Terminal 3 raises the standards

While Terminal 3 at Dubai's International Airport is intensely impressive in its design, its opening has come as a welcome relief.

Anyone who has arrived at the airport during the peak hours, often the middle of the night to early morning hours, can vouch for that.

The trek from the plane to the terminal building and the queues at immigration can easily add up to two hours, plus the wait for taxis at the Arrivals although their flow is well-organized.

But this is set to change. Reserved for Emirates flights only, the first passenger boarded the airline's plane at Terminal 3 to Doha last week. Gate 213 did the honours for the maiden flight from the new terminal, and the first flight to arrive came from Jeddah.

Dubai's T3 may have been inaugurated with less than a bang than London Heathrow's T5 recently, but for all the good reasons. Forward thinking has led to a phasing in of flights guaranteeing a smooth start instead of the chaos experienced at Heathrow.

For now, the T3 will service the GCC and the Americas only, meaning around 40 flights - or 15 per cent - of Emirates total flights.

After a short 'running or rather flying in' period, nearly 40 per cent or 99 flights will take to the skies en route to the rest of the Middle East and Africa.

The third phase which will add Europe sees 70 per cent of Emirates capacity in use. The Subcontinent, East Asia and Australasia complete the airline's network from T3.

Flying isn't just all about the airline, the planes or in-flight service, the terminal plays a significant role for passengers enjoying their journeys whether on business or leisure.

Did the airport procedures go smooth or did it all seem a hassle? Did the terminal feel welcoming or dull?

All experiences at the crucial point where the trip starts or ends are etched into the passengers' memory. And this is where Dubai airport's new terminal excels, memories of one's transit, arrival or start of the journey are bound to not only be pleasant but memorable.

The airy, sleek, modern and indeed arty design impresses by leaving the feel of plenty of space, something interesting to look at, and functionality to make passengers feel comfortable wherever they find themselves.

A delayed flight could turn from stress into pleasure as one gets to spend more time at this terminal with so much to offer.

The terminal not only sports the usual check-in counters, albeit in a new style with more space to gather around them, self-service check-in for those who want to be quick, information counters, special services for unaccompanied minors, but a variety of lounges.

Marhaba welcomes the economy-class passenger, the business and first class lounges come of course with the extras expected by business travelers, and all of it in a designer ambience.

But best and pretty unique for these class of travelers is that they can go for some serious de-stressing at the lounge's very own spa.

Those who don't make it there can instead experience a gigantic waterfall cascading down the walls as they make their way to the departure area.

The famous Dubai Duty Free is right there, plenty of shopping opportunities make it easy to buy that last minute present for the loved ones back home or simply take a stroll to entertain oneself before being called in for boarding.

Idle time at airports are always a welcome chance to catch up with some reading or chatting to fellow travelers over coffee. The finest of cuisines are available at Terminal 3.

And the ambience is special as well, natural light coupled with greenery in the form of Japanese gardens - complete with bonsais, palm trees, ferns, wooden bridges and water - offers a touch of nature in the otherwise rather technical world of planes and airports.

As regards technology the new terminal has integrated the latest systems for speed and security.

Not to forget the access to the airport, which soon will be transformed when Dubai's metro comes on-line. The futuristic metro station is waiting for action next year.