Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Oman
Best for: A mountain retreat
Sitting pretty two thousand metres above sea level, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, a two-hour drive from Muscat, is as remote as they come, reached only by a four-wheel drive through the winding mountain roads. It will most certainly be worth the trip when you check in to your one-bedroom cliff pool villa which offers sublime views of the surrounding Hajar Mountains, though.
While there’s a plethora of activities on tap — think guided hikes, via ferrata climbs, zip-lining and archery — to best recover from Dubai Watch Week, days should be spent at the award-winning spa, which draws on the healing traditions of East and West through the likes of Thai massages and Ayurvedic therapies, with many ingredients sourced from the surrounding mountains and wadis. If that’s not enough for you, then book in for one of its multi-day wellness retreats, which comprise everything from meditation, yoga and hiking in the fresh mountain air to bespoke healthy meals and world-class sleep treatments. Trust us, your body — and mind — will thank you for it.
Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Qatar
Best for: A holistic wellness break
Perhaps the most serene wellness resort in the region, a break at Zulal Wellness Resort will have you feeling back to your old self in no time. As the Middle East’s first full-immersion wellness resort from the people behind Thailand’s iconic retreat Chiva-Som, you’ll find it at the northernmost tip of Qatar, with a chic design that reimagines a traditional Qatari village.
Spanning an impressive 280,000 square metres of space, it has everything on site to ensure you can fully rest and recover, but it’s worth keeping in mind this is mainly for the hardcore — food includes no gluten, dairy or sugar, and there’s no Wi-Fi either. Wellness regimens here are driven by Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine, with bespoke treatments, purifying hammams and healing therapies rooted in regional conventions.
The best bit? If you fancy making it a family affair, up to two children under the age of 16 dine and stay for free. Who can argue with that?
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Saudi Arabia
Best for: An award-winner
When a resort gets awarded not one, but two Michelin Keys — a distinction that signifies an exceptional stay — you know that you’re in for a treat. Well-deserved award-winner Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve makes for the perfect place to slow down and recuperate thanks to its secluded location that comes tucked away in Saudi’s remote Ummahat Islands, which just so happens to be one of the most unvisited archipelagos in the world.
If the Maldives and the Red Sea had a baby, this would be it. Think cuisine overseen by former Michelin star chef Lucas Julien-Vauzelle, plenty of activities including snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding, stargazing on the beach, and an exclusive Neyrah Spa where you can indulge in therapies including meditation, yoga, mud baths and sound healing, everything is designed to leave you feeling blissfully unburdened. That said, home to just 65 solar-powered beach and overwater villas, privacy comes as standard, and you could go days without crossing paths with another guest if you don’t want to. That’s our definition of bliss.
ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/ejhrz-nujuma-a-ritz-carlton-reserve
Desert Rock, Saudi Arabia
Best for: A remote desert escape
With Saudi Arabia’s recent boom in luxury hotels, it’s only fitting that two of its standout resorts make our list. You’ll find Desert Rock hidden amid the rugged Hejaz mountains, a desert sanctuary built in a five-million-year-old granite valley, home to just 54 villas and 10 suites, many of which come built into the cliff and have private pools.
As to be expected, the Spa at Desert Rock is a sanctuary of serenity, set at the base of the desert massif and designed in harmony with its surroundings. Inspired by the stillness and raw beauty of the landscape, it embodies grounded luxury through treatments rooted in ancient traditions and elevated by luxe wellness brands AMRA and Dr. Burgener. Indulge in celestial massages, rejuvenating hammams and holistic rituals designed to restore balance and vitality and, between treatments, unwind in private villas, take a dip in the vitality pool, or move between the steam, sauna and outdoor cabanas carved into the rock, all while surrounded by the stillness of the desert.
desertrock.sa
Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Dubai
Best for: A staycation
For relaxation a little closer to home, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab is one of Dubai’s newest luxury openings, marrying maritime elegance and contemporary Arabian design, all with iconic views of the Burj Al Arab. The resort’s striking yacht-inspired design houses a collection of world-class restaurants, landscaped terraces and an oceanfront pool, while rooms and suites are awash in soft, sea-inspired tones with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows.
Book a treatment at Talise Spa which, spanning three floors, serves up everything from a 22m indoor pool, fully-equipped fitness studio, gym and dedicated female-only spaces, plus 13 treatment suites each offering a private terrace with incredible vistas over the Gulf. Be sure to spend some time in the Remedy Suite while you’re at it — with everything from Cryotherapy and ChromoSpace light treatments to iDome infra-red triple detox treatments and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, its programmes including Neuro Calm are focused on accelerated relaxation and mental clarity: exactly what we need.
