Qatar calling
Qatar’s newest holistic retreat, Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, is part spa, park luxury hotel and an all-round haven for healing.
ARRIVING AT ZULAL ON THE northernmost tip of the Qatar peninsula, I’m handed a sprig of flowers and herbs, the aromas of which inspire instant relaxation after my one-hour journey here from central Doha. I’m then asked – in the nicest possible way – to switch off my phone for the duration of my stay, which briefly propels stress levels skyward again.
Instead of checking me in at a reception desk, the staff know exactly who I am, and whisk me to a dream space inside the main building that immediately makes my soul soar: a library stocked with 4,000 books, an Anish Kapoor artwork that is calming and yet exciting. I’m handed a cup of tea made with yet more soothing herbs and fragrant spices, and feel that twitch from not grasping my phone subside.
My room is beautifully minimalistic, with a spacious bathroom and a cosy
terrace. But, in accordance with Zulal’s approach, it’s not so large that I might be tempted to spend all my time here. I’m requested to shed the last remainder of the outside world and its stresses, by donning a silky set of white pyjamas and slippers. And it truly works – within minutes, only this moment seems to matter.
Like every other guest staying here, I’m assessed by medically trained therapists to determine my ailments and tensions – both mental and physical – and am asked what I want to take away from this so-called ‘journey’ through Zulal.
It’s a similar philosophy to that followed at Chiva-Som’s original retreat in Hua
Hin, Thailand, where the who’s who hide away to disconnect beside the ocean.
In line with its older sister, Zulal adopts a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. But it draws on Indigenous traditions in the Middle East, specialising in traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine. The focus on local doesn’t end there – the gardens that envelop the low-slung buildings of the resort are almost solely planted with herbal and medicinal plants and flowers, each having a specific purpose, and used in on-site treatments. And the cuisine is organic and hyper-fresh; almost as beautiful as it is nutritious.
My prescription of suggested therapies ranges from traditional massages to simple breathing exercises in the stunning Himalayan Salt Room, in addition to physiotherapy, nutrition consultations and (if I so desire) non-invasive beauty treatments. Over several days, I’m gently guided and educated toward a healthier life in the outside world.
It’s not only adults that can benefit, either. The resort is split into two zones: Zulal Serenity, featuring more than 60 adults-only rooms and suites; and
Zulal Discovery, inviting families to embark on a wellness-focused journey together in 120 lodgings. zulal.com