Anantara Spa. Credit: Anantara Spa
While your Dubai trip itinerary might include plenty of time to visit the city’s many theme parks, souks and restaurants, don’t forget that this modern metropolis is also home to some of the most indulgent, luxurious and exclusive spas in the world.
Considered to be temples of full-body wellness, traditional Arabian hammams play a starring role in the city’s best spa experiences, ridding you of the physical stress and anxiety of travel.
When in Dubai, be sure to check out these four luxurious spots for a restful respite.
Anantara Spa
Tucked away from Dubai’s busy city life, this soothing spot stands like a sanctuary amid the verdant gardens and meandering lagoons of Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort. The spa’s extensive menu of offerings provides a great marriage between Thai wellness and Arabian-inspired relaxation.
Be sure to arrive early for your treatment to enjoy the spa’s range of therapeutic wet facilities — separate for men and women — that includes an ice fountain, a crystal stone steam room and a liquid sound pool.
Transport yourself to a Thai island paradise with the Nham Jai spa journey, a traditional treatment consisting of a flower foot ritual, an exfoliation, a mask and a signature massage.
Alternatively, try the Traditional Turkish Bath Ritual, where you’ll be treated to an exfoliating scrub followed by a foam massage with olive oil soap in the majestic marble hammam complete with latticed windows, exquisite art and luxurious relaxation lounges.
Pearl Spa. Credit: Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
Pearl Spa
For contemporary surroundings with touches of history and high-end detail in equal measure, book a treatment at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach’s Pearl Spa.
Here, rejuvenating therapies are designed with elements from the desert, sea and oasis and draw inspiration from Dubai’s rich pearl diving heritage. Other than massages and treatments, unwind here with facilities such as a whirlpool, an ice fountain, an indoor lap pool and an environmental rain shower.
Experience the ultimate indulgence with the Memories of Arabia ritual where, after an argan shell exfoliation, your skin is nourished with honey and camel milk.
Or, try the Moroccan Inspiration and have your body wrapped in rhassoul clay after a thorough cleansing and exfoliating.
Soothing skin-focused offerings run the gamut from ultra-luxe (The Signature Pearl Facial and the 14-Karat Gold Skin Perfection Facial) to masculine (the Mankind Facial with wood-scented mists) and even age-appropriate (Facial 4 Teens).
One&Only Spa. Credit: One&Only Resorts
One&Only Spa
Housed within the tranquil gardens of One&Only Royal Mirage, this holistic oasis has, at its heart, an all-around focus not just on relaxation of the body, but also on restoring the equilibrium lost due to the demands of daily life.
In addition to 12 private treatment rooms, the Dubai spa houses a traditional Oriental hammam equipped with a regal dome, Oriental lanterns and wall-mounted stone basins where skilled masseurs from Tunisia, Turkey and Morocco exfoliate your skin until it feels brand new.
Whether you choose to indulge in the Royal Hammam experience that nourishes your body with a rhassoul clay wrap and a honey face mask, or the Hammam Rose Ritual, where floral extracts are added to hydrate the skin, you’re sure to feel like Arabian royalty.
Talise Spa. Credit: Jumeirah International LLC
Talise Spa
Even before you’ve stepped into this rejuvenating haven, the winding canals of Madinat Jumeirah Resort, flanked by palm trees, old-world architecture and wind towers, transport you into an Arabian fairytale.
The Dubai property’s Talise Spa offers 26 private treatment rooms, including three couples suites for a romantic day of indulgence.
To revitalize the body, try the Talise Sea Shell Experience, during which pressure is applied using natural seashells to release muscle tension. For a multi-sensory treatment, try the Shiffa Arabian Nights and relax as your skin is exfoliated with an aromatic recipe of flowers, sweet fruits, sandalwood and oils.
If you’d rather be outdoors, opt for a beachside rubdown in a cabana or a Thai massage in the secret garden. Afterward, unwind in the sauna and steam rooms, plunge pools or relaxation areas.
The range of wellness experiences also includes unique offerings such as the infrared sauna and detoxifying lymphatic drainage.
