Is Emirates’ flagship business class lounge at Dubai airport really the best of them all?

To say I was excited to fly business class for the first time would be an understatement. Add in the fact that my ticket was with Emirates, rated the fourth best airline in the world, and I was ecstatic.

Determined to get the most out of my experience, I headed to Dubai International Airport four hours early so I could experience one of Emirates' legendary business class lounges.

Over the past year, I've visited dozens of airport lounges thanks to my Priority Pass membership. Some are wonderful, but most are mediocre. Emirates' lounges, which are not open to Priority Pass members (as far as I know), are reputed to be at another level. I was excited to find out if the rumours were true.

My flight was out of DXB’s Terminal 3, a US$4.5 billion building considered the largest airport terminal in the world and the second largest building in the world, by floor area.

Emirates has six lounges in DXB, three of which are in Terminal 3. Luckily, I was scheduled to fly out of Concourse B, whose lounge was refurbished two and a half years ago for US$11 million.

It did not disappoint. Here’s what it was like:

My journey with Emirates began at Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport’s dedicated Emirates terminal.

After making it through the dedicated business class and first class entrance, check-in, and security screening, I got into an lift to take me to the concourse.

Much to my dismay, the lift did not drop me directly in front of the business class lounge. I’m sure this is intentional.

Terminal 3 looks more like a luxury mall than an airport. The concourse is lined with duty-free shops, restaurants and luxury retailers. I didn’t even see a gate …