For our lengthy return journey to Dublin after a wonderful long weekend exploring the UAE, we scored an upgrade into business class with Aegean Airlines, which I’ll cover separately soon, and as part of that we were verbally invited to use the Ahlan lounge at check-in.

There’s actually both an Ahlan Business Class Lounge, and a First Class Lounge facing each other – and we weren’t really sure which of the two Aegean Airlines was putting us in, but assumed it was the former, and were quickly admitted.

First things first, Terminal 1 at Dubai Airport is a slightly unusual terminal – after check-in, we proceeded through security and automated immigration. Although I looked around as best I could, there doesn’t seem to be any kind of premium or fast track security or immigration experience, and so we joined the regular queue which moved quickly.

From there, all passengers were funnelled upstairs to a train platform, where an automated people-mover shuttled us all to what seems to be the business-end of Terminal 1.

While Terminal 1 is perfectly fine, with a range of shops, eateries, and an entire atrium of seating for passengers to while away the hours, it’s certainly no Terminal 3 in terms of splendour or opulence.

After a spot of duty-free shopping during which I became fixated on the many available variants of Emirates’ model aircraft, we quickly found our way upstairs and around the corner to where the two Ahlan lounges face each other.

Unsure of which we were eligible for, we picked the one that seemed least likely to result in awkward refusal and went to the Ahlan Business Class Lounge, which we were told was the right choice and were quickly admitted inside.

The Ahlan Business Class Lounge is effectively a wide, and very long space, arranged area by area, and cleverly broken up with seating areas, a buffet and food area, a very decadent and well-stocked bar almost immediately to the front on the right-hand side, along with a self-pour wine selection station further back near the food for your convenience.

In terms of views, floor-to-ceiling windows run along the right-hand side of the lounge, facing back into the main terminal atrium.

After finding a place to settle, and coming to terms with the fact that I wouldn’t be beveraging ahead of this journey and therefore – unusually – the bar would be of no significant consequence, impressive though it was, we took to our feet to explore the dining options.

For a lounge that serves a multitude of airlines, the choice was solid; with a wide-range of choices from small plates, to fruits, desserts, hot food options sufficient to make a full meal if you so desired – and once again, may I remind you of the self-pour wine station only an arm’s reach from many of the food options.

Another very unexpected benefit of the lounge, considering the volume of eligible passengers across so many carriers, was the sheer tranquillity of the place. I’d have expected it to be packed to the rafters and noisy, but it remained peaceful at all times, no doubt helped by its size.

Before long, it was time for us to venture bravely back out into the terminal in search of our gate and our onward flight to Athens – but the Ahlan Business Class Lounge was a lovely place to spend just under an hour, peaceful, with all the space, amenities and facilities you would hope for.