Review: 13+ Hours in Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge (2025)

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A few years ago, I had the chance to visit the Al Safwa First Lounge in Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) for the first time. My initial visit only gave me a fleeting glimpse. I had a tight connection made even shorter by a delayed flight. During a more recent trip, returning from Muscat to Montreal in Qatar Airways business class, we had an overnight in Doha. This time, we had over 13 hours to truly experience what Al Safwa had to offer.

Al Safwa First Lounge – Location and Access

Departing from Doha, passengers flying in First Class on Qatar Airways or any Oneworld partner airline have direct access to Al Safwa First Lounge after completing check-in.

In our case, we were transiting through Doha. We had to make our way to the departure level on the third floor. If you’ve ever been to DOH, you can’t miss the giant yellow teddy bear. Just to its right is an escalator and elevators that lead up to the third floor – providing access to the Al Safwa Lounge entrance.

So, how do you gain access to this exclusive lounge?

• Book in First Class on Qatar Airways or another Oneworld partner airline
• Hold Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum elite status and fly in the business cabin with Qatar Airways
• Upgrade from the Al Mourjan business Lounge or purchase lounge entry for a fee
• Book a Business-First class award sweet spot

On my first visit, I had booked a business class reward ticket (YUL-DOH-AMM). The long-haul segment (YUL-DOH) was in business class. The second, short-haul segment (DOH-AMM) was ticketed as First class. Qatar Airways designates many of its regional short-haul flights as First class for the forward-most cabin. This unlocked a sweet spot because it granted me complimentary access to Al Safwa.

For our more recent trip (MCT-DOH-YUL), the situation was reversed, with the first segment in First class, while the second was in business class. I wasn’t sure if we’d have entry to Al Safwa since our onward flight was in the business cabin. After calling Qatar Airways customer service, they initially confirmed that we would not be eligible. Instead, we would have access to the Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge.

They offered me the option to purchase an upgrade for 181 Qatari Riyal per person. I decided to splurge and upgrade since we had a long overnight layover. The agent put me on hold as she went to process the upgrade. She returned on the line and let me know that access would actually be complimentary! Based on this experience, an itinerary including a First Class segment, whether it’s your inbound or outbound flight, grants you access to the Al Safwa Lounge when connecting through Doha.

Al Safwa First Lounge – Layout and Seating

We arrived at Al Safwa First Lounge early in the evening. From the moment we stepped inside, it was easy to forget we were still in an airport. The atmosphere was serene, tranquil and felt like a sanctuary. During our visit, the lounge wasn’t crowded, with a generous amount of seating throughout this vast and elegantly designed space.

As you step into the lounge, it may feel like you’re entering a museum. The Grand Hall features art adorning the walls and glass displays showcasing different artifacts. Al Safwa was designed to be like a museum, taking inspiration from Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art.

At the heart of the lounge lies the Central Atrium. There, a graceful fountain with a stream of water reaching up to the ceiling serves as its focal point.

Around this inviting space are sets of wingback chairs for relaxation, with similar seating arrangements located near the reception area. Past the dining area and bar are privacy booths, with individual chairs and desks. Conveniently fully equipped with electrical outlets and desk lamps for passengers looking for a quiet space to work or read. This is in addition to the Business Centre seating, with boardroom-style rooms, accommodating passengers attending work meetings while in transit.

Families are also well taken care of, with a Family Area that includes semi-private rooms furnished with plush sofas, blankets and TVs. It’s a cozy retreat for those travelling with children or simply wanting to unwind in comfort.

With a variety of seating arrangements, mixing of open, social and private spaces, I found that Al Safwa’s layout strives to meet every passenger’s needs.

Al Safwa First Lounge – Food & Drinks

Al Safwa features a main dining room that is always open. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and even offer Afternoon Tea service between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. As you’d expect from a First Class lounge, you can look forward to an à la carte menu. There’s also a smaller, more casual Deli dining area, serving sandwiches and salads.

During our visit, we chose to dine in the main restaurant, which includes a full bar. There are different arrangements of seating, and if you sit by the windows, you can enjoy some planespotting. They really make an effort to make it feel like you’re dining at a restaurant. When we arrived in the dining room, a hostess behind a podium greeted us, then escorted us to a table.

To view the menu, you just scan the QR code on the table. The lunch and dinner menu is served between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. It consisted of an assortment of international and Arabic dishes along with vegetarian and vegan options. There’s also an option to build your own pasta with different pasta types and sauces.

Their drinks menu had an extensive selection of wines, cocktails, and whiskeys, in addition to gin, rum, beer and champagne. For non-alcoholic beverages, they offered mocktails, fresh juices, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate, including the decaffeinated varieties.

For dinner, we began with the Arabic mezze, which included tabbouleh and muhammara (we requested they exclude the hummus, and the staff gladly accommodated). We also asked to just have the cheese sambousak from the hot mezze platter. For the main course, I ordered the Angus beef tenderloin, figuring it would taste better on land than in the air.

The service was prompt, and they brought us an amuse-bouche to start. It consisted of an olive spread, butter and sundried tomatoes spread. I found the tabbouleh was refreshing, while the muhammara was just average. The beef was tender and flavourful. We decided to skip the dessert, though it was tempting!

We returned the next morning for breakfast before our flight and ordered croissants, cheese plates and fresh OJ. Their breakfast menu offers all the Western classics – eggs cooked to your liking, pancakes, French toast and waffles. Overall, we enjoyed the dining experience at Al Safwa. It felt like a true restaurant experience, rather than an airport meal.  The dishes were high-quality and they were beautifully presented.

Al Safwa First Lounge – Quiet Room

One of the most impressive amenities this lounge has on offer is its Quiet Room. Tucked away within the spa area, this hotel-like section offers 12 private rooms. It includes a mix of single and twin bed options. The rooms are available by reservation only and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Passengers are limited to a maximum stay of 6 hours in the Quiet Room. This is because the lounge technically has a 6-hour access policy. However, based on my experience, you can spend more than 6 hours in the lounge as it’s not strictly enforced.  With a long overnight layover, one of the first things we did was to reserve a room. We politely requested an exception for a longer stay, and they allowed us to have the room for an additional hour, for a total of 7 hours.

After having a filling dinner, we went to check into our room at 11 p.m. – only to find that the front desk staff had changed. We had to explain our earlier arrangement again, and they contacted a manager to approve. Thankfully, the extension was granted, though it was unfortunate that the previous staff did not note the exception they previously provided. The lounge attendant led us to our room, and it was dead quiet.

 I was expecting our room to be the size of a closet. It turned out to be bigger than expected!

I was surprised there was a TV, given that the area was designated as a quiet zone, with a sign indicating that mobile phones should be put on silent.

The room also featured a  full bathroom with Diptyque toiletries including tooth brushes, toothpaste and shaving kits.

The beds were modest but were comfortable enough. The one irritant I experienced was the bright hallway ceiling light in the bedroom near the door that couldn’t be turned off. I called for assistance, and I was told the light was a security feature and had to remain on – pretty odd. This did disrupt my sleep, and in hindsight, I should’ve packed my eye mask.

While I didn’t sleep well, I was grateful to have this room to rest and shower before our morning flight. This is a valuable amenity, especially for passengers with a long layover in Doha.

Al Safwa First Lounge – Other Lounge Amenities

Al Safwa offers a wide range of amenities. Near the entrance of the lounge, you’ll find a Duty Free Store that sells a selection of fragrances, cologne, and other luxury items. While smaller than the shops found in the terminal, it’s quite convenient for last-minute shopping.

Past it was a Business Centre with several meeting rooms, equipped with iMac desktops, printers, spacious desks and leather chairs. During my visit, many lounge guests were actively using this space, showing how valuable it is for those travelling for work.

Near the reception area, guests can use the Baggage Room to store their carry-on luggage in lockers secured by personal PIN codes. There’s also a Media Room, which I missed during my visit, tucked away in the Central Atrium section near the sofas.

Beyond the Grand Hall sits QSpa, Al Safwa’s wellness retreat. This spa offers various paid treatments, including massages and facials, with separate areas for men and women. One standout feature is the complimentary private jacuzzi. Guests can reserve it for up to one hour, and the facility includes showers. While I didn’t make use of it during my visit, it is a unique thing to indulge in at an airport!

Across from the QSpa, you’ll find the Parent’s Room, which has a comfortable seating area with a microwave and a sink. Within this space is a Games Room complete with a TV, video game consoles, colourful kids seating, a chalkboard and a foosball table to keep younger travellers entertained.

Nearby is a Family Area, providing a relaxed, private space. Each semi-enclosed room features sliding doors, a large, cozy sofa with blankets and a TV, all softly lit for a calm atmosphere. It’s an ideal place to unwind and a great alternative to the Quiet Room if it’s fully booked. Connected to the Family Area is another room that has beverages and snacks.

Takeway

Overcrowded. Noisy guests. Mediocre food. Those are the things you can expect in many of today’s airport lounges, but not at the Al Safwa First Lounge. Here, tranquillity replaces chaos, and every detail exudes understated luxury. From the Quiet Rooms to the indulgent QSpa to the restaurant-quality dining, I found that Al Safwa felt like an aspirational experience rather than just an airport lounge. I always look forward to revisiting whenever I’m connecting through Doha’s Hamad International Airport.