Destressing in Dubai

Dubai is arguably the most well-known of the United Arab Emirates. You could call it a city-state and it knows how to stay in the news. It has huge artificial islands, the tallest building in the world, a seven-star hotel, the list of superlatives goes on. Dubai used to be a fishing village in on the Gulf of Arabia, but has transformed itself into a hugely popular tourist destination in the Middle East.

Most of Dubai’s visitors go there to admire the architecture and see the exuberant luxury of some of the hotels. Many also enjoy soaking up some sun and relaxing as well. The emirate is located on the sunny and warm Arabic peninsula and has several excellent options to wind down and recharge your batteries. The temperature of the ocean vary from 22°C in winter to a warm 35°C in summer and the sandy beaches of Dubai are among the whitest in the world. Several luxurious hotels have claimed their share of the beaches, but there still are some public beaches left. Al Mumzar is one of them, located near Sharjah, one of the neighbouring emirates. Do keep in mind that during the work week the streets are full of traffic and reaching the beach can be difficult. Alternatives are Jumeirah Beach Park (small entrance fee) and Kite Beach (free) in Umm Suqeim. This last one got its name due to its popularity among kite surfers. Some hotels do allow you to use their beaches for a fee. Those beaches generally have loads of facilities and you can rent water sports equipment as well.

There are several public parks in Dubai too, where you can relax on the grass in the shade, or get some sun. They are beautifully landscaped places and comfortable to hang out in. A popular one is Al-Mamzar Beach Park. It gets pretty crowded on the weekends but is much quieter during the week. If you are looking for some water fun, Dubai has several water parks too. Children’s City, Creek Park, Creekside Park, Safa Park, Wild Wadi Water Park are only a few of them.

Other places to relax in Dubai are the numerous spas and wellness retreats. There are countless spas in the emirate and your choices vary from herb treatments and hydrotherapy to Eastern treatments and stone massages. The staff are excellent and treat you extremely well. Going for a spa treatment is a nice way to end a day of surfing, lying on the beach or shopping. Yas Beauty Spa is situated in the Old Town of Dubai and offers treatments for both men and women. For face and body treatments adjusted to particular skin types you should visit the Softouch Spa, located in the Mall of the Emirates. The Talise Ottoman Spa lies in the exquisite Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel and has won the award of U.A.E.’s Leading Spa Resort twice. The spa is splendidly decorated and they offer all kinds of treatments imaginable. Another recommended spa is the Assawan Spa & Health Club, located on the eighteenth floor of the world-famous Burj al Arab. Going there will make you feel like royalty and will provide an unforgettable experience.

Photo Credit : Creative Commons Christopher Michel