The unstoppable rise of spa and wellness travel in the UAE

Spa and wellness tourism in the UAE predicted to double to $2.26 billion by 2017

The billion-dollar spa and wellness industry is showing no signs of slowing down, with more than 1.7 million travellers tipped to visit the UAE for wellness-related travel. According to the Global Wellness Institute Report, the value of wellness trips taken across the MENA region hit a colossal AED26.8 billion (US$ 7.3 billion) in 2014, with the UAE set to top spa growth in the region, rising to a value of AED 8.3 billion ($2.26 billion) by 2017.

"Wellness tourists spend, on average, 130 percent more than the average international traveller, which presents significant opportunity for the MENA hospitality industry to target this high profile, high spend market segment with a wide variety of experiences, facilities and products to grow market share."

There are now more than 1,000 spas in the Middle East with more than 500 in the UAE alone. Hence it’s not hard to see how the region is the second-fastest growing market for spas after Sub-Saharan Africa. “Guests are willing to pay for quality, however, wellness guests will continue to seek out discounts over the next 12 months, therefore we should deliver new and innovative promotions and other ways to ensure guests will return.

The UAE’s spa industry was forecast to achieve revenues of $1.49 billion by the end of last year, rising to $2.26 billion by 2017, making it one of the most valuable tourism-related industries in the Middle East, stated the aforementioned GWI report, which also highlighted that total spa and wellness revenues for key destinations, including $223 million in Saudi Arabia; $207 million in Oman; $156.27 million in Qatar; and $181 million in Bahrain.