The spas in Dubai

Austerity seems to be a word unknown to Dubai. Seven-star hotels, artificial ski resorts in the middle of the desert, the tallest buildings in the world, artificial islands in imaginative formations, from palm trees to the globe. Exotic kitsch opulence, pluralism and extravagance reign supreme. By 2010 – the year Dubai is expected to run out of oil reserves – Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's king, hopes to attract 15 million tourists. And they have many ways to do it…

The best spas in Dubai

Ας δούμε λοιπόν μερικά από τα πολυτελέστερα spa στο Dubai!

MANDARA SPA

The Atlantis resort opened on the artificial palm island "The Palm Jumeirah" last year and became the first topic in all the lifestyle magazines, as well as authoritative newspapers of the world. The Mandara Spa is one of the largest SPAs in the Emirates and certainly one of the more impressive. The entire resort cost about $1.5 billion, has 1,539 rooms, Michelin-starred chef restaurants, Ambassador Lagoon, a marine park with thousands of species (including stingrays and sharks), Lost Chambers, an underwater-view complex with theme of the mythical Atlantis, Dolphin Bay an interactive dolphin center and much more. The Spa experience can be continued in your private suite, where you will sleep next to hundreds of species of fish and sharks.

ASSAWAN SPA & HEALTH CLUB

On the 18th floor of the unique Burj Al Arab, well-being reaches seven stars, with two gyms, two swimming pools, two jacuzzis, a sauna and a steam room. Views of the Arabian Gulf and ornate gold mosaics are the perfect backdrop for treatments by La Prairie and ESPA. Treatments and treatments are as diverse as Dubai's aesthetics: royal treatments for the face and body, such as the Extreme Indulgence with caviar scrub, body wrap with clay and ginger, Ayurveda massage with hot stones, four-hand massage (Purva Karma), limb massage (Kahuna) and many more.

THE GRAND SPA

At the Grand Hyatt Dubai, the Grand Spa, with six treatment rooms, relaxation areas, squash courts, a gym and an indoor pool of 20 sq.m. you can experience Arabian opulence through wellness. Using New York beauty products, June Jacobs and Bella Lucce, the spa offers a wide range of massages, facial and body treatments, and pedicures. Among the top treatments are The Wall Street Facial, Business Man's Detox, Peruvian chocolate facial, Pervuvian chocolate fondue body wrap, Chocolate indulgence manicure / pedicure, but also the Arabian Incense Cocoon, which is based on centuries-old Arab traditional techniques and is designed exclusively for the Spa of the magnificent hotel.

H20 THE MALE SPA

An all-male spa has opened at the prestigious Jumeirah Emirates Towers. The treatments and facilities are specially designed for the modern man who travels frequently, whether for business or pleasure. H2O Floatation Pool is the best way to relax after a long journey by floating in warm salt water. The total relaxation of this treatment is said to be equal to that of eight hours of sleep. The antidote to jet lag is served at The Oxygen Bar, while you sit on comfortable seats, which pronounce 47 different types of massage. A treat not to be missed whenever you travel to Dubai.

BEST ADVENTURE

The sheikh fulfills every possible wish of every tourist and this time he also thought of adrenaline junkies, with the Leap Of Faith. It is the scariest water slide in the world, with an almost vertical slope, which continues under the water of the pool, among dozens of sharks. It is located in the huge Aquaventure water park, of the Atlantis resort, on Palm Jumeirah. The experience is more scary than fun, says the park spokesperson, but highly exhilarating. On youtube there are videos of lucky people who have already lived the experience, they are worth watching.

EXTREME PROJECTS

Burj Dubai

The Burj, the Dubai Tower, will be the tallest building in the world, with 141 floors (more than any other skyscraper in the world). When it opens its gates, it will grace the emirate's main thoroughfare, Sheikh Zayed Road. According to investment firm Emaar Properties, the building will be part of a giant $20 billion, 2 square kilometer complex called 'Downtown Dubai', which will include 30,000 apartments and the world's largest shopping mall. The construction of Burj Dubai started at the end of 2004, and the total budget for the project is estimated at around 4 billion dollars. Its shape was inspired by the desert flower, which often appears as a decorative design in Islamic architecture, but it also has structural purposes: Its constricting shape ensures that the volume is limited as it reaches the top, making the structure more stable. The building will be mixed-use, with a luxury hotel occupying the middle floors, apartments and offices on the upper floors, as well as retail and entertainment venues. On the 124 fourth floor there will be an observation deck for visitors. The pricey 700 apartments were all sold within about eight hours of being put on the market in 2005.

Hydropolis

Hydropolis, the world's first underwater luxury resort, below the surface of the Persian Gulf, off the coast of Dubai, will give new meaning to the "ocean-view" room. The huge underwater hotel complex is expected to reach a size of 2.2 square kilometers, with a cost of up to 430 million euros. It will house 250-300 suites, restaurants, Spa and cinema. From land, guests will arrive at Hydropolis through underwater tunnels by tram. The building will be approximately 80% below sea level, and there will also be offshore areas. Its safety is indisputable since it even has anti-missile systems!

Dubailand

Dubailand will be the world's largest theme park, twice the size of Disney World, and is expected to be a city divided into six themed worlds: “Attractions & Experience World” (13 sq m) will include Universal Studios Dubai , water parks and the Dubai Snowdome, another artificial ski resort. The “Retail and Entertainment World” (4 hmm2) will have among others World Trade Park and many Factory Outlets. The "Sports and Outdoor World" (19 hmm2) will be dedicated to the seed Dubai Sports City and Dubai Golf City, while the “Themed Leisure and Vacation World” (29 hmm2) will be dedicated to women, with Resorts and Spa. The "Eco-Tourism World" (75 hmm2 ) will have mainly hotels (Al Sahra Desert Resort and Sand Dune Hotel) and “Downtown” ( 1.8hmm2 ) would have Mall of Arabia, the largest merchant in the world Virtual Game

The World Islands

An artificial archipelago of three hundred private islands in the shape of the world map, 4 kilometers off the coast of Dubai. Each island has an area of 14,000 to 42,000m², with an average distance of 100 meters between them. The structure covers an area of 54 square kilometers and is surrounded by a breakwater in an oval formation. Visitors can only move from island to island by boat or helicopter. They were built by Nakheel Properties and were another of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's visions. By January 2008, 60% of the islands had been sold. According to the National Geographic Channel, the total cost to build “The World” reached $14 billion.

GUIDE

WHERE TO SHOP:

• Mall of Emirates (www.mallofemirates.com), where the artificial indoor ski center is also located.

• Boulevard Emirates Towers, home to the celebrity boutique, Boutique1 (www.boutique1.com)

• Wafi (www.wafi.com)

• Dubai Mall (www.thedubaimall)

WHERE TO GO FOR A DRINK:

• Buddha Bar – restaurant & nightclub

• Bar 44 – serves 44 fine champagnes, with the marina as a backdrop

• Vista Lounge – at the new Intercontinental

WHERE TO EAT:

• Segreto – modern Italian cuisine

• Rhodes Mezzanine – from renowned British Michelin-starred chef Gary Rhodes

• Blue – seafood

• Caviar House & Prunier