Smoking at Dubai Airport: Areas by Terminal, Rules, and Map
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is one of the world’s busiest international hubs, with plenty of designated, ventilated indoor smoking lounges available in every terminal, located after security.
In this guide, we cover general terminal guidance, what rules apply, and what adult nicotine product users need to know if they’re in transit.
Can you smoke at Dubai Airport?
Yes, you can smoke at Dubai Airport, but only in designated smoking areas. Smoking, vaping, and heated tobacco use are generally limited to marked smoking lounges or smoking rooms inside the airport. These are typically located after security.
Does Dubai Airport have a smoking area?
Yes, Dubai Airport has a number of designated smoking areas. If you plan to vape, smoke, or use a heated tobacco device in Dubai Airport, the key rule to remember is that use is restricted to designated areas only.
This matters because the airport is strict about where smoking is permitted. Gates, restrooms, seating areas, and ordinary waiting spaces are non-smoking areas, even if they are close to a smoking lounge.
Smoking areas at Dubai Airport by terminal
Smoking lounges at Dubai Airport are found after security, near gate or concourse areas rather than out in the main public terminal flow. Below, we provide further information specific to each terminal. You can also find information on the DXB Smoking Lounge page.
Terminal 1 smoking areas (D Gates)
If you are flying through Terminal 1, there are designated smoking lounges in Concourse D, which you will reach after going through departures security (airside).
The main smoking area in Concourse D is the Camel Smoking Lounge, which is located on the main floor between Gates D12 and D13. There is also the Winston Smoking Room, located near the top of the stairs close to Gate D1. Follow signs leading to airport lounges to find it. Both of these smoking lounges are free of charge to use for any airside passenger.
Terminal 2 smoking areas
Terminal 2 is a standalone building (not connected to Terminals 1 or 3), situated on the furthest side of the airfield. Its designated smoking area is smaller and less prominent than in the other terminals, and is located in the departures and boarding-gate area. There is also a smoking area inside the Marhaba Lounge, available to paying guests from around USD 50, and to Priority Pass guests or those with a similar membership program. .
Terminal 3 smoking areas
Terminal 3 is the dedicated terminal for Emirates, and is one of the largest airport buildings in the world. It is split into three Concourses: A, B, and C, each with a wide range of smoking-area options available:
- Concourse A: The smoking room is located near Gate A2.
- Concourse B: Here you will find the dedicated Ploom Smoking Lounge with a range of amenities, including tasting cabins and digital activations. It’s located on the top floor near Gate B25, next to the Hard Rock Cafe. There’s also a Winston Smoking Lounge, located near Gate B3 with two separate entrances for convenient access. Both of these lounges are free to use for airside passengers.
- Concourse C: There are two designated smoking areas near Gates C9 and C23.
Smoking before security and outside the terminals
Before security, smoking, vaping, and heated tobacco use is only permitted landside, in designated smoking areas outside of DXB terminals. If you leave the terminal to smoke, allow plenty of extra time to go back through security, particularly during busy periods. If you’re in transit, leaving the secure area may not be practical. Instead, use one of the specific airside lounges located inside the terminals after security.
The rules: what you can and can't do
DXB’s rules are simple: use tobacco, vapes, and heated tobacco devices only in designated smoking areas.
You should not smoke or vape:
- at the gate
- in restrooms
- in standard waiting areas
You should also expect airport staff and signage to direct travelers away from non-designated areas. Penalties for smoking, vaping, and heated tobacco use in non-designated areas can start from AED 500, and are issued immediately. As such, if the space is not clearly marked, do not use it.
It’s also worth remembering that smoking rooms can close temporarily for maintenance, cleaning, or refurbishment. If that happens, the nearest available lounge may be in another part of the airport.
Vaping and heated tobacco at DXB
Wondering if vaping is allowed in Dubai Airport? The general answer is this: vaping, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco devices follow the same designated-area rule as cigarettes.
In practice, this means adult nicotine product users should use e-cigarettes, vapes, or heated tobacco devices only inside marked smoking lounges, not in open terminal areas. The same designated-area rule applies to Ploom devices.
Devices and spare batteries must be carried in hand luggage, not checked baggage. If you are carrying e-liquids for an e-cigarette or vape, each container must not exceed 100ml, in line with standard cabin liquid rules. It is your responsibility to check all policies, legal regulations, and customs regulations around the purchase, possession, importation, and use of products during your journey and at your destination.
Learn more:
Tips for a smoke break during a layover
At DXB, time management matters as much as location.
If you have a connection, check terminal signage and official airport information for the nearest designated smoking lounges, so you can find the right area quickly. Do that before food, shopping, or a long walk to another area of the terminal. In a large airport, that can save more time than most travelers expect.
A few practical tips help:
- Stay airside if you’re in transit
- Check the nearest lounge after confirming your gate
- Allow extra time if your lounge is in another concourse
If you’re in transit, check current airport signage and staff guidance for designated smoking areas within your terminal.
If you want the latest terminal details before you travel, check the official DXB smoking lounge directory and your airline’s latest airport guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. DXB has designated indoor smoking lounges in its terminals, usually after security. Smoking, vaping, and heated tobacco use should be limited to those marked areas only.
Yes. The main smoking lounges at DXB are airside, which means they are located after security in terminal or concourse areas.
It depends on your terminal and concourse. At DXB, smoking lounges are generally found near gate areas after security, with the following options available across the main terminals:
- Terminal 1 (Concourse D)
Camel Smoking Lounge, between Gates D12 & D13; Winston Smoking Room, near Gate D1 - Terminal 2
In the departures and boarding gate area - Terminal 3
Concourse A, near Gate A2; Concourse B (Ploom Smoking Lounge) near Gate B25 and Winston Smoking Lounge near Gate B3; Concourse C, near Gates C9 and C23.
Yes, access to designated smoking rooms is free of charge to airside passengers. However, some lounge-style alternatives may be restricted to paying customers, priority pass guests, or members, so please check beforehand.
Vaping should be treated the same way as smoking for airport use. Use vapes and e-cigarettes only in designated smoking lounges, and follow airport signage and staff guidance.
If you stay within the airport transit area, availability depends on current airport operations, terminal access, and applicable rules. Always follow airport guidance, signage, and staff instructions.
Devices with lithium batteries must be carried in hand luggage rather than checked baggage. It is your responsibility to check all policies, legal regulations, and customs regulations around the purchase, possession, importation, and use of products during your journey and at your destination.
Disclaimer:
This article is intended for general wayfinding information only and for adult nicotine product users. Airport layouts, smoking-lounge access, and terminal operations can change. Always follow current DXB signage, staff instructions, and official airport guidance.