A long-overdue visit to the spa at Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, quickly turned into a new beauty routine staple for Sirine Boudjadi and the perfect excuse to disappear for a few hours.
I’d heard so much about the spa at Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, that it had been sitting quietly on my radar for a while. Now, six months into life in Qatar, I’ve started building a very considered personal edit of the beauty and wellness spots actually worth knowing, and after finally visiting, I can confidently say this one has secured a solid spot in the rotation.
Part of what makes it so memorable is definitely the sense of place. The resort itself is designed like a reimagined Qatari coastal village and genuinely stands apart from the usual luxury hotel scene here. The architecture draws on traditional Gulf homes, with sandy tones, carved doors and winding pathways. That same atmosphere flows seamlessly into the spa, one of the largest in Qatar and very much the resort’s centrepiece. Drawing on Moroccan and Ottoman Hammam traditions, the space is all vaulted corridors, lanterns, mosaics, marble and softly trickling fountains. It’s incredibly quiet and refreshingly not bling in the slightest. You move through it like a traditional Hammam, a labyrinthine one, under dim lighting that makes everything feel calm, cocooning and slightly dreamlike.
I was welcomed by Ikbel, the receptionist supervisor, who couldn’t have been lovelier. She offered me a refreshing hibiscus tea before introducing me to Salwa for the first part of my experience: the Turkish Bath. The spa has long been considered a safe bet for Moroccan Hammams, but they’ve recently added this new treatment to the menu. Traditionally, a Turkish bath, or Hammam, is a deeply purifying ritual rooted in Ottoman bathing culture, combining heat, steam, exfoliation and foam cleansing to detoxify the body, stimulate circulation and leave the skin incredibly soft. The one here subtly weaves in Moroccan Hammam fundamentals too, and with Salwa being Moroccan herself, I knew I was in good hands.
After a quick shower, she began applying Savon Noir Senteurs du Hammam from Charme d’Orient all over. Combined with steam, where I was left to relax for a few minutes, this black soap opens the pores and allows impurities to be lifted away more effectively. Then came my favourite moment: the kessa exfoliation. Dead skin doesn’t stand a chance against it, and it leaves the body incredibly smooth and ready to absorb every bit of hydration that follows. From there, she moved on to Rhassoul, the mineral-rich clay sourced from Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. Mixed with water (sometimes rose or orange blossom water) and left to work for five to 10 minutes, it absorbs excess oil while restoring minerals to the skin. The foam ritual that followed was easily a highlight. Airy clouds of soap, created using a traditional cloth, were massaged over me in long, sweeping movements. My hair was also washed and conditioned. The therapist then invited me to rinse under the shower and she finished with a slow pour of rose-scented water from head to toe, the perfect, softly soothing end to such a deep cleanse. After that, I used the Scented Body Milk in the Amber fragrance, enriched with organic argan oil. It couldn’t have been more perfect as amber has always been one of my favourite notes in perfumery.
Overall, I completely fell for the textures and scents of the Charme d’Orient products used throughout the treatment. I also really appreciated how Salwa paid attention to every detail: wrapping the shower head in a glove so water would never splash harshly onto me, letting hot water run beneath the towel so I’d never feel cold when lying down again.
I was then handed over to Lisa for the second part of the experience: a 60-minute Custom Facial. The brief was simple: purify, hydrate, glow, using the British brand ESPA. I’m very much a double-cleansing person, so I was glad she started with the Tri-Active Regenerating Calming Cica Cleansing Balm, followed by the Balancing Foam Cleanser, which worked in with a deep brush cleanse. Next came the Optimal Skin Pro-Cleanser, which can also be used for exfoliation, as it is packed with fruit enzymes, jojoba spheres and essential oils. I usually avoid grain scrubs, but this one was different; the particles were very fine and not harsh at all. A sculpting facial massage and a brightening mask later, the glow was already there – special mention for the Tri-Active Regenerating Phyto-Collagen Plumping Cream. I don’t know whether it was her generous application or the formula itself, but by the end, I had that glass-skin effect currently all over TikTok. At one point, she also worked on my scalp, feet and hands, and I’m now fairly certain Lisa must be exceptional at body massages. Which, if I’m being honest, gives me a very convincing excuse to come back soon. Purely for research purposes, of course.
For more information or to make a booking,
please call Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel on 4425 6999.
@sharqvillageandspa