The Burj Al Arab can be a little intimidating; it is not so much the heightened security or sheer indulgence, it has more to do with the clientele. A visit to the hotel requires one to traverse around the gaggle of super-rich Russian and Chinese tourists taking time to “experience” Dubai.
The spa in the hotel is a concentrated experience of the lobby – there is the indisputable luxury, plumped up with Botox and fillers. It is not a place to just relax, it is a place to be seen to relax.
The hotel’s Talise Spa is located on the 18th floor, 150 metres above sea level offering stunning views of the Arabian Gulf. The decor befits the overall extravagance of the seven-star hotel with deep green and red marble and plush chairs. Guests are greeted with raspberry and ginger water, then led down corridors that house individual treatment rooms. No one speaks here, they just whisper.
Before the treatment, guests are required to fill in a form that requests expectations, problem areas and the aim of their visit.
The changing room is communal, but with individual stalls and showers for those less comfortable with public changing. With each locker comes a candle, a pair of slippers and a bathrobe, and disposable underwear.
Besides the array of massages and treatments, the spa offers two experiences – a romantic moonlit swim and an “Arabian Journey”. As a solo attendee, I opted for the latter, designed to relax and revitalise the body – perfect after a gruelling week of conferences.
It is an 85-minute journey, infusing elements from the region that included a verbena-scented sand scrub followed by a patchouli and argan oil full-body massage.
The treatment begins with a foot wash, which for me is always a troubling affair. The practice seems out of place in the modern day world and belongs to the subservience of the Roman era.
But I stayed quiet, convincing myself it ensures customers have clean, nice-smelling feet before the masseuse ploughs away with a foot massage.
Once on the massage table, the amber aromatherapy and sandy body scrub begins.
The scrub is not abrasive, it is enough to exfoliate and soften the skin. It does, however, get everywhere and the shower at the end comes as a great relief.
After that is the massage – one of the best thought-out and attentive I have had in Dubai. It leaves you so relaxed you need to be helped to the relaxation room to sip fruit juice and eat dates to wake up again.
q&a indulgence in total luxury
Gopal Kumar, director of spa and retail at Burj Al Arab, reveals more about the spa offerings for executives to Triska Hamid.
How does the spa cater to busy execs?
Our spa not only provides treatments but rather an experience to each guest. Each guest can use the lavish spa facilities including steam, sauna and Jacuzzi plus our indoor infinity pool. Guests are also welcome to wind down in our relaxation room while enjoying healthy refreshment. Our spa treatments are carefully hand-picked to suit each individual, whether for a guest who has plenty of time to enjoy the spa for the whole day or a busy executive with limited time who is looking to totally unwind in a couple of hours.
Which treatments are most popular?
For those looking to thoroughly enjoy and unwind in a short time, our Four Hands Abhyanga experience is very popular, where two highly-trained synchronised therapists work on the guest for 55 minutes using luxury Ayurvedic oils to stimulate the flow of life force energy.
How do you compete with other spas in Dubai?
The moment you arrive at Burj Al Arab’s Talise Spa, you are welcomed with luxury and space that only Burj Al Arab can offer. The state-of-the-art facilities exclusively created for male and female along with two separate world-famous infinity pools overlooking the magnificent Arabian Gulf and coastline sets us apart from any spa in the UAE and Dubai.
thamid@thenational.ae
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