Rayana Ritual
Few spas in Abu Dhabi have maintained their positions as top of the pile. Now, Rayana has come along to give them all a run for their money. As far as unique experiences go, things don’t get much more unique than being pampered on the 19th floor of a tower leaning at an 18 degree angle. If Rayana was a spin-off of the name of one of the gates of heaven (Al-Rayyan) this would be rather appropriate. As it stands though, Rayana actually means ‘sweet basil’ in Arabic. No matter. We like basil. And we also like this new spa, which only properly launched in January and is refreshingly exhibiting next to no teething problems.
Rayana’s signature treatments are the Rayana rituals. To get a taste of these we opted for the Rayana (yes we too are slightly bothered by this repetition of the name) – which is two hours of pampering that includes a milky oil bath, a body scrub and a renewal massage.
The treatment step by step
A conscious effort has been made here to retain a natural ambience and an authenticity to the local culture. This is evident in everything from the desert themed décor to the massage oils commissioned exclusively from oil makers in Indonesia, which include only locally available ingredients and elements. When you first arrive, you’ll be served a tray of these oil samples to sniff and try as you please until you’ve picked the one you want used during your treatment. We opted for the ginger, lemon and grapefruit concoction, which promised natural purity. The spa has a gym (available to guests and anyone else that’s signed up for a treatment over two hours at the spa) a pool on the terrace, changing room facilities with starlit steam bath and funky rain showers galore. All facilities and rooms, of course, have a killer view.
Our therapist, Nasreen, was friendly and very informative from the get go. After we changed and readied ourselves in the treatment room’s en-suite bath/changing room (all the treatment rooms are equipped thus, don’t you know), she began with a foot scrub and wash, then invited us to take a relaxing soak in the whirlpool tub infused with milky bath oil. Decadent stuff. When it was over we felt a bit chilly stepping out of the bath, but everything has been thought out so well here, because a heated massage bed awaited us. Nasreen tucked us in all cosy like and then commenced with scrubbing each body part individually, starting with our legs. Back done, we turned over, and allowed our mind to slip away as we delighted in the nurturing and unwinding treatment. This in itself could easily have constituted a massage, but that was still to come. First we had to rinse ourselves off so we stepped under our personal rain-shower and enjoyed that for a bit. Then, squeaky-clean from head to toe, we dried off and went back to the bed for the grand finale. The Rayana special massage is a combination of pressure point stimulation and deep tissue with Swedish massage strokes. The result, at pressure mark ‘firm’, is just what the doctor ordered if you spend much of your life slouching in an office chair in front of your PC.
Pros
The fantastic staff demonstrated an outstanding attention to detail, and were dedicated to ensuring we were very nearly falling asleep on the massage bed.
Cons
The whirlpool bath lasted an entire ten minutes – which to some will feel like pure bliss. To us restless folk, however, even the water jets and changing underwater lights eventually ceased to amuse. No matter, we only complain because there’s a lack of anything else to complain about here.
The verdict
Rayana may not be as mind-blowing as Espa or as large as some spas we have in the capital. Yet you will be pampered and cared for with such devotion that there is nothing more you could want for. Combine that with a marvellous setting and we do declare that this spa is well worth a visit.
The Rayana ritual treatment costs Dhs970. Rayana is open daily from 10am-9pm, at the Hyatt Capital Gate, near ADNEC (02 596 1100).
