Words by Frankie Jabarkhyl
So you’ve done it. You’ve booked your winter sun escape to Dubai, and now the countdown begins. The only question is: where to go and what to book when it comes to all things beauty and wellness? Because even if you’re a regular visitor to the city, new places open faster than you can say “pass the SPF,” and keeping up can feel like a full-time job.
Enter Hip & Healthy. We’ve done the legwork, made the bookings, and mapped out the most exciting beauty and wellness launches across the city right now. Whether you’re after a post-flight lymphatic reset, a hair refresh that’ll see you through your trip and beyond, or a workout that actually feels worth leaving your sunbed for, we’ve got you covered.
The First Thing You Should Book (Seriously, Before You Pack)
Let’s talk about the post-flight body. Aka puffy ankles, bloated tummies, and skin drier than Dubai’s desert. This is where Leda Fagundes comes to the rescue. Widely regarded as the UAE’s most sought-after lymphatic drainage therapist, the Brazilian expert has just opened a new branch in Jumeirah 1. Her hands are the stuff of legend – she’s trained over 200 therapists worldwide in her signature techniques, and sessions here are the ultimate antidote to travel mayhem. Book in with one of her experts for a full-body lymphatic drainage massage, and you’ll feel ready to hit the beach. Think less bloating, more definition, and smoother skin.
The Fitness Studios Worth Leaving Your Sunbed For
Not everyone seeks out a workout on holiday. But Dubai’s new wave of fitness spaces might just convert even the most dedicated sun-worshipper.
Take UK-born Revolution Studios, which launched in Al Quoz at the end of 2025. Spread over two floors with 32 bikes and 15 reformers, the three signature classes – Indoor Cycle, Strength, and Reformer Pilates – are designed to leave you gloriously wrecked in the best way.
For those who prefer workouts in women-only spaces, FitnGlam has a new branch at Nad Al Sheba Mall. Created by women, for women, the class line-up includes reformer pilates, Afro dance, boxing, and yoga. Flexible memberships mean you can drop in without committing to a year-long contract – perfect for the two-week tourist.
Then there’s Plume Studio, which opened in Jumeirah Al Wasl last month. Founded by a Parisian expat who wanted to blend French style with Dubai’s ambition, it’s a women-only sanctuary offering reformer pilates, aerial yoga, barre, and EMS. The real draw? After your class, you can sink into the sauna, float in the pool, or brave the ice bath.
The Beauty Stop That Does It All
There comes a point in every holiday when your hair starts rebelling against the humidity and your nails have seen better days. Enter Beauty Club London, which has just landed in Dubai and is basically a lifeboat for the beauty-conscious traveller. Founded by hair extension queen Louise Bailey and balayage maestro Moe Harb, this is the brand beloved by London’s coolest girls for its undetectable extensions and flawless colour. Their extension specialists use only their own line of top-tier human hair, applying an in-house tape technique that adds volume and length while actually supporting the health of your natural hair. Meanwhile, the colour team specialises in advanced free-hand balayage that looks less like you visited a salon and more like you spent a holiday in, well, Dubai.
And because no holiday beat is complete without nails that last, they also offer the ultimate long-lasting BIAB mani – the kind that survives beach days, reformer classes, and evening sundowners without a single chip. Book in mid-trip for a refresh that carries you through to touchdown back in Blighty.
The Places That Feel Like a Secret
Paus is the kind of discovery you want to keep to yourself but also tell everyone about. Founded by sisters Sophiya and Sarah Faizal, it started as a café and has now evolved into a two-storey villa that somehow manages to be everything at once: yoga studio, pilates space, breathwork sanctuary, and a café that actually understands good, wholesome food. The sisters built it around four pillars – Love, Health, Work, and Play – and you feel that intention in every corner. It’s the sort of place that makes you want to stay all day, journal in hand, feeling deeply virtuous.
Over at Studio14, they’ve just introduced infrared rollers. Post-reformer class, you can roll out your muscles on heated rollers that help detoxify, boost circulation, support lymphatic drainage, and ease tension. Think of them as a warm hug for overworked muscles.
The Openings Worth Waiting For
Six Senses The Palm doesn’t open until later this year, and yes, that feels cruelly far away. But when it does arrive, it’ll be the brand’s first Dubai property – just 61 rooms and 162 residences along a private stretch of Palm Jumeirah beach. Expect the signature Six Senses spa, a wellness club, restaurants, and pools.
The Green Side of Dubai
It’s easy to forget that Dubai is actually paying attention to sustainability. The Eco Village at Madinat Jumeirah is proof. Part education centre, part hands-on experience, it showcases beehive installations, a hydroponic farm, and coral and turtle rehabilitation projects. A lovely way to spend a morning before the heat sets in.
