]

Terminal A of Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, opened in late 2023 and only has 1 Priority Pass lounge, Pearl Lounge. As my family was transiting through AUH in economy class with no status, we made a beeline to the lounge after clearing the transfer screening.

With a 4-hour connection in the middle of the night on virtually no sleep, I was happy to have any comfortable place for my family to crash and enjoy a snack.

Pearl Lounge is a high-capacity lounge with varied rooms and spaces and unique seating arrangements. There was even a blink-and-you-miss-it exit to a lovely-looking terrace that I … you guessed it … blinked and missed. Learn from my big mistake and see if this lounge is worth a stop when traveling from Abu Dhabi.

Pearl Lounge Location

The Pearl Lounge is airside in Terminal A, after security near gate D43.

Our flight arrived via a remote gate, so after the bus transfer and transfer screening, we followed signage toward the Pearl Lounge.

The final sign pointed toward a cavernous holding area where a queue to enter the lounge was cordoned.

Signs on a large column pointed right toward an escalator, but a queue was being managed to the left of this space.

My kids were disheartened to see such a big line, but it only took about 20 minutes from when we entered the line until we entered the lounge.

Gaining Entry to the Pearl Lounge

The check-in desk for the lounge was to the left of the escalator.

However, my visit was around 11 p.m., and all check-ins were coordinated at the AUHotel desk across the way.

Hot Tip:

The lounge is open 24 hours a day. The maximum stay is 3 hours, and children under 2 are admitted free.

Day Pass

Day passes for up to 3 hours cost AED 263 (around $72). Children 2 to 11 are AED 175 (around $48). This rate can also be booked online.

Lounge Networks

Signage in the lounge indicated that it accepts ALLWAYS by Plaza Premium Group, DragonPass, DreamFolks, Diners Club International, LoungeKey, Nice, Plaza Premium Lounge, and Priority Pass.

I gained entry to the lounge using my Priority Pass membership, which I enrolled in as a benefit of my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 in travel.

100,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,800

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

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Card Highlights

• LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Airline Partners

Airline partners of Pearl Lounge include Air India, Badr Airlines, EgyptAir, Gulf Air, KLM, MEA, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Saudia, SriLankan, Turkish Airlines, and Vistara.

First Impressions

After checking in, the representative noticed I was traveling with kids and advised us to take a specific path into the lounge to find the best seats. I’m not sure this advice helped in the long run, but I appreciated the thought.

The lounge was busy, like good-luck-finding-4-seats-together busy. The layout had a variety of seating areas separated by walls and corridors. In our search for seats, we passed a buffet spread so busy that I assumed we would be battling other guests over serving spoons.

After settling in our seats, I heard just how unrelaxed the ambiance was. Loud, smooth jazz played over the speakers, and frequent announcements reminded guests not to lie down and to keep their feet off tables.

Seating

Pearl Lounge has plenty of seating and can accommodate 500 guests. From clusters of chairs to banquettes to high-top tables, there is a seating type for every guest or group (so long as you can find an open seat).

The high-top table seemed ideal for solo travelers or those looking for a workspace.

My family initially landed at the green banquette seating surrounding the tree in the center of the main area. However, this was not a comfortable place to face the next 4 hours, so we quickly scouted out another option.

Paths trailed throughout the lounge, with pockets of seating throughout.

The area we ultimately landed in was a quiet zone in the rear of the lounge. While it was great to have room for our bags, this area was a bit problematic for charging devices. The power outlets in the tables and cabinetry seemed to only be for show. They were not wired into anything and were non-functional.

This space also extended into another room, but when I exited that room, I noticed it was designated for first and business class passengers. Nothing about this space was really different than any other part of the lounge, and no one was gatekeeping access.

Finally, another passageway led to the bar.

Terrace Lounge

My biggest failure during this visit was not knowing that the lounge had a terrace space that was open to the terminal. You’ve made it this far in my review — there’s a terrace, go find it!

When the front desk representative told me to zig to a better seat, I should have zagged and attempted to find the gray, unmarked double doors leading to this area.

From images online, this terrace looks like a real showstopper, with tons of overflow seats and a large bar with drinks and snacks.

Bottom Line:

There is signage for the Terrace Lounge and Terrace Bar; make a point to find the signage and follow the arrows.

Food and Beverage

Buffet

The primary buffet was packed when we arrived but eventually cleared out.

Self-serve juices and a soda fountain and juices were available. The buffet started with bread, pita, cookies, seeds, and nuts.

Next on the line was tomato basil soup, vegetable sambusas (a Middle Eastern version of a samosa), and warm whole wheat focaccia.

A cooler contained mezze options like zaatar labneh (a thick yogurt), pickled vegetables, and hummus. You could also assemble a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

The hot options started with white rice and included dal tadka, Thai curry vegetables, chicken biryani, chicken with saffron sauce, and beef pot roast.

When we arrived, the dessert cooler’s stock was demolished but quickly replenished. It included peanut butter New York cheesecake, basbousa (a sweet semolina cake), red velvet cake, and brownies.

Drinks

The lounge featured a selection of complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, with premium drinks for an additional charge.

Complimentary alcohol included beer (Heineken and Carlsberg), wine (Camino de Chile; Pasqua, DOC; Ventisquero, Tantehue; Jacques Dunay), and spirits (Bacardi Carta Blanca; Famous Grouse, Gordon’s; Absolut Blue).

Hot Tip:

Alcoholic drinks are not available during the holy month of Ramadan.

Amenities

Restrooms

The number of bathroom stalls seemed adequate for the size of the lounge, and I never experienced a wait.

The stalls were spacious and clean.

Showers

A fact sheet for the lounge indicated that it had 10 shower rooms, but these must have been hiding throughout the lounge, as I only saw a few. Reservations must be made at the reception desk. Towels, shampoo, shower gel, and a hair dryer are provided.

Smoking Room

The lounge had a smoking area with high-top tables and a few seats.

Meeting Rooms

Several meeting rooms, which would have been great for a family or group that wanted space to spread out, were locked with the lights off.

Wi-Fi

The lounge had a dedicated Wi-Fi network, but I found speeds comparable to the airport’s public network. I got download speeds of 39.5 Mbps and upload speeds of 45.7 Mbps.

Additional Amenities

Pearl Lounge offered a mix of magazines and advertised a few amenities I couldn’t find, including prayer rooms, a play area for kids, and luggage lockers.

I could not locate the wellness center, but a screen in the lounge indicated that it offered a variety of massages and reflexology.

Staff and Service

The lounge staff did a good job of managing the queue to enter the lounge. Staff members were constantly buzzing throughout the lounge and bussing tables, but I would have appreciated someone directing guests to the overflow seating in the terrace area.

Final Thoughts

For my overnight connection in Abu Dhabi, the Pearl Lounge was a comfortable place to crash for a few hours. My kids enjoyed the food options, particularly the desserts. I didn’t sample too much, as I was running on zero sleep and in no need of a midnight snack.

The layout was a bit of a maze, with new seating areas to discover around every corner. However, not all these areas offered easy access to power outlets, and keeping devices charged is one of my primary objectives when traveling. The constant, loud PA reminders to avoid lounging at the lounge were also a bit annoying.

What would have benefited my visit most was knowing that the signage for Terrace Lounge meant a much bigger, more comfortable space was just outside of the random gray doors, waiting to be explored. Next time, Pearl Lounge, next time.