If you’re looking for a day, a weekend, or even a week to escape crazy city life and to disconnect, breathe in some fresh air, and to feel like you’re a million miles away, then the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa is the answer to your peace-seeking prayers. While it’s not actually a million miles away from Dubai (it’s just 45km from Dubai International Airport), as soon as you enter the resort’s gated archway and drive up the winding road to its entrance, lined with lanterns and nothing but sand as far as the eye can see, the rest of the world just fades away…
Meaning ‘Gateway to the Sun’, the Bab Al Shams resort is surrounded by rolling dunes and natural desert landscape to offer something totally unique and special. It’s a luxury resort that’s not over-the-top and in-your-face fancy, and instead it is simple, understated, and authentic to give you an amazing experience that’s true to the culture and heritage of the UAE. This doesn’t extend only to the hotel itself, but also to its spa — the multi-award-winning Satori Spa.
The word ‘Satori’ denotes a state of spiritual enlightenment and conjures up feelings of joy, peace, and tranquility — exactly what you’d want and expect out of a spa. But what you don’t expect is how simple this spa is. Tucked away in a corner of the hotel behind thick stone walls, one blink and you’d miss it. There are only two private treatment rooms, two couple treatment rooms (so you really do need to book in advance!), a cozy indoors relaxation area, an outdoors relaxation area, and your usual spa suspects of a scented steam room, sauna, and shower facilities. There’s no gold dripping from the ceiling or elaborate flower displays crammed into corners, so don’t expect to walk into a glitzy glamorous reception or room, because the focus at Satori is on the treatments — which is what makes them so utterly amazing.
From exotic facials to holistic massages, whatever your pampering needs are, they’ll be met here. The spa is all about relaxation and rejuvenation, so after I had some ‘me time’ in the relaxation room, with its uninterrupted views of the stunning desert scenery, I was whisked off to my treatment room and treated to one of the best massages I’ve ever had. Using naturally blended oils to pummel away my tension and ease away my stress, it was actually difficult to drag myself to the (rather stunning) infinity pool afterwards to relax even more. My therapist knew exactly where to focus on without me having to tell her, and used various techniques and different pressures to finally rid me of the knots and tightness that a few busy weeks had caused.
In short, the Bab Al Shams Satori spa delivers fabulous fuss-free treatments that deliver serious results. So if you want to get away, even for an afternoon, and return to Dubai feeling like a new person both inside and out, I suggest you get yourself to the desert and book in to this sensational spa in the sand.
To make an appointment at the Satori Spa, call (+971) 4 809 6232 or e-mail Bas.Spa@MeydanHotels.com.
