[Denver]

If it's just a couple of hours then definately not much time to even get a coffee and have a smoke. Security and passport checks seem to have been tightened up quite a bit this last trip through and can take an hour or so just to get into the transit area.

Usually no problems with Emirates but got a bit naffed off with them this time. My onward flight was delayed by 3 hours but nothing on the monitors to that effect. I queried it with the desks (Friendly enough and always staffed) and had to go to the usual place upstairs over Gate 14 (They know me well up there now, no security, straight through) to try and sort out my luggage which I had booked through to Phuket. Anyway, late getting into BKK, Thai on the ball and got me through to Phuket very quickly but my luggage didn't!

If staying in the airport for any length of time, there are recliner chairs available for a kip, various bars including the Irish Village for a beer or if you have membership to an airlines points scheme, all the lounges are top notch in Dubai. Duty Free is worth a wander around too! It gets very busy in the current terminal when the transits arrive from Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Karachi, Mumbai etc Always lots of people kipping on the floor. It's a main hub airport and the new terminals hopefully will be that much better for everyone.

Emirates also close their gates quite early (About 45 mins or so) and don't suffer last minute arrivals easily, I've seen several people bumped off flights for late arrival.

I would definately suggest more than a couple of days to do 'justice' to what Dubai has to offer. I have a couple of mates with apartments there now so I am lucky in that respect. There is an airport hotel who do an hourly rate! Last check on that it was $40 an hour! Expensive shower and change of clothes or $120 for a quick three hour kip!

Expensive - yes, $6-7 a beer, hot - yes, Muslim - yes and it will be nice when it's finished. I think it is just a building site at the moment but I doubt it will ever be finished. Too much desert for them to build on or coast to reclaim and if people are happy to buy property and do business in Dubai then they will keep going. Supply and demand.

Worth a visit but be prepared to put your hand in your pocket. I've written about the P4P scene (including some pics) on here elsewhere.

Hope this is of use and let us know your thoughts on the place if you get there.

D