Body and mind are equal partners in the unique experience that awaits you at any of Dubai’s hammams, which are an excellent way to experience traditional Arabic customs for yourself. This ancestral skincare and body relaxation service has been exported to the rest of the world, so there are Arab baths in many other countries. Its origin was inherited from the Roman thermal baths, which spread throughout the Ottoman Empire.
Arabic baths are found in each of the United Arab Emirates, and Dubai is no exception. Some of Dubai’s spas are large, with separate rooms for men and women. Others, meanwhile, are smaller and only cater to one gender.
- Occidental al Jaddaf
- Barceló Residences Dubai Marina
- Dukes The Palm
- Qué es un hamman
- Beneficios del hamman
- Dónde dormir en Dubái
For some time now, private tourist-oriented steam baths have thrived in Dubai. To help you decide which one to visit, we’re going to tell you about the best wellness centres in Dubai. You’ll be able to pamper yourself in a wide range of treatment and relaxation rooms in a genuine Turkish hammam experience. Come and embark on this sensory journey and see what all the fuss is about!
Occidental al Jaddaf
One of the exclusive services offered by this magnificent hotel next to Dubai Creek is the Rayya Wellness Centre, which means “Serene Breeze” in Arabic. It adopts a revolutionary wellness concept whose philosophy goes far beyond providing health and wellness therapies. Rather, it also includes holistic, tailor-made experiences that awaken your senses, revitalise your body and lift your spirits. The essence of the Rayya Wellness Centre is inspired by Arab culture, traditions and wisdom, with the Arabian Peninsula serving as a gateway to the world for centuries. We recommend opting for the Miracle Experience.
Barceló Residences Dubai Marina
A highly regarded health and wellness centre stands next to the magnificent Barceló Residences Dubai Marin: Elixir Spa & Health Club. You can enjoy a luxurious ritual that will activate your mind and body while you experience a typical Moroccan hammam. The centre offers a wide range of treatments and relaxing massages that will make you feel brand new. Following your treatment, why not take a plunge in the magnificent outdoor pool of the Barceló Residences Dubai Marina?
Dukes The Palm
This enormous hotel, located in the iconic Palm Jumeirah, boasts a magnificent spa centre with a 24/7 sauna and jacuzzi as well as its own fitness room, allowing you to relax and pamper yourself at any time of day. It is luxury in its purest form, which never fails to meet the needs of its most demanding of guests. We also recommend spending time in its impressive restaurants, bars and lounges, which manage to strike the perfect balance between tradition and modernity.
What is a hammam?
A hammam, also known as an Arab or Turkish bath, is a type of steam bath which, in addition to cleansing your body, aims to relax your mind in general. Hammams have had a prominent role in Far Eastern cultures as a meeting place, a hygiene ritual and an architectural space.
In the Islamic culture, the significance of the Turkish bath was both religious and civic since ritual ablutions were carried out inside. There is evidence that this type of bath already existed during the Umayyad caliphate (7th and 8th centuries). Curiously, hammams have managed to remain significant right up until the present day. It is said that it was the Ottoman Empire that introduced hammams to central and eastern Europe, stretching from Greece to Hungary.
A curiosity: the word ‘hammam’ means ‘heat’, and the term ‘Turkish bath’ in English was first recorded in 1644.
Benefits of the hammam
The hammam provides many properties and benefits. They say that it increases oxygen exchange in the lungs, opens up the airways, relaxes the nervous system, reduces stress and anxiety, dilates the pores leaving a smooth and soft skin, releases toxins through sweat, accelerates the metabolic functions and stimulates the hormonal system, producing a feeling of well-being; and that it is beneficial for the hair, it relieves menstruation symptoms and contributes to reducing acne among teenagers.
Where to stay in Dubai
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Dubai, we can offer you some great recommendations. Given their excellent value for money, we recommend staying at Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, which is located in the iconic Palm Jumeirah standing opposite the Nakheel shopping centre; the Barceló Residences Dubai Marina, which boasts spacious apartments in the Dubai Marina; the Occidental Dubai Production City, standing close to the site of the Expo; and the Occidental Al Jaddaf, with spacious rooms and possibly the largest suites in the city.