Hikes, spa treatments and yoga, UAE rises as a wellness destination
21 Mar 2025 00:56
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)If you've been anywhere near Instagram in the last few years, it would have been hard to miss the obsession with wellness. Whether it's Sunday morning run clubs, healthy meals or mindful retreats, in an era of civil and societal disruption, many are looking for ways to enhance their wellbeing. According to Ghazal Sajid, Co-Founder and Wellness Travel Expert at Luxafar, a Dubai-based travel consultant, people are also starting to align their holiday plans with travel experiences that prioritise relaxation, mindfulness, and wellbeing. She said the UAE is well placed to capitalise on this new trend, with a variety of retreats, experiences and natural escapes to cater to a growing market. 'Wellness travel is deeply personal — whether through adventure, relaxation, or spiritual growth,' she said. 'As the world moves toward mindful travel, wellness escapes are becoming a preferred choice. Whether it's a solo retreat or an active adventure, wellness travel offers a way to reset and recharge,' Sajid added. According to Grand View Research, the UAE's wellness tourism sector is expected to generate $12.5 billion in revenue by 2030, positioning it as the fastest-growing market in the MENA region. According to Sajid, for many travellers, there is a rising trend for short solo getaways that last three to four days and give travellers time to embrace nature, meditate, and reset mentally. Certainly, a spate of new developments in the UAE are targeting this market. Set to become the world's tallest wellness retreat, Therme Dubai – Islands in the Sky, is a $545-million project located in Zabeel Park, Dubai. The 100-metre-tall resort will feature natural therapeutic pools, expansive indoor and terrace pools, restaurants, and look to capitalise on the global wellness tourism market, which Grand View Research projects to reach 26.19 billion by 2030. 'Dubai is a city that understands the future must be built with wellbeing at its core,' Dr. Robert Hanea, Founder and CEO, Therme Group, said at the time of the announcement. Abu Dhabi is also taking strides into this burgeoning wellness real estate space, which is already worth hundreds of billions globally, with development of the world's first 'healthy living' island, the SHA Residences Emirates. The development aims to attract 'health-conscious' investors and visitors through a design that integrates wellness and full access to have access to SHA's health programmes, including medical and wellness treatments and therapies. 'Wellbeing is at the core of the design, it's a private sanctuary,' IMKAN Properties' CEO, Suwaidan Al-Dhaheri, said of the development.'The design encourages organic connections in communal spaces like wellness pavilions, and curated event spaces.' Ras Al Khaimah is also marketing itself as a wellness and adventure hotspot, leaning into its natural landscape to offer visitors chances to reengage with the natural world. Jabal Jais, the UAE's highest peak, is quickly becoming the epicentre for these activities, with several retreats planned for the near future. Sajid said that the ascendancy of wellness tourism will only continue to grow as people's appetite for retreat grows, as they try to balance out the stress from their daily lives.
'In today's fast-paced world, travellers seek more than just a getaway; they want meaningful experiences that benefit their mind, body, and soul,' she said.
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