Dubai’s luxury self-care guide from a beauty mogul

Dubai is synonymous with luxury and extravagance, and Huda Kattan, founder of Huda Beauty, knows where it is. From heavenly massages to crystal shopping, here are her picks in Dubai.

In just half a century, the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai has transformed from a small fishing village on the banks of Dubai Creek to a thriving metropolis synonymous with the finest in luxury. It is home to Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest swimming pool, and is currently home to the $2 billion (£1.64 billion) Dubai Square mega-mall, the world’s largest mall. is under construction.

Beauty blogger, makeup artist, and entrepreneur Huda Kattan worked in the financial industry before founding the billion-dollar cosmetics brand Huda Beauty. Huda Beauty is loved for its viral products like its wildly popular eyeshadow palette and Easy Blur foundation. In 2023, she was included in the BBC’s 100 Women list.

But even though Dubai is playing hard, they don’t forget to look after themselves. It was recently named World’s Best Spa Destination 2024 at the World Spa Awards.

To get to the heart of this burgeoning hub of self-care, we spoke to makeup artist turned beauty mogul Huda Kattan, who has been based in Dubai since 2008.

For Kattan, who was born and raised in the United States and lived in the UAE for two years as a child, moving to Dubai was a way back home. “It’s a very fast-paced, multicultural environment,” says Kattan, who travels endlessly around the world for her work as founder and CEO of Huda Beauty cosmetics. “It’s probably one of the fastest-moving cities I’ve ever seen. When I go to New York, New York is too slow for me.”

Kattan, whose brand is headquartered in Dubai, loves going to the spa in her down time. “[It’s]the best,” she says. “It’s going to the spa, enjoying a massage, having a hammam or a facial. It’s definitely investing in yourself.”

And Dubai’s foothold in the beauty world is also growing. Dior will open its first spa in the city in 2024, and the five-star Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab hotel, with a three-story spa, is scheduled to open in 2025. “Confidence in Dubai’s beauty is definitely growing,” says Kattan. “Big celebrities sometimes ask me, ‘What’s going on in Dubai? What kind of treatment are people getting?'”

But self-care in Dubai isn’t just about spa treatments. The charming shops are a powerful prescription for retail therapy, and the beautiful coastal panoramas refresh mind, body and soul.

Kattan shares her favorite ways to engage in self-care in Dubai.

Kattan experienced her first massage in Dubai 16 years ago and was instantly hooked. “I had never had a massage in my life until I moved here,” she says. “The first time I had a massage, I fell asleep snoring and drooling. I thought, ‘What is this? This is the best experience of my life.’ Now I get massages regularly. ”

From designer spas to in-home massages, you can find a massage to suit every budget. Kattan is a fan of both, but those looking for a bit of pampering should check out the Guerlain Spa at the One&Only The Palm Hotel, located at the tip of the man-made Palm Jumeriah Island.

The Guerlain Spa features a lush Arabian courtyard with a gorgeous fountain and a marble lobby with a mini Guerlain boutique. Kattan was shocked from the moment he first walked in the door. “[It’s]like a movie. It’s amazing,” she says.

Kattan usually goes for deep-tissue massages, but her husband, Portuguese businessman Christopher Gonzalo, prefers Thai massage techniques. Kattan says she used to enjoy Swedish massages, but now she’s looking for sports massage treatments. “I don’t even want relaxation anymore. I want training,” she says.

Hamams (steam-filled public baths) were part of Middle Eastern culture as early as the 7th century, serving not only as a place to wash off the desert sand but also as a place to socialize.

Modern plumbing has since been introduced, but scrubbing in steam-filled rooms remains a hallmark of the Middle Eastern spa experience.

Kattan recommends Tully’s Ottoman Spa, located in the West Crescent of The Palm. “I went there for my birthday and it was the best experience,” she says.

The Cleansing Ritual at Tully’s Ottoman Spa takes place in a domed marble room decorated with mosaics, where clients lie on a heated marble bed and have their skin exfoliated with a Kese mitt before being treated with honey. Choose from , lavender or mint masks to revitalize your skin. Or some are made of purifying rose or gold.

Then, visitors can relax in private majlis (cabanas) surrounding the pool, illuminated by glittering chandeliers. “You sit there and they bring you a yogurt drink, dates and apricots,” says Kattan. “I definitely felt like I was in the 1600s and I was a princess.”

To fully enjoy her senses, Kattan loves visiting perfume shops.

For centuries, Bedouins have been crafting enchanting scents such as heady oud from the resinous woods and earthy frankincense from the gums of the Boswellia tree. “I think Abdul Samad Al Qurashi is the most luxurious and they make very beautiful scents,” said Kattan, whose historic Saudi fragrance house is known for creating luxury fragrances since 1852. “And Ajmal has a really beautiful store in Dubai Mall. Also, Hind Al Oud (fragrance) is a big part of the culture.”

But Kattan says visitors don’t necessarily need to splurge on expensive scents. You can also look for lesser-known brands. “You can also go to the souks and buy small brands,” she says. “It’s not something you necessarily want to wear every day, but (the bottle) is a cute trinket. I go to the souk and buy oil (and) oud and keep it on my dresser.”

Emiratis love layering scents, starting with a base of oil at their pulse points, then sprinkling the scent all over their body, and finishing with the scent of Bakhoor incense, made from wood chips soaked in aromatic oils. I’m enjoying it. “They wear[Bakhoor’s]abayas (robes). Sometimes they just have a little smoke in their hair, and they’re very beautiful,” Kattan said. “I’ve experienced it. It’s amazing.”

Dubai is world-renowned as a place to buy fine jewelery at duty-free prices, but when Kattan wants something sparkly, she splurges on decorative crystals.

“There are crystals everywhere. I’m a big crystal person,” says Kattan, who loves placing crystals on windowsills and pots around her home in Dubai. Among the glittering crystal boutiques scattered throughout the city, Kattan’s favorite is a crystal shop called OOAKSTONES (One Of A Kind stone).

Located in Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue Arts District, Oakstones offers a carefully selected selection of crystals, from artisanal jewelry and statement pieces to home decor.

Mr Kattan said the price of crystal in Dubai is often about one-tenth of what it would cost elsewhere, and he believes visitors should make time in their schedules to shop for crystal. states. “It’s overwhelming and amazing. It’s definitely a must-do if you come to the Middle East,” Kattan says.

From immersive movie theaters and air-conditioned cabanas to loungers decorated with fashion brands, Dubai’s beach clubs are unabashedly glamorous events.

Kattan’s favorite beach experience is SAL on the terrace of the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel overlooking the Persian Gulf. “It’s in a beautiful, peaceful setting with incredible views. It’s the perfect place to relax for the day,” she says.

Although SAL operates all year round, Dubai’s beach clubs are most popular during the cooler winter months. This trendy oasis features a stunning infinity pool and the brand new Sunset Lounge, a chic space with eye-catching mirrored walls. Guests can relax on the club’s underwater pool loungers or unwind in private air-conditioned cabanas with private balconies and private bathrooms. SAL also offers several poolside dining menus, from cold appetizers and Mediterranean seafood dishes to decadent desserts, a sumptuous cocktail list and a full shisha bar. Complimentary popsicles and gazpacho shots add a touch of whimsy to a stunning sunset over the bay. Summer visitors can also stay until dark and take a dip under the stars.

BBC Travel’s The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.