Etihad First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi: A Luxurious Oasis In Terminal A

Etihad First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi is a fresh sanctuary in the brand-new and impressive Terminal A of Zayed International. The lounge offers top tier flyers everything they might reasonably need or want. Though, my dining experience hit a surprising snag.

Having finally opened in November 2023, this 742,000 square metre Terminal replaces both old terminals with the airport itself being renamed to Zayed International Airport. While the lounge doesn’t boast any particularly unique features, this might actually work in its favour. Why? Let me explain.

Location and Access

Situated between Piers C and D, the lounge’s entrance is near gate C29—closer than my memory initially had me believe. It was difficult to find a proper map of airport layout but I managed to dig out this map hidden deep within Etihad’s site:

First Class passengers and top-tier Etihad members enjoy a seamless journey through private security before arriving at departures on Level 3.

You will see signs leading to the first, First Lobby – where a private elevator whisks you up to the lounge’s exclusive lobby

At this point, I had staff greet and even ushed me up into the elevator right up to level 6, to yet another reception area !

Access Eligibility

At the time of writing, there are one of 4 way’s to enter this lounge

• Passengers departing on Etihad First Class
• Etihad’s Residence Guests ( though they have their own Private Suites within )
• Etihad Guest top tier members flying out on Etihad
• Etihad Business Class passengers with paid upgrade for a cost of AED 590

Etihad still maintain several airline partnerships, however none are granted First Class lounge privileges for now.

Etihad First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi

Right after the second reception area on level 6 proper, there is strangely, yet another desk/concierge area of sorts as you enter into the lounge..

In my time there, this mostly remained unstaffed, and at one point I wondered if it might actually be for guests who wish to work – but not only would this be an oddly singular offering, neither does it seem a great spot for this !

A centrepiece round table adorned with Arabic coffee sets the tone as you step into the space…

I was given a quick orientation to the lounge and asked how I would like to spend my time, they also took the time to explain my complimentary Spa options and what I would prefer to book – which I appreciated. More on the Spa later.

For aviation enthusiasts, the views are spectacular!

A number of gates allow direct boarding from the lounge, offering glimpses of Etihad’s iconic A380s preparing for their premium routes to London and New York.

Back inside – Its minimalist design features black carpets, slate leather chairs, and subtle gold accents—a nod to more understated luxury..

The spaces are divided into two main seating areas, with relaxed lounger chairs on the right facing out into the airport action..

Or this space inside which offers more more options for passengers to mingle with their families or travel partners..

As far as lounges in general and especially the rest of the Etihad lounge complex, this First Class lounge footprint is on the smaller scale. This makes perfect sense given Etihad only offers First Class in less than 1/4 of it’s fleet.

First Class Restroom & Showers

There are several restrooms for First Class guests, some which also have large shower cubicles. I liked the commitment to branding right down to the mosaic tiling in Etihad patterns…

The restroom and showers are spotlessly maintained and well kitted out with Acqua di Parma toiletries.

I did not need a shower, however if you do decide to have one, further amenities are provided such a slippers and robes and dental/shaving kits etc.

First Class Spa Offering

A hallmark of any great First Class lounge is a complimentary spa service, and Etihad delivers. This is true with most of my top ranked First Class lounges from Emirates First Lounges, Cathay Pier First Lounge to even the boutique offering of Oman Air First Class Lounge

Here, guests can indulge in a 30-minute massage at the Be Relax Spa, located within the Etihad lounge complex.

I opted for a back and neck massage and was escorted to and from the Spa for my appointment !

There are several types of massage rooms, depending on the type of massage you selected..

They even have a barber in there should you suddenly fancy a fresh cut !

My massage experience was stellar. The health questionnaire was swift and didn’t cut into the treatment time. The skilled therapist left me feeling lighter, more relaxed, and ready for the next leg of my journey.

* Keep in mind while the Be Relax Spa is accessible to ALL passengers – those entering via Etihad Guest Status or paid upgrade from Business lounge do not get any complimentary treatment !

A Class Dining Experience – with a surprise

Dining in First Class lounges often sets the standard for premium service, and Etihad offers an à la carte menu in a formal dining area at the lounge’s rear.

The ambiance is intimate, with dim lighting and seating options for couples or small groups.

Here is what the menu looked like for December 2024:

After my massage, it was still a little early for lunch, as I enjoyed a good breakfast at the Hyatt I was staying in.

At the same time, I only had just over 2 hours in the lounge, it would naturally be very wrong for me not to sample the menu here for a spot of lunch !

The waitstaff were attentive, seating me promptly and ensuring every detail—water choice, plating, table setting —was impeccable.

To start, I selected

Cold Smoked Salmon – with Heirloom cheery tomato, quail egg, saffron aioli, cucumber and watercress snow ..

For the lunch main, I selected

Braised Wagyu Short Ribs – brioche parsley crust, potato fondant, green peas, parmesan, crusted onion, mustard tarragon jus..

The presentation was Instagram-worthy. Unfortunately, the meat was overcooked and inedible.

I wondered if this may have been my fault – as I advised the waiter I was happy to  take my time between courses – was something lost in translation here?

The staff handled the situation gracefully, with a chef personally apologizing and offering to prepare a new dish or if I would order something else. I took this as an opportunity to try something different.

Lunch main, take two, I ordered:

Pan Seared Monkfish – Langoustine Boudin, morel mushroom, borlotti beans & clam stew, bisque and Caviar

And as luck with have it – I didn’t like this dish at all!

I couldn’t precisely pin this down to one specific thing I didn’t like. It was lacking cohesion in flavours. The monkfish itself was almost tasteless.

This time, I simply left the dish unfinished, citing a lack of appetite—a partial truth.

Private Suites

There are Private Suites available with sleeping provisions. This is only complimentary for Residence but bookable for additional fee for First Class.

Since it was a daytime visit for me, I neither had reason or time to enquire about the costs. It’s not clear how many of them there are – but this appears to be a lounge with in a lounge within a lounge type of scenario.

I will find out in 2025 when I shall be back flying through Abu Dhabi again!

A Peak Into New Etihad Business Lounge

I may not get time to review this separately for a while, but since I had to go through parts of the Business Lounge on my way to Spa, here is what it looks like over there..

This is what they call the Roof Lounge also at level 6.

A feature here that is missing from the First Class lounge is this beautiful constellation bar..

In daylight you may not fully appreciate the 700+ lit pieces of glass that represents the Abu Dhabi Skyline.

Elsewhere they dining spaces and buffet looked impressive here also!

Overall Thoughts

This is no doubt Etihad First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi is a wonderful lounge with a gorgeous deco and aesthetics with service levels to match a more intimate space. That is rare in the lounge world, and yes even for First Class.

Admittedly, it doesn’t have any extra bells and whistles to grab everyone’s attention. Personally I’d rather airlines provide services you actually need and do them well, rather than offer amenities and extras spread far and wide, with inconsistent levels of service/availability.

My only real critique would be, for a 24 hour lounge, it is rather a shame that there are no real dedicated rest areas for guests as a standard offering – which even some Business Class lounges provide!

Overcooked beef ribs aside – the level of service and attention to detail was one you would expect from a top restaurant. A stark contrast to the rather slow and confused start to my dining Experience at the Qantas First Class Lounge in LAX. Should Business Class passengers pay to upgrade to use this lounge? Given what the Business Lounge itself has to offer, I would say no.

No prize for guessing what comes next – I finally fly the incredible Etihad A380 Apartments where I was truly spoiled with an exquisite dining experience up in the air! Stay tuned!