18 amazing spa treatments in Dubai

Iridium Spa
Iridium Spa feels surprisingly intimate for such a grand hotel. It offers a range of treatments, including exclusive Swiss Perfection facials, and has a fun shower room that recreates tropical rainstorms.
Treatment to try: The Dubai Dream. After an aromatherapy bath, your therapist sprays a sleep spray to encourage you to drift off during your massage. 120 minutes, AED830.
Where: The St Regis Dubai
Contact: +971 4 435 5500,

Best for…Arabian-inspired rituals

Saray Spa
Treatments use botanical-based products made from local ingredients such as rose oil and honey, and the spa boasts its own Dead Sea floatation pool, too.
Treatment to try: Signature Dead Sea Journey, which includes a salt scrub and mud mask, followed by a soak in the floatation pool and massage. 120 minutes, AED990.
Where: JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Contact: +971 4 414 6754,

The Spa
On the menu are locally inspired rituals such as a detoxifying ghassoul clay body mask and rose-scented goat’s milk bath. Elsewhere, there are facials, massages and body treatments using Aromatherapy Associates products.
Treatment to try: Arabian Gold Ritual, which incorporates a refreshing basil and mint body scrub, gold clay body wrap and full body gold-infused massage. 120 minutes, AED1,050.
Where: The Address Dubai Mall
Contact: +971 4 438 8025,

Raffles Spa
Besides Asian-influenced treatments, you can also book a Moroccan Gold Hammam or detoxifying body wrap using local Shiffa products. Massage and body treatments feature Aromatherapy Associates products.
Treatment to try: Arabian Nights, an aromatic full-body massage using warm oils such as sandalwood, frankincense and rose to relax both body and mind. 60 minutes, AED479.
Where: Raffles Dubai
Contact: +971 4 314 9870,

Best for…Turkish hammams

Anjana Spa
With soft grey marble, huge heated massage table and tranquil blue mosaic tiles, Anjara Spa offers an authentic hammam experience with a luxurious bent (as you would hope from a Turkish hotel group).
Treatment to try: The Serenity Package includes a traditional hammam or a massage treatment, followed by a buffet lunch or dinner. 60 minutes, AED499 (weekdays) or AED599 (weekends).
Where: Rixos The Palm
Contact: +971 4 457 5415,

Anantara Spa
Following a stylish revamp last year, this lavish two-storey spa features palatial hammam facilities – think marble floors, trickling fountains and brightly coloured mosaics – for men, women and couples.
Treatment to try: Turkish Hammam Body Escape. After a steam and skin-renewing scrub with a kese mitt, your skin will be slathered in dollops of shea butter enriched with Argan oil. 90 minutes, AED800.
Where: Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort & Spa
Contact: +971 4 567 8140, website

Talise Ottoman Spa
There are separate hammams for women and men, plus saunas, steam rooms, snow rooms, two thalassotherapy pools and a whopping 42 treatment rooms. For couples, there’s a secluded hammam on the mezzanine level.
Treatment to try: The Sultan’s Hammam with Ice Massage. This is an invigorating hand, foot and scalp ice massage that follows the traditional Turkish hammam treatment to improve circulation. 60 minutes, AED560.
Where: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
Contact: +971 4 453 0456,

Best for…social spa-going

So Spa
Choose from a wide range of treatments, from Polynesian and Ayurvedic massages to Vichy showers, using products by Hei Poa, Anne Semonin and Thémaé.
Treatment to try: Ladies’ Night at So Spa takes place every Tuesday and includes a foot and back massage, file and polish, and brow shape. From 6pm-10pm, AED250.
Where: Sofitel, The Palm Resort & Spa
Contact: +971 44 55 54 33 or 54 34,

Willow Stream Spa
Named the region’s best resort spa at this year’s World Spa & Wellness Awards, top treatments include the signature Rose Bliss hammam; Kerstin Florian facials; and all manner of massages.
Treatment to try: The Treasured Time package includes a full body aromatherapy massage for two people, which utilises a blend of oils and massage strokes to stimulate the body’s circulation. 90 minutes, AED1,019.
Where: Fairmont The Palm
Contact: +971 4 457 3545,

Talise Spa
The spa offers a quiet pool where couples can relax together, along with cabanas in the garden and on the for outdoor massage, and a yoga studio for group and private classes.
Treatment to try: Spa-mazing. Valid until the end of September, the offer includes a 60-minute massage, yoga class and beach access. AED550 (weekdays) or AED590 (weekends).
Where: Madinat Jumeriah
Contact: +971 4 366 6818,

Best for…holistic treatments

The Oberoi Spa
As you would expect from the famous Indian hotel brand, there are a number of Ayurveda-inspired rituals, along with lesser-known Phytomassopodia treatments that focus entirely on the feet.
Treatment to try: Shiroabhyanga. Using Ayurvedic oils, vital points of the shoulders, neck, head and face are carefully massaged to release tension and encourage circulation. 45 minutes, AED380.
Where: The Oberoi Dubai
Contact: +971 4 444 1410,

YinYang Spa & Massage Centre
This wellness spa specialises in traditional Chinese therapies including acupuncture, cupping and reflexology. There is a range of different massage styles, from Thai and Korean to aromatherapy and detoxing, as well as Tui Na (“pinch and pull”).
Treatment to try: Meridian Shiatsu massage combines acupressure, stretching and compression along the body’s meridian channels to release blocked energy. 120 minutes, AED700.
Where: The Village Mall, Jumeirah
Contact: +971 4 385 5155, 

Best for… something different

DubaiICE Ladies Beach
The temporary pop-event can be found on the city’s only private ladies beach and is home to a number of seriously cool features.
Among them is the “snow spa”, as its name suggests, guests are given a number of treatments in sub-zero temperatures. Aside from being pretty unique, it’s believed to promote healthy looking skin, hair as well as act as mood enhancer.
Guests can also unwind over drinks at the Ice Bar before grabbing a memorable snap at the Snow Globe Photo Booth.
If you’re a fan of swings (who isn’t?), be sure to check out their Aqua Swing – it’s designed to simulate of the feeling of swinging through a waterfall.
There’s also food trucks, live entertainment – a DJ provides the soundtrack for the day – and a special children’s play area.
When: 2pm – 7pm, every Friday and Saturday until August 19
Where: Dubai Ladies Club, Jumeirah Beach Rodd, Jumeirah 2, next to Four Seasons Resort
Price: The event is free for Dubai Ladies Club members. Non-members can purchase tickets at the door or in advance at the standard price of AED250.
Contact: +971 4 349 9922, website

Best for…men in need of me-time

1847 Men’s Grooming Lounge
With dark wood furnishing, vintage-style barber chairs and a boutique stocking the finest grooming products, this men-only salon is as classy as they come. They offer haircuts, colours and wet shaves, along with a spa menu of more than 20 treatments including hydrating facials, body-buffing salt scrubs and mani-pedis using Vitaman, Gentlemen’s Tonic and REN products.
Treatment to try: Face Saver. This quick-fix for dry skin facial includes a clay mask and moisturising serum. 50 minutes, AED250.
Where: Grosvenor House Hotel
Contact: +971 4 399 8989,

LoungeSpa
Treatment rooms are decked out with musical instruments and images of jazz legends, while the barber’s salon features guitar-shaped mirrors, lampshades made out of drums and Takara Belmont chairs (who is, apparently, the Bentley of the barbershop world). On the menu is a range of treatments, from wet shaves and facials to massages and Moroccan hammams.
Treatment to try: Sole Reviver makes short work of hard skin, with a classic pedicure and callus removal treatment. AED165
Where: Al Barsha
Contact: +971 4 345 0036,

The Ritz-Carlton Spa
The spa has a separate men’s area with huge marble steam rooms, plush grey bathrobes and masculine therapies including Natura Bissé facials and muscle-reviving massages.
Treatment to try: Active Recovery. This tension-relieving treatment includes a foot soak and scrub, foot and leg massage, back exfoliation and massage. 60 minutes, AED515.
Where: Ritz-Carlton DIFC
Contact: +971 4 372 2777,