A day of relaxation and mindfulness is what Kirsty Walker finds at Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som.
Tucked away on the northern tip of Qatar, Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som is an award-winning haven of tranquillity that redefines luxury wellness. It’s the world’s only retreat built on the philosophy of Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM). Guests enjoy a wide range of modern health and fitness practices, addressing individual goals ranging from detox to rehabilitation, stress management to weight loss. It’s a sanctuary to rejuvenate body and mind. There is a choice of more than 153 bespoke treatments on offer at the resort’s fabulous spa.
The property is split into two parts: Zulal Discovery for families and Zulal Serenity for adults. A genuinely warm welcome upon entering Zulal Serenity includes a cup of jasmine-scented floral green tea and a tour of the facilities. I’m clearly somewhere very special. Understated earthy tones on elegant furnishings, high ceilings and an air of calm help me relax. I admire the historic Arabic artefacts and beautiful art that decorate the interior. It’s inviting, not intimidating. We walk through the library, past the tea room and apothecary and finally out onto the grounds towards a courtyard lined with private treatment rooms. I’m blessed with birdsong and acacia trees while resort guests promenade and recline in thoughtfully designed gardens. The place is impeccably kept. Every staff member greets me with a warm smile and ‘marhaba’.
Spa Manager Minnara introduces me to Dew, my therapist – an expert in the art of relaxation. I’m to enjoy a one-hour Tranquillity massage, a deeply relaxing Sacred Nature facial and some much-needed downtime in the ladies-only area. The space comprises musical rain showers; a large hydrotherapy pool; a garden pool; a Himalayan salt room; a sauna; and an Arctic cave with real snow at a comfortable -5 degrees Celsius. Real snow! No mobile phones, no electronics, no distractions. Every detail encourages mindfulness and relaxation, from carefully curated spaces to thoughtful touches like herbal iced water and plush robes.
My treatment room is peaceful, unfussy and professional, with incredibly soft linen and a private shower. Before my massage, Dew explains the products she’ll use from the sustainable Italian wellness range Comfort Zone and how the gentle, flowing massage techniques help to alleviate stiffness and promote relaxation. The sweet orange and sandalwood body oil offers sleep-promoting benefits and works wonders as Dew eases the knots from my stressed-out muscles. She applies a gloriously smooth body cream at each stage, and 60 minutes later, my body is light, my mind calm and my skin glowing.
Next comes a one-hour facial that uses manual techniques, relying on the therapist’s expertise and Sacred Nature’s organic skincare range to do the work. This is an eye-opener for me! The absence of machines feels much more personal and grounding. Dew removes my skin impurities with organic cleansing milk and hot cotton gloves. An enzyme-based gommage exfoliates, followed by a protective moisturising mask for sensitive skin, applied with feather-soft brush strokes that tickle my cheeks. While the mask nourishes my moisture-starved skin, Dew gives me a wildly good head massage and proceeds to do the same to my face, lifting and toning my skin while boosting circulation. Subtle botanical scents leave me feeling relaxed and revitalised. The results are undeniable – my skin is radiant and silky.
I look and feel amazing now and return to the ladies’ spa to slip into the hydrotherapy pool for a soothing soak. I take a seat in the garden, which offers me a peaceful moment of reflection and a soft sea breeze. The open sky is slowly changing colour, and birds call the day’s end. Zulal Wellness Resort doesn’t just restore your physical well-being; it invites you to pause, breathe and reconnect with yourself. I shall be back.
For more information or to make a reservation, please call
Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som on 4477 6500 or WhatsApp at 4477 6555.
@zulalwellnessresort