Middle East Wellness Tourism: 7 luxurious spas that will make you feel like royalty

By Hyacinth Mascarenhas

Everyone enjoys a little pampering, rest and relaxation every once in a while.

Wellness travel and tourism, defined as “all travel associated with enhancing one’s personal well-being,” is a growing market segment in the travel industry. In fact, it is already a $439 billion market and is set to grow to a whopping $678.5 billion by 2017.

With the MENA region’s growing tourism sector and preparations already underway for Dubai 2020, it may come as no surprise that the region is also the fastest growing wellness tourism market worldwide, according to Global Wellness Tourism Congress, presented by the Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS). Currently worth $5.3 billion annually, the MENA market is growing at a rate of 16% and is expected to triple by 2017 with the UAE leading the way.

“As more people embrace overall healthier lifestyles at home, we are now seeing those behaviors translate and be integrated into their travel and vacation habits,” Susie Ellis, Chairman and CEO of the Global Spa & Wellness Summit, said in a statement. “For others, vacation provides an escape from the non-stop activities of their daily lives. As these two trends converge, we are seeing many people commit their vacation time and dollars to wellness travel, as evidenced by their increased spending and specific global destination choices.”

Seamlessly blending ancient Middle Eastern therapies with modern beauty and relaxation treatments, the region’s spas are well on their way to become the world’s largest wellness tourism market, offering weary travelers from across the globe the perfect spa break.

From a mineral-rich Dead Sea black mud wrap to a skin-awakening Hamman scrub with Turkish coffee beans, we take a look at 7 luxurious spas in the Middle East that are sure to soothe the aches and pains of everyday life.

1. Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

At this rustic ‘pocket of peace’ that looks and feels like an ancient Omani village, the treatments are decadent and soulful.

The Ayurveda Aromatherapy-Mukha Chikitsa facial treatment uses a blend of mogra, saffron and rose – rare ingredients that were enjoyed by the nobility of ancient Persia and India – to cleanse, hydrate and rejuvenate the skin. It is then followed by an aromatic hand and arm ritual, a hydrating oil mask and a deep facial marma massage.

2. ZARA Spa at Mövenpick Resort Dead Sea, Jordan

Rich in history, traditions and minerals, the Dead Sea is known for its legendary therapeutic qualities continue to attract travelers to rejuvenate in its healing waters. Drawing from its healing properties, Mövenpick’s Zara Spa’s popular salt and black mud treatments cleanse, purify and stimulate the skin.

The black mud body wrap also helps relieve muscle and emotional tensions, improve blood circulation and ease rheumatic pain.

3. Four Seasons Hotel at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Incorporating some of Cleopatra’s most decadent beauty secrets, the Egyptian Masterpiece treatment at this colonial-Arabic style spa includes a carob, cocoa and honey scrub, an Egyptian scent Alchemist massage, a Juniper and Artemisia hair wrap and a deliciously scented frankincense and moringa perfumed bath to refresh and soothe the soul.

4. Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai

Home to the largest Turkish hammam spa in the Middle East, the Talise Ottoman Spa features a variety of soothing treatments that range from the traditional Turkish body cleansing to an majestically innovative Arabian rose or gold body mask experience.

Their coffee peeling treatment, however, has been called an espresso shot for the skin. It includes the traditional hammam treatment using Turkish coffee beans to exfoliate the skin and a foam massage followed by a full body coffee peeling to awaken the skin, mind and senses.

5. Atarmia Spa, Park Hyatt, Abu Dhabi

Based on four philosophies – Brilliance, Majestic, Lustrous and Opulence – the Atarmia Spa on Saadiyat Island offers a wide range of healing rituals derived from ancient Arabian beauty therapies, techniques and ingredients that pamper even the weariest of souls with traditional Middle Eastern hospitality and expertise.

The Zayotun oriental treatment includes a delicious honey face and body exfoliation followed by a zaytoun olive leaf and mint mask that hydrates the entire face, hair and body.

6. Sharq Village and Spa, Qatar

Focusing on Qatari ingredients and techniques, the 160-minute Local Journey Experience at Doha’s Sharq Village and Spa begins with a full body scrub using fresh local dates and honey to exfoliate and moisturize the skin, followed by a full body oil massage to relax muscles and let all your tensions melt away.

7. Banyan Tree Spa Al Wadi, UAE

Offering 16 state-of-the-art hydrothermal treatments, Banyan Tree Spa Al Wadi’s The Rainforest is designed to create an innovative, rejuvenating experience in a tropical rainforest setting.

Ranging from the popular Affusion showers to an aroma steam, brine cavern and grotto steam, these treatments strengthen the circulatory system, initiate a purifying process and bring the showering process to a whole new, holistic experience.

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