Hammam is Sirine Boudjadi‘s favourite way to reset. At The Opal Luxury Urban Spa, with steam clouding the air, she finds that feeling only Morocco seems to master.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many countries, but only a few ever pull me back. Morocco is one of them. Maybe it’s the food (always incredible), maybe it’s the kindness of the people. Either way, it’s a place that has a way of grounding me. And the very first thing I do when I land in the country? Hammam. Always. Not an obligation, a reflex. The steam, the scent of olive oil and eucalyptus – it’s my ritual of reconnection. The reset button after long flights, dry skin and a scrambled mind. Nothing compares to being literally washed clean of travel, of fatigue, of everything. If I could do it every week, I would. It’s addictive. So naturally, when I arrived in Qatar, I was on a quiet mission: to find a Hammam that lives up to Morocco’s standards. That quest recently led me to the Steigenberger Hotel Doha, more precisely, to The Opal Luxury Urban Spa.
I arrive early in the morning and my therapist, Emy, greets me with a chilled drink made of date juice and lemon mint. Simple, refreshing and the perfect way to ease into the mood. The spa has a calm, balanced design with marble everywhere, black veined with white or pure white, depending on the room, catching the soft light of candles and hanging lamps. Clean lines, quiet symmetry: dark stone tables, brass-edged mirrors, pale-grey armchairs. In the hallways, bamboo, ferns and small palms break up the stone and bring the place to life.
Before heading into the Hammam, Emy introduces me to the Moroccan brand Maison d’Asa, which she’ll be using for my treatment. Organic, natural and proudly rooted in local ingredients (argan oil, ghassoul clay and rosewater), it’s a name I already associate with authenticity and indulgence. No time wasted, I head straight into the steam room, letting the heat do its work. It’s the essential prelude, when the pores open and the muscles start to unwind. A few minutes later, Emy reappears with a bowl of black soap, a thick, olive-based paste with a silky, almost oily texture. With slow, practised gestures, she spreads it over my entire body and leaves it to rest. When she slips on the kessa glove, that’s when I know things are about to get serious. With Morocco’s signature exfoliating tool in hand, the scrubbing begins, methodical and firm but not harsh. The tiny grey rolls of dead skin may not be the most glamorous sight, but they’re proof of how effective the ritual is. Already, I feel lighter! To perfect the exfoliation comes a scrub made with argan oil and infused with jasmine, rose or oud. Warm, balanced scents that hit just the right note. It works deeper, drawing out the last traces of impurities. On to the ghassoul clay – a legendary Moroccan mineral known for its purifying and softening powers – it’s applied generously, left to sit for a few minutes, then rinsed away with warm water. The indulgent finale for my legs is the Black Leg Masque by Margaret Dabbs. This charcoal-based treatment promises, and delivers, hydrated legs and a silky-smooth finish.
While the mask sits, all eyes and hands are now on my face. Emy starts with an exfoliation using small circular motions before applying the Rose Velours organic mask from Maison d’Asa. It’s loaded with acacia gum, wheat extract and rosehip and macadamia oils. The texture melts on contact, turning to silk as it’s smoothed in. My skin seems to drink it in, quietly grateful, instantly more comfortable and deeply hydrated. A quick rinse, a light shampoo and I’m ready to step out. Or so I think, because the ritual isn’t quite done yet.
Outside the steam room, Emy reaches for the Floral Jasmine Body Butter, a rich shea blend infused with jasmine essential oil. There’s sunflower seed oil, vitamin E, apricot kernel – all the good stuff – but what stays with me is the addictive scent as it warms on my skin: floral and creamy. To round it off, a few spritzes of Pure and Organic Rose Water that settle over me like a sigh. Delicate, familiar, unmistakably Moroccan.
A massage after a Hammam? Always a good idea. I’m lucky enough to get a glimpse of the Calm and Balance Massage with three oils to choose from: Opulence Bliss (jasmine and oud), Sleep Better Relax (lavender and chamomile), or Happiness Mood (rose). The last one promises ‘good vibes’, how can I resist? It begins gently, then the pressure deepens with long, fluid strokes. My therapist says it’s meant to lower cortisol. I can’t vouch for the science, but I can tell you this: ten minutes in, I’m already melting into the table, carried by that post-Hammamfeeling that seeps all the way through.
For more information or to make a booking, please call The Opal Luxury Urban Spa at Steigenberger Hotel Doha on 3089 2112.