Spas and ‘wellness’ are serious business in the UAE. In 24-hour cities like Dubai, the frenetic pace of life and the harsh weather conditions tend to wear people down, and quickly. It is for that reason that the Esquire team has combined its considerable knowledge and (hard earned!) experience of spas in the Emirates to provide you with this man’s guide to the top ones across the country in the categories of: Urban, Beach, Nature, Hipster and Couples.
For more, read our: Spa Tips For Men
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The Urban One (pictured above)
Shine Spa, Sheraton Grand Dubai
Take time out from the relentless pace of the big city
You don’t need to be a Dubai veteran to know that the city operates at a break-neck speed. The city that doesn’t sleep? Pretty much. This relentless pace of life is what makes it such an exciting and inspiring place to live, but every now and then, even the best of us need to put the gears into neutral. The Sheraton Grand on Sheikh Zayed Road is one of those buildings that has seemingly appeared from nowhere, and over its first year its high-floor Shine Spa has easily become its biggest lure. The modern, and sleek aesthetic makes you feel like you’ve walked into a calming heaven as designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, but with stunning views away from all the chaos below.
The treatment
The Power Back treatment couldn’t be more tailored for Dubai’s men if it tried. Created to alleviate tension-related headaches and neck strain, this deeply soothing massage uses warm stones to relieve the back and shoulders of tight or aching muscles.
Why it’s great for men
Stress and the city, come hand in hand. This massage is custom-made to help repair the parts that suffer the most for the deck-bound gentlemen among us.
The Beach One
Six Senses Zighy Bay
Work on your tan while you unwind in Oman’s secluded paradise
Despite being just under a couple of hours drive from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, part of the allure of the Six Senses’ famed Zighy Bay resort is its getaway feel. The encircled craggy mountains of the Musandam peninsula act a bit like a force-field, blocking out the chaos and stresses of your urban life. The fact that you can opt to parasail your way into the resort is another enormous feather in its cap. Constructed to echo the look and feel of an Omani fishing village (albeit a five-star one), the resort’s myriad villas offer the beach-boarding aesthetic you envisage when you close your eyes. Once you’ve made the most of your personal plunge pool (pictured) and soaked up some of the sunshine on the resort’s immaculate private beach, head over to the award-winning Six Senses spa for a massage in one of its many treatment rooms. It is pretty good way to help you remove those stress knots so you can relax on the beach properly.
The Treatment
With a cleared schedule and nothing but time to kill, it would seem amiss not to take advantage of the leisurely 90-minute Six Sense Signature Massage. Opt between choices of Detox, Energising, Holistic and Oriental, with each one designed to cater to your pressure preference. A selection of aromatherapy options and oils only adds to the calming atmosphere. We fell asleep – twice.
Why it’s great for men
Zighy Bay’s Spa is heralded around the world due to its flexibility to tailor treatments to your specific needs. If you’re suffering from a sports injury, they’ll work the massage around it. If you’re dealing with sunburn (as a majority of guests are) they will tailor-make treatments to soothe the stinging and damaged skin.
The Hipster One
Akin barbershop
Trim your beard, grow your reputation
Despite only being open for a short time, Akin Barbershop on Sheikh Zayed Road has already become one of the coolest spot in Dubai. It may only have three barber chairs and a no-booking policy, but it has built up a sizable neck-tattooed, sustainable coffee-sipping clientele. The ultra-cool aesthetic matches its chilled-out atmosphere and has attracted a loyal community of people who are happy to take it easy and wait their turn. The come-one-come-all vibe makes it as popular with surfers and artist as it is with style-savvy businessmen.
The treatment
If you’re the proud owner of a newly-grown beard, you’ll be happy to know that you can turn to somone who has the ability and knowhow to trim and style your facial hair.
Why it’s great for men
When was the last time you could trust someone to do something adventurous with your hair?
The Couples One
Talise Ottoman Spa, Zabeel Saray
Settle in for a tag team treatment
There is no other way to describe it, the Talise Ottoman Spa at the Zabeel Saray is a behemoth. The multi award-winning spa has a massive 42 treatment rooms, and every conceivable specialist room you can think of from saunas and steam rooms to thalassotherapy pools and cavernous communal hammams. Everywhere you look there is another vaulted roof with a beautiful tiled mosaic. But for all its grandeur, it is ideal for couples. The vast couple’s suite is bigger than most normal apartments and includes a private Jacuzzi pool and side-by-side couples treatment beds. Perfect.
The treatment
The signature Romance 1001 Roses package is the real deal. Designed exclusively for the spa, the 120-minute session includes a skin-softening milk Jacuzzi with a bottle of bubbly and fresh strawberries, before concluding with a luxurious 60-minute aromatherapy massage.
Why it’s great for men
Sure, it may sound hugely cheesy to you, but remember, those brownie points can be cashed in later when you need them most.
The Nature One
Anantara spa, Sir Bani yas island
A private island complete with its own giraffe safari
Arguably the coolest bit of Jurassic Park was when they first arrive on the island, flying their helicopter over vast fields of wilderness, with the animals running roughshod below. Now what if we were to tell you that you could do that right here in the UAE… just without the dinosaurs.
Sir Bani Yas is a small island just off the mainland half way between Abu Dhabi and the Saudi border. Formerly the private retreat of the UAE’s founding father HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the 87sq-km island was turned into the region’s largest wildlife reserve in 1971. Today, the island is home to more than 10,000 free-roaming animals including giraffe, cheetah and hyena, and three Anantara-operated five-star hotel properties. Despite the huge plethora of outdoor activities available, including archery, horseback riding, wind surfing and shooting, the spa alone is good enough to make it worth the trip.
The treatment
The no-nonsense 165-minute Island Rejuvenation treatment may sound like a long time, but after a day spent on safari around the island, your body will thank you for it.
Why it’s great for men
Because even the manliest of men need to have their feet rubbed after a day out in the plains spotting cheetah.