Photos: Qatar Airways Opens New Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge in Doha

Premium passengers have a new oasis at Doha’s airport as Qatar Airways unveils the Garden, the second Al Mourjan business lounge at its home base.

The 7,390 square-meter Garden can accommodate over 700 travelers and lavishly treats them to premium dining, recreation, relaxation facilities, and travel necessities, from business areas to showers.

Photo: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan business lounge in Doha. Courtesy of Qatar Airways.

The lounge hosts its own day spa, with seven treatment rooms, stations offering manicures and pedicures, neck and shoulder massage chairs, and relaxation chairs.

Ticketholders who want to raise their heart rate between flights can take advantage of the gym equipped with treadmills and elliptical exercise bikes. Showers and washrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms are also available.

Photo: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan business lounge in Doha. Courtesy of Qatar Airways.

For passengers wanting respite from the airport’s buzz, the lounge also offers single and double quiet rooms, accessible for free for up to six hours, 24 hours a day.

Other facilities include a nursery and children’s playroom, a game room, a smoking room, meeting rooms, and prayer rooms. Seating options include low-slung leather loungers, wingback chairs, and lamp-lit coffee tables.

Food options are myriad. In the lounge’s East Wing, hot and cold buffets serve an extensive international and local cuisine menu at the main dining area. In addition, passengers can sample rolls from a sushi bar and order custom salads, breakfast bowls, and poke bowls.

Photo: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan business lounge in Doha. Courtesy of Qatar Airways.

A coffee and patisserie bar offers barista-prepared hot and cold drinks, pastries, fresh juices and smoothies, made-to-order sandwiches, and gelato and ice cream. The cocktail and bistro bar serves savory appetizers that can be washed down with wine, spirits, beer, cocktails, or cocktails.

The lounge’s West Wing boots another coffee and patisserie bar and a refreshment station with light snacks, Arabic sweets, and beverages.

Photo: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan business lounge in Doha. Courtesy of Qatar Airways.

The lounge is located in Hamad International Airport’s (HIA) Concourse C, perched over the Orchard, the airport’s lush indoor forest, newly opened for the World Cup in November and frequently compared to Singapore Changi Airport’s (SIN) Jewerl shopping complex.

From the Garden’s balcony, guests can view the Orchard’s 300 trees and 25,000 plants, sourced from around the world; a waterfall; a treetop walk; and a geometric glass ceiling. Storefronts from luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Burberry, are just feet away, nestled under the Orchard’s boughs.

Photo: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan business lounge in Doha. Courtesy of Qatar Airways.

The Garden, the first of three frequent flyer lounges to open in the Orchard, echoes the aesthetics of Qatar Airways’ first Al Mourjan business class lounge, in Concourse A, with marble and timber finishings and a central reflection pool. But it also takes cues from its leafy surroundings, boasts abundant greenery, and cleverly takes advantage of the concourse’s natural light.

“This world-class lounge showcases a sophisticated way of travel centered in comfort, wellness, and nature,” said Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of the Qatar Airways Group. “I welcome our premium passengers to experience this spectacular addition to our signature lounge portfolio.”

If you’re eager to sample the Garden’s delights, you better surpass the strict door policy. The Garden is open to most passengers flying business class with Qatar Airways, but there’s some fine print. First, you must have Classic, Comfort, or Elite business class tickets. Those on Lite fares don’t pass muster.

Photo: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan business lounge in Doha. Courtesy of Qatar Airways.

Additionally, you can access the lounge if you’re purchased that business class ticket with frequent flyer points or miles, including Qatar Airways’ own Avios points and points from other reciprocal frequent flyer programs. However, you won’t get through the door if you’ve used points to upgrade an economy class ticket to business class.

Passengers in business class on Oneworld partners, including British Airways and Royal Jordanian, will also be accommodated at the lounge.

Photo: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan business lounge in Doha. Courtesy of Qatar Airways.

However, frequent flyer status alone with these airlines doesn’t get you through the door at the Garden or any other Qatar Airways business class lounge. Instead, passengers with high-status but economy tickets should use Qatar Airways’ Platinum and Gold frequent flyer lounges at the airport, which also recently opened.

Qatar Airways’ first Al Mourjan business lounge remains open at Concourse A, now with the descriptor “South” affixed to its name. As extravagant as the Garden is, this remains the larger lounge, with an expansive 10,000-square meter footprint and space for more than 800 guests.