The royal treatment awaits at the Palace Downtown spa

Pampering and spa treatments seem a far cry from an ‘essential outing’ but with relieved lockdown restrictions and the return to relative normality, treating yourself has actually shown itself to be an increasingly important element.

It’s fair to say that much of the past 12 months have been spent keeping calm and carrying on—in whatever form that has evolved into. For most, it has been a tough transition with the consequences and fall-out of the pandemic seeping into every aspect of our lives.

For those still uncomfortable with the idea of travelling, the search for transportive experiences has been in increasing demand, and places such as The Spa at the Palace Downtown Dubai has become much sought-after sanctuaries. As the name suggests, the Palace is built to replicate the design elements of historical Arabian royalty. The service is immaculate, but with elite-level mod-cons, stunning aesthetics and location of being smack bang at the base of the world’s tallest building added in.

The crown jewel, however, is its spa. With a focus on traditional eastern treatments, the intricate spa sprawls over two floors (one for men, the other for women) and offers everything from an Oriental bathhouse with a hammam slab to Jacuzzis, monsoon showers, steam rooms and a relaxation lounge overlooking the Burj Park Lake.

As you’d expect The Spa leans into its regal theme, with signature treatments The King’s Ritual (AED1,250 for 120mins) and One Desert Journey (AED850 for 90mins) offering an optimum level of pampering that you will need to organize the rest of your day around. However, it also offers a more standard menu of regular treatments (Deep tissue, Reflexology, Thai, Hot stone etc.) for varying lengths and costs.

“A visit to a spa may not be considered an ‘essential outing’, but it certainly feels like one.”

With attitudes to contact and closeness having changed for a post-pandemic world, the attention to detail admitted by The Spa’s masseuses is meticulous. Across the nine treatment rooms and communal areas, stringent social-distancing and cleaning protocols are masterfully implemented with minimal imposition to the guests. Guests are readily given options to customize the treatments by adding or remove elements to ensure their comfort is maximized, including whether they want the masseuse to use gloves or not for the treatment.

Any place claiming to offer royal levels of luxury sets a high bar for itself right from the off. However, the longevity and reputation of The Spa at the Palace Downtown, has shown that it can deliver stately-levels of pampering even in post-pandemic world. It may not be considered an ‘essential outing’ but it certainly feels like one.