Abu Dhabi is famed for its year-round heat and swanky hotels – and where there are great facilities, there are luxury spas. Janine Kelso checks out the best
Emirates Palace
The Moroccan-style Anantara Spa opened at this landmark hotel in May 2007, offering a hammam with heated marble beds, whirlpool baths, steam rooms, water fountains, an ice shower and cave, and seven treatment rooms.
The 195-minute Gateway to Arabia treatment starts with a session in the hammam followed by a skin scrub, a rigorous massage and a visit to the ice cave. The treatment ends with a serving of cookies and herbal tea, and costs a cool £155.
Sample product: Emirates Tours offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the Emirates Palace for £1,608 per person in October, including flights and transfers.
Beach Rotana Hotel and Towers
The upmarket Rotana Hotel unveiled its Zen Spa last October, comprising 10 treatment rooms and two VIP suites equipped with whirlpool baths and chill-out zones.
Treatments are based on the Zen philosophy of relaxation for the mind, body and spirit, and vary from facials to hand and foot massages.
Centrally located in Abu Dhabi with its own stretch of beach, the hotel is linked by a passageway to the palatial Abu Dhabi Mall, home to a cinema and a string of top boutiques.
Sample product: Travel 2/4 offers one night’s bed and breakfast at the Beach Rotana Hotel and Towers for £65 per person twin-share in October.
Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri
Hailed as a relaxation haven, the CHI spa opened at Abu Dhabi’s Shangri-La Hotel in March with 10 single treatment suites and one couples’ suite.
Unique facilities include an ‘experience’ shower, which uses colour therapy and cold and warm jets, and a herbal steam room, which combines calming herbs with steam to relieve tired muscles.
Treatments have an eastern flavour – the detoxifying coffee scrub uses local Arabic coffee with aloe vera gel, which is said to diminish cellulite.
Sample product: If Only offers four nights’ bed and breakfast at the Shangri-La Hotel for £799 per person between June 19 and July 15, including flights and transfers.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi
The InterContinental has a private beach and leisure club with whirlpool bath, sauna, steam room, plunge pool and outdoor swimming pool. Massage treatments vary from Swedish to Chinese techniques.
Sample product: Gold Medal has five nights at the hotel for £999 per person in October, including flights and transfers.
Hilton Abu Dhabi
Sitting on the shores of the Gulf, this hotel’s spa offers modern, Western-style treatments and those from the Orient, including body scrubs and water therapy. There are five treatment rooms, two relaxation rooms, saunas, whirlpool bath, steam room and a private beach.
Sample product: Kuoni offers five nights’ bed and breakfast at the Hilton Abu Dhabi for £930 per person in October, including flights and transfers.
