Treating yourself and doing exercise are great reasons for heading away on holidays, making Dubai the perfect wellness destination for those who take an active interest in their health and physical fitness, as it offers a range of experiences that help to relax the body and mind. Dubai is also rapidly becoming one of the leading fitness destinations, thanks to world-renowned events which welcome the participation of any visitors who travel to Dubai during autumn and winter.
Fully aware of the growing trend of “wellness tourism”, Dubai boasts a broad range of hotels, spas and restaurants that help turn a simple city break into a holiday where you are pampered in all senses of the word.
HOLISTIC HOTELS
Under the premise of a holistic focus on wellness, visitors to Dubai are offered complete experiences that combine personalised consultations with experts of various disciplines with rigorous yoga and exercise regimes, ensuring that all requirements are met.
The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel is the first holistic wellbeing resort in the Middle East, located in a privileged location on the shores of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah. With panoramic views over the Persian Gulf, each of the 255 bedrooms and spacious suites also boasts natural elements.
The resort offers complete wellness solutions with a wide variety of treatments and all-inclusive retreat packages from 3 to 14 days, including fully indulging spa experiences, relaxing yoga sessions and fitness regimes, as well as healthy meals elaborated by wellness chefs.
The hotel also has qualified nutritionists and wellness coaches, who can advise guests about weight-loss programmes and appropriate exercise.
The resort also offers an interactive talk programme held by wellness experts, including sessions led by Dr Marilyn Glenville, the highest-selling author and leading expert in the UK in the field of nutritional health for women.
The Rayya Wellness Resort offers enriching, especially-devised wellness, fitness and spa treatments that combine ancient healing knowledge, techniques and recipes with cutting-edge technology and equipment.
The resort boasts highly qualified wellness consultants – including life coaches, spa therapists, NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) practitioners, nutritionists and naturopathic doctors – who are available for perdonalised consultations about dietary treatments and exercise.
The resort, located in the heart of Palm Jumeirah, also has the Rayya Kids’ Club for children between the ages of 4 and 12, combining information on healthy living, cooking classes and access to motivational resources in the Kids’ Wellness Library
Operating physical exercise retreats from all corners of the world with year-round availability, this isn’t your typical resort break. By combining fitness, relaxation and fun, Active Escapes organises fitness retreats in collaboration with leading hospitality and fitness brands to offer action-filled breaks, personal training sessions and fitness events and activities at Palm Jumeirah.
NEW SPAS
When someone asks us to think of world-renowned spas in spectacular settings, we think of Dubai. Is there really anything better than a spa treatment with magnificent views for disconnecting and freeing your mind?
This recently-opened spa in the latest addition to the Radisson Hotel Group, overlooking the Dubai canal, offers Asian-inspired relaxation therapies and spa treatments. The exclusive treatments include a four-hand massage and a Balinese massage, combining exotic aromas with soothing music.
The spa facilities include a couples’ treatment room, designated treatment rooms for men and women, separate steam rooms and saunas and a Panorama relaxation room overlooking the Dubai Canal.
Combining Eastern and Western wisdom with the latest technology and treatments, the Balance Wellness by Anantara The Palm offers a single programme combining spa, fitness and wellness elements.
Featuring Thalasso wellness treatments from Thalion, a leading expert in marine cosmetics, the spa treatments carefully select the richest seaweeds, preserving their original qualities to integrate them in new formulas and treatments.
Each experience begins with a private consultation with an Ayurvedic practitioner aimed at identifying any specific imbalances, who will also discuss life-style issues, provide nutritional advice and lead a dynamic training session.
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Samāna Spa, Desert Palm Dubai
The Samaña Spa, the definitive retreat away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, offers its guests rejuvenating treatments that are founded on individualised experiences and organic solutions.
Located in the Meliá Desert Palm Hotel, the exclusive spa packages offer a wide range of services for indulging yourself and luxury spa treatments, including organic aromatherapy, facial treatments and detox seaweed treatments that stimulate relaxation and recharge the batteries of the body.
Located in the Renaissance Downtown Hotel Dubai, the Six Senses Spa has six separate treatment suites: one for each of the senses. The spa’s sensory suites are especially dedicated to hearing, vision, touch, smell, taste and much more.
The spa offers a variety of holistic treatments, wellness activities and experiences such as a hammam, sauna, floatation pool and exclusive nail bar, offering full treatment for hands and feet. Guests are also able to meet leading experts in alternative medicine, and they can also request one-to-one consultations measuring physiological biomarkers that are key for one’s health, including body composition, metabolism, oxygen distribution, heart function and circulation and stress parameters.
Combining French Polynesian wellness traditions with luxury beauty products by Voya and NUXE, the SoSpa facilities are set across 2,500 m2. With a vast range of body massages and face, hair and beauty treatments, the spa offers covered therapeutic pools, an outdoor swimming pool and cabanas, separate steam rooms and sauna and a hammam, as well as beauty rooms for men and women.
THE HEALTHIEST FOOD
A wellness and wellbeing routine isn’t complete without a healthy, delicious meal. Would you like to see a list of the city’s healthiest restaurants?
With a menu dominated by healthy and innovative dishes, this modern restaurant is a point of access to Dubai’s gastronomic offerings.
Located in the Mall of the Emirates, Common Grounds is a bustling, casual cafeteria that offers full breakfasts with superfood salads, wraps, tacos and soups. This allows clients to enjoy a healthy breakfast before or after doing their shopping and gives them the opportunity to sample a fresh artisan Common Grounds coffee or a vegetable juice or smoothie.
The Farm is a culinary haven in Dubai, with an exquisite botanical and waterside backdrop. The flavours of The Farm are inspired from around the world, from Thai and Mediterranean to the Middle East and India, which can be enjoyed in a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere.
Acclaimed by international travel guides and fashion magazines, Comptoir 102 combines a kitchen, lounge, garden and terrace that compare favourably to the best Instagram photos, with a trendy café, homeware and organic products.
The concept store has long been a favourite spot for healthy eating and something of a hidden treasure for the most demanding of shoppers, thanks to its eclectic mix of fashion, interior design and furniture from around the world. The restaurant, nestled in the heart of old Jumeirah, is inspired by 1970s Californian villas with Moorish accents.
Life’n One is an urban retreat, a hidden oasis in Dubai, which offers everything a healthy eating enthusiast could wish for: ranging from the organic, vegan-friendly gluten-free, sugar-free, soy-free and GM ingredients-free menu served in the cafeteria, to the yoga, pilates or barre classes or rejuvenating meditation sessions led by renowned instructors.
Based in the heart of Alserkal Avenue, Wild & The Moon is a 100% organic cafeteria with a menu elaborated especially by experts and vegan chefs, which also includes a selection of gluten-free items.
The restaurant’s “Wild laboratory” prepares fresh, home-made cold-pressed juices, nut milks, smoothies, salads, healthy sandwiches, hot drinks and much more.
