Dubai has long been synonymous with luxury living, and the 2017 opening of The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel has ushered in the luxury wellness travel trends that have been sweeping around the globe. Dubai’s first holistic wellbeing resort offers a sanctuary of tailor-made health and wellbeing programmes while embracing Dubai’s vibrant energy. Compare Retreats checks in to see how this new resort measures up…
Location
Situated on the East Crescent of The Palm Jumeirah (the largest man-made island in the world), The Retreat Palm Dubai is located approximately 30 minutes from Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Positioned beside the beach, the retreat overlooks the Arabian Gulf and has a serene vibe.
Accommodation
Spread over 255 spacious rooms and suites, the accommodation options at The Retreat Palm Dubai are impressive. There are four room categories which include ‘Classic’ (35 square metres), ‘Club’ (35 square metres), ‘Club One-Bedroom’ (80 square metres) and ‘Royal’ (99 square metres with private Jacuzzi).
All rooms are well-appointed and have private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf to the Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah. Organic bathroom products, motion-activated guiding night lights, Bluetooth-enabled multi-screen TVs and a decadent pillow menu all add to the retreat’s five-star experience.
Food Programme
Complimenting the resort’s wellness focus, each of the four restaurants at The Retreat Palm Dubai serves a yummy selection of healthy cuisine. Supporting the philosophy ‘a healthy outside starts from the inside’, dishes are made from organic, locally-sourced products and are freshly prepared at live cooking stations.
International favourites feature on all menus, while the resort’s ‘Social Kitchen’ restaurant serves signature Levantine cuisine for those wanting to taste slow-cooked local delicacies. The retreat also has a unique ‘juice by the hour’ concept, in which freshly-pressed, vitamin and mineral-rich juices are offered throughout the day. The juices are themed under seven categories: ‘Awake’, ‘Energize’, ‘Fuel’, ‘Motivation’ ‘Boost’, ‘Detox’ and ‘Relax’, to match the changing needs of the day’s energy requirements.
Treatment Programme
Committed to the ‘personal transformation of body, mind and soul’, the holistic treatment programme at The Retreat Palm Dubai will impress the most discerning wellness travellers. Home to the world’s first Rayya Wellness Centre, the spa’s epic range of luxurious treatments and packages take a 360-degree approach to wellness.
Retreat packages are all-inclusive and fall under the following categories: ‘Renew’ (detox and cleanse focus), ‘Relax’ (yoga and mindfulness focus), Revive’ (emotional wellness focus), Revitalise’ (spa wellness focus), ‘Reshape’ (fitness focus), and ‘Rebuild’ (weight management focus).
Designed to improve physical and mental wellbeing, programmes are overseen by the retreat’s ‘Dream Makers’ (lifestyle consultants and health coaches) and span three to 14 days. In addition to the spa, Rayya Wellness also houses a traditional Moroccan Hamman and two state-of-the-art gyms equipped with high-tech workout equipment.
A team of experienced personal trainers and professional fitness instructors leads daily exercise classes including aqua aerobics, dance classes, yoga sessions and outdoor boot camp workouts to compliment the spa’s decadent relaxation offerings.
Results
Expect to feel pampered, primped and ready to turn over a new wellness leaf when returning to reality. This is a great place for couples, a girl’s weekend or even solo female travellers: their ‘Inspired by Her’ concept is an exclusive selection of ‘enriching experiences’ catering specifically to women. Special amenities cover ‘In-Room’, ‘Beauty’, ‘Food & Beverage’ and ‘Culture & Entertainment’, giving female travellers access to unique VIP services.
