From all the spa deals popping into our inboxes every day, you’d be forgiven for thinking the industry was in need of some quick TLC.
You couldn’t be further from the truth. The UAE spa market is valued at Dh1.59 billion ($435 million) this year, according to a new report. In total, the spa market in the Middle East and Africa is valued at Dh11 billion ($3 billion) in 2016, with the UAE accounting for 14 per cent.
The research, prepared by Euromonitor International, is in line with forecasts from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), which has identified Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa as the fastest growing spa markets in the world.
“Hotel and resort spas are most common in this region. UAE hotels report 60 per cent of total spa visitors are residents who are not otherwise staying on the property,” says Rabia Yasmeen, Research Analyst at Euromonitor International. “Hotels are now leasing spaces for more spa related services as the demand increases.”
The report was published ahead of The Leisure Show 2016 and Piscine Middle East trade show, to be held from September 17 to 19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Euromonitor forecasts that the Middle East and Africa spa market will grow by 21.6 per cent from 2015 until 2019. Spa openings across the region in 2016 include: Aurora Spa by Joelle at the Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh, Nikki Spa at the Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai, R Resort & Spa Palm Jumeirah, and The Oberoi, Marrakech.
“Compared to the US and Asia, current spa market leaders around the world, spas in the Middle East in particular are associated with more luxurious and therapeutic experiences,” Yasmeen continued.
The trend towards health and wellness and medical tourism in this region is expanding, she added. “Health focused tourists usually spend more than 130 per cent as compared to regular traveller as they seek such experiences as part of leisure activities. There is now greater demand for experiences ranged over two to seven nights, health and wellness programmes, meditation, cosmetic treatments, and thematic environments similar to the Asian market,” she said.
In light of the spa market boom, the only event dedicated to the leisure industry in the Middle East and Africa, The Leisure Show, will be co-located for the first time in 2016 with Piscine Middle East, bringing the region’s largest pool and spa supply event to Dubai from Abu Dhabi. Free online registration for both shows are now open at Theleisureshow.com and Piscine-middleeast.com.
The events are also co-located with The Hotel Show.
