These resorts, harnessing the therapeutic stillness of the desert and channelling age-old local wisdom, are putting the Middle East firmly on the world wellness map.

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“The Gulf countries’ serious and ongoing investment in healthcare, plus new travellers who are looking for life-changing, culture-rich, genuine and local experiences, are two coinciding trends that will alter the perception of the Middle East,” states Zulal’s director of health and wellness, Sandie Johannessen.

Zulal takes its name from the Arabic word for spring water, and the resort pays homage to how precious fresh water was to the nomadic tribes who traversed the area in the past, and how restorative it remains today.

The resort is built around two sparkling lagoons, one for its adults-only Zulal Serenity wing and one for its family-focused Zulal Discovery section. Each of the 120 rooms has its own private plunge pool while, throughout the resort, birds flutter through fountains in gardens planted with medicinal plants, where quiet pools provide a still space for reflection. Salt water plays its part, too: the resort is built on the shores of the Persian Gulf, where water meets the sky in an unending expanse of blue.

Local tradition runs through Zulal’s understanding of well-being: the resort is a pioneer in integrating Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM) throughout its approach to wellness. Traditional Arabic medicine is a mingling of Graeco-Roman, Chinese, Persian and Ayurvedic theories and practices, with some local traditions also including Islamic medical and prophetic influences.

“Our vision is to respect and harmonise with indigenous knowledge and culture, so we present Qatari culture to our guests and integrate aspects of indigenous wellness, along with other evidence-based wellness practices from around the world,” says Johannessen. “TAIM has much in common with Chiva-Som’s wellness model of balancing mind, body and spirit through the six modalities of nutrition, spa, fitness, physiotherapy, holistic therapy and aesthetic beauty. TAIM’s key principle is restoration and life balance through good diet, physical therapies and fitness, mental health and rest, optimal digestion and elimination, and nurturing of the spirit.”

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In its 96 treatment rooms, guests at Zulal Wellness Resort can benefit from cutting-edge treatments such as neuro-stimulating physiotherapy and skin laser therapy, as well as wellness consultations with TAIM practitioners. Other TAIM-inspired treatments include the “massage Al Batin”, an abdominal massage; tadleek massage with a warm herbal compress; hijama cupping therapy and a camel milk slimming body mask.

TAIM inspires the cuisine offered throughout the resort too, while medicinal teas can be prescribed at the apothecary and enjoyed in the spectacular House of Wisdom, a towering and otherworldly space that includes a double-storey library of thousands of books run in partnership with the Qatar National Library.

Habitas Al-‘Ula also uses local plants in its spa treatment oils. The Saudi resort’s Thuraya Wellness centre has an alchemy bar with oils and elixirs such as date seed and moringa and they say that detox body treatments with local ingredients, salts and clays are particularly popular.

Habitas co-founder and CEO Oliver Ripley says that global travellers often overlook Saudi Arabia’s heritage – something the country is working to preserve and promote, for example via its Royal Commission for Al-‘Ula, which was established in 2017 to bring sensitive, sustainable preservation and tourism to the area.

“The region has 200,000 years of culture and human experience, while Al-‘Ula is a place of extraordinary history with ancient sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned,” he says.

“But more than anything, it’s the people that I’ve met in Saudi that shifted my perspective. They helped me understand both the rich heritage as well as the significant changes happening in the region.”

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Changing perceptions about a region is not always easy, however, especially when coupled with the lasting impacts of the pandemic that see lower numbers of international travellers overall that can help spread the word.

“When you’re building a business and trying to disrupt an established industry, you will always experience obstacles and people who are sceptical of what you’re doing,” says Ripley. “The remoteness of Habitas Al-‘Ula could be seen as an obstacle, but we see this as a strength as it offers the unique opportunity to have a tranquil and freeing experience in the middle of the desert.”