Luxury wellness travel trends in the GCC for 2024
Six Senses Zighy Bay
By Isabel Tapp, Founder of Luxury Communications Council, GCC Collective
While our New Year’s Resolutions are still fresh on our minds, wellness remains a priority for most. Gone are the days when a juice cleanse and new gym membership were the accessories du jour for January and February. These days, wellness is a yearlong pursuit, as evidenced by the rise in wellness tourism.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism is projected to hit US$1.3 trillion by 2025, up from US$ 817 million in 2022. Here in the GCC and across the Indian Ocean, we are seeing a raft of wellness-focused openings that put health and wellbeing at centre stage. Located in bucket-list destinations, in partnership with leading luxury brands, they are reshaping the way wellness is integrated into high-end hospitality.
Ancient Rituals Meet Modern Medicine
The world’s leading wellbeing retreats are striking a balance between cutting-edge science and indigenous healing wisdom. In the Maldives, Velaa Private Island’s new wellbeing ‘village’, Eveylaa, combines ancient Ayurvedic treatments that have been practiced for millennia with the latest in medical and osteopathic advancements. The result is a holistic, transformative experience that is completely tailored to each guest’s needs.
Eveylaa Wellbeing ‘Village’ at Velaa Private Island
Immersive Detox Stays
If you need some help to kick a habit, or simply want to press reset on your wellbeing, a dedicated detox retreat will put you in good stead. At Oman’s rustic-chic Six Senses Zighy Bay on the scenic Musandam Peninsula, guests can take part in a guided detoxification programme over three, five or seven days. Designed to eliminate toxins and cleanse the mind, these tailored retreats include yoga sessions, mindful meditation, and nutritious dining harnessing ingredients grown in the resort’s abundant gardens.
Weekend Wellcations
In our fast-paced world, we can’t all find the time in our lives for a week-long retreat. In response to this, we’re seeing a rise in ‘Wellcations’ – weekend getaways that combine state-of-the-art wellbeing with the luxury of relaxation. At Zoya Health & Wellbeing Resort in Ajman, UAE, the two-night Wellcation Programme includes a medical consultation, diagnostics and restorative treatments, from oxygen therapy to ozone saunas, with plenty of time in between for some R&R.
The Essence of Arabia
Far from being cookie cutter experiences, the GCC’s new breed of spas and wellness resorts are imbedded in their surroundings. Deep within Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO Heritage Listed site, Habitas AlUla draws inspiration from the resort’s captivating surroundings. At the resort’s Thuraya Wellness centre, authentically Arabian rituals include soulful Saudi sound healing sessions and spa treatments using date-seed body scrubs, mineral-rich clays, and fragrant oils blended in house.
Biohacking Hotels
For a growing band of travellers, fitness facilities are not just a nice-to-have – they are a vital part of life. Opening soon in Dubai, the world’s first SIRO fitness and recovery hotel is an immersive lifestyle destination aimed at guests who live and breathe wellbeing, from sports teams to high performers who can’t live without a daily workout. Suites feature in-room workout stations, massage tables, and stretch zones; common facilities include functional fitness rooms, yoga and Pilates studios, and the latest high-tech equipment; and a team of experts craft custom fitness, recovery and nutrition programmes.
Family Wellness Escapes
No longer the domain of solo travellers or couples, wellness resorts have become more inclusive, offering family-friendly escapes rooted in wellbeing. Situated on the northern tip of Qatar, Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som takes an inclusive approach to health and vitality with a dedicated family package that includes a consultation for all members of your tribe, daily meals, fitness and leisure activities from kayaking to local crafts, and pampering extras such as massages in the serene spa.
Supercharged Spa Resorts
Luxury branded spas are expanding to become hospitality destinations in their own right. Coming soon to Saudi Arabia is the Clinique La Prairie Health Resort at Amaala on the Red Sea. Featuring a dedicated diagnostics lab, state-of-the-art treatment rooms, and 66 ultra-luxury suites, the resort will become a haven for high-end wellness seekers. At the centre of the resort is the Longevity Plaza, which fans out into four distinct areas focused on each of the property’s pillars: medical care, movement, nutrition, and wellbeing.
This might just be the perfect way to maintain those resolutions while fuelling your thirst for adventure and your love for luxury travel.