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Spa Guide

The Future of Wellness Is In Dubai: Where To Stay, What To Do & How To Spa

Planning a trip to Dubai for some much-needed R&R? 2025 is the year to do it. The opulent city is fast becoming the future-looking face of wellness and longevity.

Whether you’d prefer your stay to be perfectly pampering or want to discover the very latest health-boosting technologies, Dubai has it all in spades, as our beauty and wellness editor discovered on her most recent trip.

This is the future of wellness in Dubai…


WHERE TO STAY

Wellness starts with where you rest your head – not least because a good night’s sleep is a tried-and-tested way to boost your energy, enhance your mood, and decrease feelings of overwhelm. In Dubai, there’s a new crop of hotels that are helping you do that with tailored wellbeing-boosting solutions in your room (and throughout the hotels) to take your stay up a level in terms of both luxury and mindfulness.

For fitness and recovery: SIRO

Siro Hotel

The ‘world’s first fitness hotel’, SIRO has wellness oozing out of every pore, making it a must-stay location for anyone devoted to supercharging their health while on their travels. The hotel emphasises five key pillars: fitness, nutrition, sleep, recovery and mindfulness, and its state-of-the-art Fitness Lab spans 2,000 square meters over two floors, offering specialised studios for HIIT, cycling, yoga, and Pilates, all with panoramic city views. (Aka it’s the sort of space that will make even the most dedicated fitness bunnies pause between sets to snap a photo or two).

Its sister on-site offering, the Recovery Lab (more on that later) provides the very latest in advanced treatments to revitalise your mind and body, and even the rooms are meticulously designed to promote rejuvenation, down to the thermoregulating mattresses, a selection of 11 pillow types, and in-room fitness equipment like yoga mats and resistance bands. You won’t go hungry either. The food on offer is delicious and varied, with several restaurants on site and the option (but not necessity) to have personalised meal plans crafted by the in-house nutritionists.


For tailored luxury: One&Only One Za’abeel

One&Only hotel group’s first foray into city centre resorts, One&Only One Za’abeel is a truly luxurious haven that’s quickly becoming a must-stay booking in Dubai. The dual-tower structure – connected by the world’s longest cantilever, called The Link – is already an iconic sight in the skyline, blending architectural innovation with exceptional accommodation, world-class dining, and high-tech wellness facilities. The interiors, crafted by designer Jean-Michel Gathy, draw inspiration from the surrounding Za’abeel area, featuring a soothing neutral colour palette and subtle sand motifs that heighten the hotel’s cocooning atmosphere. That makes it a restful retreat after exploring everything Dubai has to offer.

Each of the suites is thoughtfully designed to cater to guest preferences too, with options like the Sanctuary Suites, which include in-room spa facilities, and the resort’s two pools: a rooftop infinity, offering breathtaking views of Dubai’s skyline, and a tranquil lower-level pool (perfect for families) surrounded by lush greenery. One&Only One Za’abeel’s commitment to wellness is also evident through its collaboration with Clinique La Prairie’s Longevity Hub. Book the new City Wellness Retreat for a tailored three-night stay that includes an in-depth longevity assessment, treatments, and nutritional guidance to quickly address your most pressing wellbeing needs.


WHERE TO RELAX & SPA

From Thai massages and Moroccan rituals to leading European skincare techniques, Dubai’s cosmopolitan nature means it acts as an incredible wellness melting point, where well-equipped facilities offer therapies and treatments from around the world all in one place. Every spa or wellness centre also drips with luxurious touches that help you slip deeper into relaxation – and that’s true whether you choose to relax in your hotel, or to venture out to local hotspots favoured by those who live in Dubai full-time. For the best experience, may we suggest that you do a little bit of both during your travels…

For perfect pampering: Blended Wellness

Blended Wellness is a charming beachside wellness centre that was set up by founder Dominique Laird to put self-worth back at the centre of your spa and exercise routine. Alongside a hair salon for swishy blowdries, the small-but-mighty spa features an extensive menu of treatments designed to relax and rejuvenate, with tension-relieving massages worth travelling for alone. There’s a whole host of fitness classes too – delivered with an empowering (not intimidating) feel – and the transformative Reformer Pilates sessions are a must-book; you really can’t beat the endorphins (and muscle burn) you feel afterwards. You can even combine your classes with mindfulness and sound healing practices, spend some relaxation time in the salt cave, and add on a lunch package in partnership with the beachfront Ula restaurant. In fact, the location – on the beachfront of Dukes Hotel, Palm Jumeirah – means you have the promise of a dip in the sea post-class, and can take a well-deserved nap on your reserved lounger on the sand.


For amazing massages: SIRO Recovery Lab

Siro Hotel

High-tech meets high-stretch at SIRO’s Recovery Lab, which is the perfect cross between a spa and a rehab facility. While most spas now ask generally about your aches and pains, the Recovery Lab is specifically designed to dig a little deeper, working to enhance your physical recovery by getting to the root of your concerns, so that you can workout even more effectively at the fitness hotel’s gym (or just feel super relaxed – whatever you prefer). On site, there is a host of leading technologies, including an infrared sauna, cryotherapy chamber and IV treatments to help alleviate inflammation, muscle soreness and fatigue, and these therapies are designed to supercharge your more pampering facials and massages. The specialised Proverb Modular Stretch Massage is a particular highlight, integrating dynamic stretching with targeted pressure to release knots and enhance your flexibility, so you leave feeling two inches taller. While the Lab might be results-driven, it never feels clinical. Minimalist interiors and lots of natural light create a really calming environment, so much so that you won’t want to leave the zen relaxation area (with its stunning views) for hours.


WHERE TO BOOST WELLNESS

The trend towards longevity – aka living better for longer – means that a simple massage is not the only way to achieve some much-needed R&R across the globe right now. Dubai is helping lead that charge. Treatments such as sound healing, infrared saunas and ice bathing have gained immense popularity, especially with the boom in smaller, independent wellness hubs for those in-the-know. These are the perfect places to head when you are seeking not only relaxation, but also long-term health and vitality.

For hot-cold therapy: Longevity Wellness

The perfect place for beginners to try a host of longevity hacks, Longevity Wellness is a great way to dip your toe (sometimes literally) into high-tech wellness. The small-but-mighty space was founded by seasoned ultra-marathoner Dani Afiouni, so you can trust the science behind everything on offer, but the atmosphere is also fun and friendly, with friends frequently coming together to try out the wellness circuits. We highly recommend booking in for a breathwork session in the infrared yoga studio: the guided experience helps you shut off the rest of the world with headphones and eye masks, and gets even the most reserved to let out their frustrations through visualisation, music and directed breathing. Then, feeling a little lighter, you can book a slot in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber (some people even work in there) or try the signature hot/cold contrast therapy. For this, you start in the infrared sauna – a hot and sweaty experience to bathe out the toxins – before being guided through the ice-bathing rituals. The ice-bath barrels are cooled to an array of crisp temperatures designed to reduce inflammation and muscle recovery, which sounds cold (and it is!), but the talented team are on hand to teach you all the correct techniques, so there’s no scaring off of beginners.


For supercharged treatments: Clinique La Prairie Longevity Hub

Dubai’s outpost of the award-winning Swiss longevity clinic, Clinique La Prairie, offers all the bespoke treatments you’d expect from the medical wellness pioneer, but tailored specifically to the health and wellness goals of Dubai’s visitors or locals. Consider it your complete health and wellbeing reset while on holiday. Central to the hub’s approach is the Longevity Index, a proprietary assessment tool that evaluates various health metrics to craft your personalised plan. You’re likely to find yourself standing on a body mass scanner to discover your muscle/fat distribution; with your face inside a facial analyser to confirm your skin health; and even sat with a mask on to capture your CO2 output, all in the (successful) attempt to get to know your body better, from head-to-toe. Then, with your detailed stats in hand, the expert team will craft your wellness programme, integrating advanced therapies such as cryotherapy, infrared treatments or intravenous drips, with cutting edge wellness technology and holistic massages. The signature three-hour experiences for Glow, Rebalance and Energise will ensure you feel the benefits of your rest and recuperation for weeks (not just days) to come.


WHERE TO WORKOUT

If you need any proof that fitness is at the forefront of Dubai’s wellbeing scene right now, you only have to look at the Dubai Fitness Challenge. Now in its eighth year, a record 2.73 million people participated in the November 2024 event which saw an extensive calendar of free fitness classes and activities, designed to help tourists and locals alike commit to 30 minutes of daily exercise.

Our top tip: you can use the challenge’s exceptionally clever (and extensive) map year-round to find a whole array of workout hubs and facilities aligned perfectly to your fitness level and your interests (even if they aren’t now free-of-charge). Or, why not try some of our personal highlights in the city, such as yoga in the sky at the Aura Skypool; 2024’s most trending sport, Padel, at Matcha Club (where you can also take meditation and yoga classes); or hitting the waves with the Burj Al Arab as your backdrop at Surf House Dubai.


WHERE TO EAT

From Middle Eastern specialities to international flavours as wide-ranging as steak to sushi, Dubai’s vibrant food scene is testament to its status as a cosmopolitan hub, and it’s a place synonymous with indulgence too. That means there are no shortage of award-winning restaurants to try in the city – and almost a paralysis of choice at times! For those wanting to eat more mindfully, there are plenty of ways to feed your stomach and nourish your soul in equal measure too, with Michelin-star vegetarian menus, unique experiences and locations, and health-focused menus that never falter in terms of flavour and excitement. Here’s where we recommend booking:

For Michelin-standard vegetarian food: Avatara

The world’s first all-vegetarian fine-dining restaurant (with a Michelin-star to boot), the team behind Avatara believe that vegetarian food should be just as exciting and sophisticated as any other cuisine – and it delivers. The menu’s twist on traditional Indian cuisine bursts with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and such is the depth of flavours and textures within the 16-course tasting menu that you won’t even miss the meat. Avatara’s innovative approach organises each bite around specific taste profiles – bitter, sweet, sour, umami – offering a unique culinary journey that stimulates all your senses, without overpowering them. In fact, the menu even avoids overpowering elements like onion and garlic, allowing subtle, natural flavours to shine. You’ll leave dreaming about many courses, but especially the jackfruit and the broccolini.


For exceptional sushi: Tapasake

Offering a blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines (known as Nikkei), Tapasake is renowned both for its incredible food and the breathtaking views – which is why you’ll need to book early if you want to secure a highly sought-after sunset slot. Situated alongside One&Only One Za’abeel’s suspended infinity pool in the sky, your table offers panoramic sights of the Dubai skyline, including the Burj Khalifa, and the whole place bursts with energy as the sun goes down. To make the most of the experience, we recommend starting your evening with your favourite cocktail from the bar, as you listen to the restaurant’s live DJ sets. Then, tuck into your feast of nigiri, maki and sashimi selections, plus the must-try stone bowls, where the fish is cooked in your rice bowl in front of you.


For a hidden gem: Bistro Aamara

This is award-winning food that still feels cosseting and homely, making Bistro Aamara the perfect lunch or dinner spot for friends and families if you want something that shows off through flavours (not big ‘look at me’ stunts). Inspired by the cuisines and flavours of the countries historically connected by the Silk Road, you’ll roll out of the restaurant after scrapping up every last morsel of succulent butter garlic prawns and dumplings to start, followed by moreish, warming malai curries and kofta, and an exceptional baklava to finish. It’s not just the dishes that standout here though: the staff are especially attentive and friendly too, with plenty of recommendations if you just can’t choose want you want on the packed menu.


WHERE TO RECHARGE

The desert: Platinum Heritage Safari by vintage Land Rover

If you want to ground yourself in the natural landscape of Dubai, away from the modern metropolis it has become, Platinum Heritage is an award-winning eco-luxury desert safari that caters to travellers looking for cultural adventures at a composed pace. Consider the Platinum Heritage Safari as your cultural fix without the tourism fatigue (a portion of your safari fee also goes towards protecting the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve for further sustainability points). You start your experience cruising over the sands in a vintage Land Rover Defender to watch Arabian oryx in their natural habitat. Then, there’s a host of traditional performances and activities – from falconry and dancing, to henna painting and Arabic coffee tasting – followed by a six-course dinner from your star-lit tent in the dunes. The safari ends with you laying back and watching the stars, with the lack of light pollution meaning you probably haven’t seen the planets ever quite as clearly. It’s the perfect way to further relax and unwind, and the lack of signal in the desert works as an unofficial digital detox too!

– Find out more about spa and wellness in Dubai


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