There is no excuse for not looking or feeling your best in Abu Dhabi.
Whether it is the need to unwind and escape the stresses of daily life or simply indulge in a spot of pampering there’s no shortage of places to satisfy your needs.
We’ve picked ten spas you should try in Abu Dhabi.
Anantara Spa: Suspend your disbelief for a moment and you could be forgiven for thinking that you have been transported to a luxurious olden-day Moroccan palace. The stunning architecture provides a fitting backdrop to one of the best – and most expensive – spa experiences in town. Seven treatment rooms play host to a wealth of pampering, including massage and aromatherapy. The venue also has two Jacuzzis and two steam-rooms, as well as a hammam which sticks faithfully to the palatial theme. A three-hour Route to Ayutthaya package with massage, body scrub and facial costs Dhs1,850.
Emirates Palace (02 690 9000; www.spa.anantara.com/abudhabi). Open 10am-10pm daily.
Chi, The Spa: If your hotel is named after a fictional Himalayan paradise where harmony reigns supreme, you are hardly likely to botch your in-house spa experience, and the Shangri-La in Abu Dhabi doesn’t miss a trick. Oriental methods are the order of the day here, and therapies are based on the five elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth. Single treatments, such as the 90-minute Chi Balance massage, start at Dhs550, while a Chi Journey package combines two treatments for around Dhs1,050, or you can drop in for half a day’s solid pampering for Dhs1,250 or so. Scrubs and body wraps are also available here.
Shangri-La Hotel (02 509 8888; www.shangri-la.com). Open 10am-10pm daily.
Eden Spa & Health Club: Although other treatments are on offer at Eden, this slick totem to wellbeing is particularly renowned for its expertise in all things Ayurvedic. While new fangled fads and trends come and go, Ayurveda – an ancient Indian system of medicine – includes the use of warm oils and herbs, restoring balance in different areas of the body to maintain health. Facials are also offered here, and other facilities include a Turkish hammam, a sauna, and an aqua-medic pool. If you like the sound of the Ayurveda, however, book in for a three-stage 90-minute introductory session for Dhs450. All treatments include use of the other facilities.
Le Meridien Abu Dhabi (02 697 4254; www.abudhabi.lemeridien.com). Open 9am-11pm daily.
Hiltonia Health Club & Spa: If it’s a comprehensive range of treatments you are after, then look no further than this acclaimed spa at the Hilton Abu Dhabi. While it may flirt with controversy by offering ear candling – the process of cleaning out earwax by lighting a cone of waxed cloth – the Hiltonia stays on a much steadier footing with the rest of its provisions. Try a 60-minute Swedish massage (Dhs300) or aromatherapy massage (Dhs330), or if you’re a stressed-out city slicker maybe the Executive Escape package is for you – two-and-a-half hours long, with hydrobath treatment, facial and aromatherapy massage, all for Dhs690.
Hilton Abu Dhabi, Corniche (02 692 4336; www.hilton.com). Open 9.30am-9pm daily.
Kaya Skin Clinic: Abu Dhabi’s phenomenal sun-drenched climate may virtually guarantee an even tone of bronze, but it can also have a detrimental drying effect on the skin. That’s where Kaya steps into the picture, as this friendly clinic provides a range of rejuvenating solutions for problem skin. Trained and qualified dermatologists and skin practitioners offer a range of services to visibly improve the way your skin looks, acts and feels. Treatments include a range of skin polishing and brightening techniques, such as the Dhs350 crystal facials and acne scar reduction.
Villa 218/1, Al Karamah, between 11th and 13th Street, near Khalifa Hospital (02 445 9923; www.kayaclinic.com). Open 10am-8pm daily.
Le Club Health & Fitness: The long opening hours here tell you all you need to know about Le Club’s dedication to the well-being of its clients. Whether you’re an early bird or something of a night owl, when it comes to getting your fitness, health and relaxation kicks, Le Club will be on hand to help. A range of massage, aromatherapy and reflexology treatments start at Dhs50 for a 10-minute foot massage. A full body massage costs Dhs215 for one hour, and there’s also a well-equipped gym and a swimming pool if you feel like something a little more energetic. You’ll appreciate the effort when you are kicking back in the steam room or sauna afterwards.
Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi, Corniche (02 626 2700). Open 6.30am-10pm daily.
The Lounge: The pedicure may belong solely to the female realm elsewhere in the world, but here in the Middle East it’s very much part of the man thing. The Lounge in Al Bateen offers male grooming on a luxury scale, with the usual array of spa treatments, plus a rather snazzy in-house hairdresser who specialises in close wet-shaves, minus the usual nicks, cuts and inevitable rash. Manicures and pedicures may not be your cup of Bovril, but you’d have to be one measure of testosterone too many to turn down one of their massages – long, relaxing and just the ticket for whiling away a summer afternoon indoors.
30th Street (02 667 7377; www.thelounge.ae). Open 10am-midnight; Friday 4pm-12midnight daily.
Paris Gallery Day Spa: This day spa offers massages, facials and body treatments. Friendly and efficient service gets you into a relaxed frame of mind from the off – and that’s even before you’ve dipped your pinky toe into the plethora of pampering options available. If your nails are in need of some attention, book yourself in for a full spa manicure and pedicure. There’s a range of massages available, including hot stone, maternity and a straight down the line relaxation option, plus a Moroccan hammam and body scrubs. Another plus of this salon is its use of Phytomer, Decléor and Clarins products.
Comfort Zone (02 667 8880; www.parisgallery.com) Khalidiya Centre. Open Sat-Thu 11am-9pm; Fri 3pm-9pm.
Yoga Tree & Soma Pilates Studio: There’s a reason that so many have turned to yoga as a way of maintaining optimum health. The ancient system of disciplines is widely recognised as one of the best ways of keeping mind and body in shape. And there are few better venues in Abu Dhabi to hone your techniques than the Yoga Tree. The studio offers sessions ranging from Dhs50 per hour for a public class and Dhs250 for an hour in private with an instructor. If you want something a little different, the studio also offers salsa dancing.
30th Street (02 667 6579; www.yogatree.ae). Open Sun-Wed 8am-8pm; Thu 8am-6pm; Fri closed; Sat 9am-12noon.
Zen The Spa: With a name like Zen, you’re going to expect the best in relaxation, and quality and quantity are the order of the day at this palatial Asian-influenced spa. The quantity comes in the shape of 10 treatment rooms (six for women, four for men), two tranquility suites and a plethora of therapeutic services, each taking their cue from ancient holistic philosophies. Oriental methods are given a contemporary twist, providing customers with an experience that draws on the past to ease the many headaches of the modern world. Massages start from Dhs348 for 60 minutes, and various treatment combinations are available.
Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers(02 644 3000; www.rotana.com). Open 10am-10pm daily.
