Review The Pearl, the Priority Pass lounge at Abu Dhabi's new terminal: meh!
This is the only independent lounge at Abu Dhabi Airport and accessible with Priority Pass
AUH
United Arab Emirates
An immense terminal, which I prefer simply define Abu Dhabi's new airport, has only two lounges to accommodate some of the 45M passengers who may transit the UAE capital's airport each year. There is of course Etihad's home with the dual lounges, business and first, and this Pearl inaugurated a few days ago.
Location
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The hall is located on the opposite side of the food court, above one of the Duty Free and unlike Etihad's lounge, it does not face the outside of the terminal, but is in the belly of the facility.
To get there just follow the directions, although I must say they are very few compared to how big this terminal is.
Access
Being the only alternative to Etihad's waiting room. is intended to accommodate not only premium passengers from (almost) all the other 27 carriers who fly to this airport today, but also all holders of cards such as Priority Pass and similar cards. For holders American Express Italian Platinum thanks to the maximum level of PP you have free access with a guest.
It is also possible to pay to enter at a cost of 263 aed for adults (about 66 euros) and 175 aed for children between the ages of 2 and 12. As always, I say consider carefully whether it makes sense to spend this money to stay in here 3 hours.
The lounge
Go up the escalator to the reception desk where you scan your ticket and the card you use to enter. The good news, in my case, is that despite a long transit, well over 3 hours, I had access without any problems. The attendant reminded me that after the 180 minutes had passed, I would have to leave. Fortunately, my Priority Pass Prestige , obtained for free thanks to my Amex Platinum guarantees me unlimited access, so all I did was check in again.
The feeling that, even in this case, it was reasoned by taking the "unusable" spaces to put the lounge is present here, as from Eithad's. In this case, however, the reason is the conformation of the lounge: low ceilings, spaces carved out between corridor, a very irregular plant.
The thing that amazed me was. the decor seems not "designed" for a lounge, But for just any waiting room. In the last few lounges opened around the world, I found chairs with built-in power outlets, tables with wireless charging, phone booths and similar areas. Here it's total nothingness.
The most beautiful thing about the lounge, however, is the terrace, located in the heart of the terminal, in the middle of the two buildings resembling a beehive where I think the airport offices are. The problem is that power outlets are practically nonexistent here.. And in general the whole lounge, like the whole airport, has only local outlets, no universal outlets. Madness!
Bright, spacious and with lots of different kinds of seating. The exact opposite of the indoor part.
I discovered as I wandered between corridors that. there is also a nice indoor area, to find it you have to go in the opposite direction of the entrance, walk down a long corridor, and come out into a clearing where there are meeting rooms, a smoking room, and several seats; here the environment is less noisy than the main dining room.
If Etihad was unimaginative in its services, there is even less superfluous here. There are lockers for suitcases and showers. Nothing else. In some ways I regret the lounge being replaced in the old and historic terminal now decommissioned. There was a work area and massage room here, although post covid had not reopened.
A relaxation area, with dim lights and quieter where to take a nap in a more comfortable chair, is missing, and in such an airport it is a serious lack.
Food & Beverage
There are several islands scattered in the three different environments: the terrace, the main room, and what we might rename the "secret area." If in the main room the island also includes the bar, in the secret area the bar is separate and also has a small sofa area nearby, perhaps the best covered corner of the lounge.
The breakfast offering was really, really basic, again a major downgrade from the old lounge where there was express cooking, as well as a buffet, with the option of choosing from a menu which dishes to order.
In the evening things improve a little bit, bartender making cocktails and beer on tap.
In conclusion
I hoped to at least find what was on the other side. and it's not, certainly the terrace is really nice and it's undoubtedly the best place to wait for the flight. Quoting Checco Zalone so I'm like, "Meh!", if Abu Dhabi wants to compete with Qatar, but also with the other companies that are there (or coming as Riyahd Air) Could and should have done better.
Pro
- The terrace
- The meeting rooms
Against
- Price (if you enter for a fee)
- Lack of power outlets
- Questionable catering offer