• Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi has unveiled a luxury spa. Photos: Mandarin Oriental
    Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi has unveiled a luxury spa. Photos: Mandarin Oriental
  • Set inside the palatial retreat, the wellness haven spans 500 square metres with nine private treatment suites
    Set inside the palatial retreat, the wellness haven spans 500 square metres with nine private treatment suites
  • Treatments at The Spa are inspired by ancient Eastern healing traditions and regional practices
    Treatments at The Spa are inspired by ancient Eastern healing traditions and regional practices
  • The royal hammam offers Turkish, Moroccan and contemporary therapies
    The royal hammam offers Turkish, Moroccan and contemporary therapies
  • Guests who want to stay close to nature can enjoy treatments in beach cabanas
    Guests who want to stay close to nature can enjoy treatments in beach cabanas
  • The lobby of The Spa, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
    The lobby of The Spa, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
  • A retail space at The Spa
    A retail space at The Spa
  • The Spa hosts visiting wellness practitioners throughout the year
    The Spa hosts visiting wellness practitioners throughout the year

First look: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental unveils luxury spa


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi’s most palatial hotel has unveiled its new luxury spa.

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental has opened at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi.

Nestled amid the manicured gardens of the hotel, the spa is surrounded by water features and wall mosaics inspired by the region. It spans 500 square metres and offers nine private treatment suites.

Guests visiting the wellness haven can choose from treatments and therapies bridging two cultures – some derived from ancient Eastern healing traditions, others inspired by Middle East and North African practices.

There is also a royal hammam where therapists will perform three rituals including Moroccan, Turkish and contemporary techniques.

On the hotel’s private beach, Hideaway Spa Cabanas will be the place to go for al fresco treatments accompanied by the sounds of the ocean, ideal for guests wanting to stay close to nature.

Guests can get al fresco spa treatments at Hideaway Beach Cabanas. Photo: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Guests can get al fresco spa treatments at Hideaway Beach Cabanas. Photo: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental

Stand-out treatments available at The Spa include Oriental Qi, a Chinese medicine-inspired treatment to balance mind, body and soul; the Essence of Abu Dhabi, a two-hour treatment that's an ode to Cleopatra; and Terrain Treasures, an indulgent treatment inspired by the Rub' al Khali desert and Arabian Gulf waters.

The Acqua di Parma Barbiere treatment is designed for male guests, and combines the art of shaving with upscale products from the luxury Italian brand.

Set to be a place of calmness and serenity, the spa will host visiting wellness practitioners and guest therapists from some of the world’s best spas throughout the year.

“We are delighted to welcome guests to experience The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, which seeks to build upon the hotel’s distinctive legacy while introducing unparalleled wellness experiences and therapies,” said Michael Koth, general manager of Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi.

There will also be a focus on corporate wellness, with spaces for mindful meetings and corporate group events.

And a visit to the spa can soon be a family affair as dedicated treatments using organic and chemical-free products will be available to pamper children over the age of six starting in September.

The rebranded Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi celebrated its official launch in February this year. The Hong Kong-based hotel group has already introduced several new concepts to the 18-year-old property including the Episodes Afternoon Tea and the region's first vegan guestrooms.

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

How to book

Call DHA on 800342

Once you are registered, you will receive a confirmation text message

Present the SMS and your Emirates ID at the centre
DHA medical personnel will take a nasal swab

Check results within 48 hours on the DHA app under ‘Lab Results’ and then ‘Patient Services’

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Monster

Directed by: Anthony Mandler

Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington 

3/5

 

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

The biog

Name: Mohammed Imtiaz

From: Gujranwala, Pakistan

Arrived in the UAE: 1976

Favourite clothes to make: Suit

Cost of a hand-made suit: From Dh550

 

Profile

Company name: Jaib

Started: January 2018

Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour

Based: Jordan

Sector: FinTech

Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018

Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups

Zodi%20%26%20Tehu%3A%20Princes%20Of%20The%20Desert
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEric%20Barbier%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYoussef%20Hajdi%2C%20Nadia%20Benzakour%2C%20Yasser%20Drief%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile

Company name: Marefa Digital

Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre

Number of employees: seven

Sector: e-learning

Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019

Investors: Friends and family 

The%20US%20Congress%20explained
%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20one%20of%20three%20branches%20of%20the%20US%20government%2C%20and%20the%20one%20that%20creates%20the%20nation's%20federal%20laws%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20The%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%C2%A0The%20House%20is%20made%20up%20of%20435%20members%20based%20on%20a%20state's%20population.%20House%20members%20are%20up%20for%20election%20every%20two%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20bill%20must%20be%20approved%20by%20both%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%20before%20it%20goes%20to%20the%20president's%20desk%20for%20signature%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%20218%20seats%20to%20be%20in%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20The%20Senate%20is%20comprised%20of%20100%20members%2C%20with%20each%20state%20receiving%20two%20senators.%20Senate%20members%20serve%20six-year%20terms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%2051%20seats%20to%20control%20the%20Senate.%20In%20the%20case%20of%20a%2050-50%20tie%2C%20the%20party%20of%20the%20president%20controls%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: June 23, 2023, 2:00 PM