2. The Turkish

TRADITIONAL TURKISH BATH RITUAL

Cost: Dhs600 Length: 60 minutes (or Dhs470 for 45 minutes) This is as close to a traditional Turkish bath as you’ll find in Dubai (albeit a very swanky rendition). You’ll be scrubbed with a scratchy mitt while lying on heated marble in an opulently large hammam room; your hair will be washed while warm water is poured soothingly over your scalp from a silver jug; and a linen cloth saturated in soap will be passed over your torso and limbs, creating an immense amount of olive-oil-infused bubbles. When your Turkish towel-clad therapist asks if you’d like to finish off the bath with a cold water dunk, say yes. It’s a shock to the body, but is incredibly refreshing. The treatment ends with an application of a rich body oil, so your skin will smell as good as it feels.

Top tip:

Arrive early and spend some time in the spa’s steam room and salt inhalation room to open up the pores and prep the skin pre-treatment. And just as importantly, leave time at the end to lounge on one of the beds in the hammam’s expansive relaxation area.

Modesty factor?

There’s a disposable bandeau bra, as well as the standard paper knickers.

aAnantara, The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, daily 10am to 10pm. Tel: (04) 5678140. Taxi: Anantara, The Palm. dubaipalm.anantara.com