Dubai is home to some of the world’s most exceptional spas and wellness experiences offering innovative treatments for the mind, body and soul, fromcrystal therapies to sunset yoga, and even meditative equine experiences. To celebrate Global Wellness Day on 12 June, take a tour and experience some of the city’s most renowned hotels and wellness spaces created to nurture guests while harnessing the importance of health, happiness and wellbeing.

Nourish the mind with yoga, meditation and fitness activities

Offering Sunset Yoga, Sofitel Dubai The Palm encourages guests to unwind and welcome the new week to come with sunset yoga every Saturday. This one hour yoga class is designed to acclimate the body and soul to the setting sun. At Atlantis The Palm, guests can drown out the noise of city life and rejuvenate with underwater yoga classes while Home of Wellness in Dubai offers a unique stance on yoga with their Laughing Yoga experience. Laughter Yoga is a revolutionary concept – profound and simple. It is an exercise routine that is it is sweeping the world, and is a complete wellbeing workout. Those also searching for serenity and mesmerising yogic experiences should head to the Melia Desert Palm where Horse Guided Yoga sessions take place. Guests can tap into the innate equine qualities of calmness, awareness and authenticity by sharing time and space with the herd. Core Direction also offers a host of yogic experiences including; seaside yoga on the beach, dusk de-stress yoga from the decking of the Dubai Media City lakes, and twilight yoga within the Opera Garden overlooking Dubai Fountains.

SEVA offers guests meditation experiences based around self-realisation and actualisation. For those seeking more fitness and movement-oriented experiences, The100 Wellness Centre is a unique and holistic wellness destination in the heart of Dubai, home to pioneering yoga and Pilates experiences. Their Pilates method is at the core of the business and they offer a variety of classes including Mat Pilates, Reformer Pilates and even Circuit classes.

Finding peace with nature escapes out of the city

Beyond the glamorous city skyline and through the scenic desert lies the stunning meditative mountain range of Hatta. Just a 90-minute drive from downtown Dubai, this mountain conservation reserve is nestled amidst the majestic Hajar Mountains, which extends for 700 kilometres as the highest mountain range in the eastern Arabian Peninsula. The area is home to stunning natural scenery making it a great choice for nature lovers to switch off and find serenity. The calming waters of Al Qudra lakes are also a welcome spot to soak in a glorious desert sunrise. Nearby, fitness fans will delight in the Al Qudra cycling path, which is found close to the Love Lake. This 86km track cuts through the sandy terrain, and is popular with professional and amateur rider, taking from 1.5-3 hours to complete.

Remote retreats and spas

After a challenging year when many have faced restricted movement both locally and abroad, trips that offer remote relaxation hold huge appeal, and Dubai is home to a range of resorts that accommodate this wish. The Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa on the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve takes glamping to another level with luxury tented-style villas in a resort setting, each featuring its own private infinity pool. Activities on offer here include horse-riding, nature walks and sunset camel trekking over the rolling dunes, whilst the Timeless Spa has a wide range of wellness, rejuvenation and beauty therapies that draw on the wisdom of Middle Eastern and South East Asian aromatherapy traditions. Bab Al Shams is another rustic-chic desert oasis and home to a desert ecosystem hosts birds, geckos and a cornucopia of wildlife. The resort’s award-winning Satori Spa’s soothing environs indulge all the senses and encourage guests to completely unwind with luxurious treatments including aromatic body scrubs and hot stone aromatherapy.

Must-experience wellness treatments

For true wellness aficionados, the Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray offers a host of indulgent spa experiences inspired by the Ottoman heritage including cryotherapy, Turkish hammam treatments and more. The only Guerlain Spa in the United Arab Emirates, the spa at One&Only The Palm is a secluded retreat that offers innovative treatments. Guests can experience the restorative power of the Abeille Royale range, derived from pure Black Bee honey and precious royal jelly, with ‘Abeille Royale Honey Repair’. An advanced, technical treatment that combines precise and personalised movements with products containing particularly powerful active ingredients. At Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City, a team of modern-day Alchemists deliver ancient healing practices from the past combined with current day skincare advancements. Sensory spa treatments are carefully crafted to restore and renew, incorporating local ingredients prized for their healing benefits at Iridium Spa at The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm. Indulge in pure bliss with a massage or body treatment, or rejuvenate with a reviving facial.

All visitors to hotels and spaces in Dubai will have peace of mind knowing that  stringent measures have been put in place to ensure their health and safety, underpinned by the DUBAI ASSURED stamp, a compliance protocol that recognises and certifies all establishments within the tourism ecosystem that are adhering to the health and safety guidelines. Dubai was also awarded the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in 2020, giving travellers more confidence to visit the destination in 2021.