Review: Al Maha Lounge Doha Hamad Airport

How to access this lounge

Although I had access to the superior Al Mourjan Business Lounge, I paid a quick visit to this lounge, as I had an ultra long layover in Doha.

I was curious to see how the lounge has improved, as compared to its temporary predecessor, which was honestly, quite a joke.

Members of various third-party airport lounge memberships can access this lounge, with the maximum stay duration limited to 4 or 6 hours.

Al Maha Lounge Doha Hamad Airport

Getting there

The lounge is located on the second floor, near the main concourse (the one with the big yellow bear).

Click here to view the map of the Duty Free area of Hamad International Airport.

General areas

This new lounge is a lot bigger and more modern-looking than the previous one, with a dedicated rest area and lockers.

There is no view of the outside world from the lounge, though.

I had picked an off-peak time to arrive but was half-surprised to see it about 70% full. I can only imagine how the queue to get in must be like during Doha’s super-peak hours.

I saw a sign at the side of the check-in area, which is probably used when the lounge is full. The lounge has a TripAdvisor rating of just 2.0, with some guests reporting getting denied entry.

Food & Drinks

There was a very small variety of food from the buffet. Guests may also get beer and one selection each of red and white wine, at no charge.

I had visited this lounge in the afternoon, in hopes of seeing better food options. Unfortunately, the F&B selection in this new Al Maha lounge is just as poor as its predecessor.

WiFi speed

The lounge does not have its own WiFi network but guests can connect to the airport’s main network.

The WiFi speed was great during my stay but I had to re-login once every few hours.

Top complimentary amenities

• WiFi
• Drinks (including alcoholic)
• Hot food
• Shower

My ratings

Bottom line

Al Maha Lounge is the only Priority Pass lounge in the airport and it is not a good one.

If I am not flying in Business Class and do not hold any airline status, I would consider skipping this lounge altogether and try to book a free private sleep room at the sleep ‘n fly Sleep Lounge. Or maybe just hang out at a café nearby!