< Previous60 February 2025 timeoutdubai.com Wellbeing Y ou’ve made it through January, it’s time to treat yourself. Especially as sometimes you just need an indulgent day of self-care. Just imagine – doing nothing more than sinking into a bubbling, warm hot tub, sweating out the impurities in a steam room and lounging on a relaxation bed for a couple (or five) hours. Work, the kids, life in general can mean there’s little-to-no-time for pampering for us Dubai-dwellers. But why not treat yourself to a little bit of me-time? Here are our pick of the most gorgeous spas in Dubai – which you certainly won’t want to leave. AMARA SPA This charming Creekside spa can be found at Park Hyatt Dubai. All whites and blues, you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away to the Med, especially if you hang around long enough to laze by the glamorous outdoor pool. There are plenty of treatments to choose from, including massages, facials, sun-specific skincare and couple’s journeys. Head along with your partner, and you’re sure to feel as if you’ve had a mini holiday – without the jetlag. O Open daily 9am-10pm. Park Hyatt Dubai, Deira, dubaicreekresort.com (04 602 1660). ANANTARA SPA This Thai-style retreat is fabulous for a staycation, with its lagoon pools and private beach, but if you just have a day, book into the spa to experience Thai hospitality at its best. With multiple treatments rooms and a large hammam, other facilities include an aroma steam room, crystal and gemstone steam room, bamboo sauna, herbal bath, liquid sound pool, Kneipp walk (water therapy), salt inhalation room, ice grotto and experience shower. You could spend all day hopping from treatment to treatment. Or laze in the hot tubs and try not to nod off on a lounger. O Open daily 10am-10pm. Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, Palm Jumeirah, anantara.com (04 567 8140). GUERLAIN SPA AT ONE&ONLY THE PALM One of the most exclusive spas in town – as you’d expect from its hidden away location at the swish One&Only The Palm – Guerlain is also one of the most luxurious. With treatments from the namesake cosmetic company, you can expect a blend of French and Arabian treatments. The setting is gorgeous too. What a treat. O Open daily 10am-9am. One&Only The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, oneandonlyresorts.com (04 440 1040). A bit of ‘me time’ Fancy a day off? Make a booking at these superb spas to while away the hours this month Talise Ottoman The Ritz-Carlton Spatimeoutdubai.com February 2025 61 THE PEARL SPA AT FOUR SEASONS RESORT DUBAI AT JUMEIRAH BEACH This luxurious spa at the swanky Four Seasons Resort Dubai is a perfect one for couples thanks to the large shared indoor pool. There are loads of treatments including aromatherapy or deep tissue massages, bespoke facials, reflexology and more. The facilities include hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas and experience showers. O Open daily 10am-10pm. Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, fourseasons.com (04 270 7732). THE RITZ-CARLTON SPA This stunning spa has a range of luxurious facials, massages and scrubs, while the stellar facilities are worth hanging around for, too. Think plunge pools, hot tubs, heated beds, saunas, steam rooms and a relaxation room. O Open 9am-9pm. The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, JBR, ritzcarlton.com (04 318 6520). SUPER DEALS! LADIES’ DAY AT PALAZZO VERSACE DUBAI Make your Mondays more exciting by having a girly pamper at the luxury spa, where select treatments will be 50 percent off. As well as a complimentary drink, you’ll be able to enjoy a hot stone massage, collagen-firming facial and much more for half the price. O Prices vary. Mon 11am-11pm. Palazzo Versace Dubai, Al Jaddaf, palazzoversace.ae (04 556 8750). PAMPER AND POOL DAY AT REFIVE SPA Set that out of office and spend the entire day pampering at FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai. You’ll get a 45-minute facial or massage, as well as beach access. That’s not all, you can also dig into lunch at Cinque or Beach by FIVE. O Dhs459. Open Mon-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sun 10am-midnight. FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai, palmjumeirah.fivehotelsandresorts.com (04 455 9964). SOFITEL SPA WITH L’OCCITANE The Polynesian theme of this Palm Jumeirah hotel extends to the spa, which is one of the most spacious around. With a large indoor pool, a cold plunge pool, huge hot tub, sauna, steam room and ice fountain, there’s plenty to keep you occupied for hours. O Open daily 10am-8.30pm. Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort, Palm Jumeirah, sofitel-dubai-thepalm.com (04 455 5433). TALISE OTTOMAN SPA The largest spa in Dubai, the Talise Ottoman is one that needs to be experienced at least once. With 42 treatment rooms there’s heaps to choose from. There’s also an indoor pool, hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas and even a snow cave. And what better excuse than snow to book the day off work? O Open daily 9am-9.30pm. Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah, jumeirah.com (04 453 0456).62 February 2025 timeoutdubai.com If your 2025 goals are all about fitness, or you just want to try something new, why not skip the treadmill and sign up for something that will really get your heart racing? If you’re looking for a challenge, there are plenty of sports events to get involved with – whatever your age or fitness level. So, it’s time to make 2025 the year of your PBs. Get those trainers laced and stopwatches ready, February is going to be a busy month. FEBRUARY 2: COMMUNITY RUNS AT RIPE MARKET If you want a fitness goal, but aren’t quite ready for a marathon, then this sporting event, hosted by the ever-popular family-friendly Ripe Market, could be for you. There are three distances to test yourself with – 2.5km, 5km and 10km. There are two runs on the horizon in 2025 – on Sunday February 2 and Sunday April 27. Once you’ve worked up a sweat, refuel at one of the many food stalls. O Dhs116 (2.5km), Dhs126 (5km), Dhs137 (10km). Sun Feb 2 & Apr 27, 7am. Ripe Market Academy Park, Umm Suqeim, promosevensport.com. FEBRUARY 2: SKECHERS PERFORMANCE RUN SERIES This run starts near Rashid School in Nad Al Sheba and takes you on a long and winding run through the community’s streets. Feel the ground beneath your feet and the stretch in your muscles as you compete on the 3km, 5km, 10k or 16km routes. At the end of the run, you’ll get a T-shirt, a medal and a downloadable certificate. O Dhs175 (adults), Dhs125 (under 18s). Sun Feb 2 & Sun Mar 9, 7.30am. Near Rashid School, Nad Al Sheba, supersportsuae.com (050 1646967). Sport & Outdoor FEBRUARY 8: M1 RUN Want to put your training to the test? If so, this is the right race for you. The M1 run will see you navigate a seven-storey uphill carpark spanning 1.2km, followed by a run up a 33-floor stairwell at Media One Hotel & Tower, made up of more than 700 stairs. While it’s not for the faint-hearted, it does come with rewards – up to Dhs10,000 in prizes, goody bags and medals. Besides, all that exercise is going towards another good cause – profits will be donated to the Dubai Autism Center. O From Dhs150. Sat Feb 8, 7.30am (registration), 9am (race). P7 Arena, Media One Hotel, hopasports.com. FEBRUARY 9: BURJ2BURJ Back for a second edition, this half marathon is taking place on Sunday February 9, so if you want to enjoy the views while you pound the pavements, sign up now. The aim is to run between two of Dubai’s most iconic buildings – Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa. The 21.1km race is for over 16s and starts at the Burj Al Arab and heads down the Jumeirah coastline, before crossing the Dubai Water Canal and finishing at Burj Khalifa. There’s a race village with activities, food stands and more at Burj Park, so be sure to tell your friends and family to meet you at the end. Registrations close on the day, so if you’re looking for some fitness motivation, this could be it. O Dhs240. Sun Feb 9, 6am. Burj Al Arab, Umm Suqeim, burj2burj.com. FEBRUARY 15: ACTIVE LIVING RUN As part of a global tour dedicated to promoting an active and balanced lifestyle, clothing brand Yéquipe is bringing its Active Living running event to Expo City. The race will be open to everyone including families and seasoned runners. There will be either a short 3km run or longer 8km run to choose from with places priced at Dhs50. D Dhs50. Sat Feb 15, 7.30am. Expo City Dubai, hopasports.com. FEBRUARY 16: DESERT PALM X-COUNTRY RUN Starting bright and early, you’ll be setting off at 6am for this 3km, 5km or 10km run around the Melia Desert Palm. Jogging around the track, the route will take you through the surrounding paddocks and nature before you finish up with some refreshments. The event is open to all the family, meaning you can head there solo or take the little ones to burn off some steam. All finishers will get a T-shirt, medal and certificate. Registration closes at 11.59pm on Monday February 10. O From Dhs125. Sun Feb 16, 6am. Melia Desert Palm, supersportsuae.com (050 164 6967). Smash your PB Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge Make 2025 the year you get active with these top sports events around town. By Findlay Mairtimeoutdubai.com February 2025 63 FEBRUARY 22: DUBAI CANAL RUN If you’re a casual jogger then this one could be for you. Aimed towards runners of all abilities, there’s a 3km fun run, a 5km challenge and 10km run. The course has scenic views of Downtown Dubai and the landmarks that come with it. There will be music and entertainment at the race village before and after you go the distance. Kids can also take part in a 1km and other activities. O Dhs52.50 (1km), Dhs99.75 (3km), Dhs15.50 (5km), Dhs157 (10km). Sat Feb 22, 7am. Dubai Water Canal, premieronline.com. FEBRUARY 23: SPINNEYS DUBAI 92 CYCLE CHALLENGE Budding cyclist or more of a regular rider? This huge cycle challenge is back for 2025. Build-up rides from 35km have been taking place since September, ahead of this massive race on Sunday February 23. It’s time to get JOIN A CLUB DUBAI ROADSTERS Riding since 2000, this cycling club meets weekly on a Sunday. To join, all you need is a bike in good working condition, a secure helmet and lights for early rides. Keen? Join for the shortest ride on Sundays, a steady 85km with a speed of around 37km per hour. O Nad Al Sheba market parking, dubairoadsters.com. DUBAI CREEK STRIDERS Dubai Creek Striders is a great community to join, whether you’re a seasoned runner or newbie. This non- profit running club has weekly running sessions and hosts an annual Creek Striders Half Marathon (usually in January), which is a great goal. O Various locations, dubaicreekstriders.com. involved with the main event, as registrations are now open. Covering 92km, those older than 19 are eligible and there’s a shorter 40km ride for 13-year-olds and above. O Dhs325 (all distances). Sun Feb 23, 6am. Expo City Dubai, cyclechallenge.ae. FEBRUARY 23: DUBAI INVESTMENTS GREEN RUN This event is aimed at people of all ages and will include a 3km fun run and a timed 5km run. There will be cash prizes of a value of Dhs18,000 on offer for the the 5km run winners in the male, female and youth categories. Sustainable prizes will also be on offer for the top three ranked men and women in the 5km run category. Getting fit and winning cash? Sign us up. O Dhs50 (all races, aged up to 15), Dhs60 (3km fun run), Dhs80 (5km). Sun Feb 23, 6am. Dubai Investments Park, premieronline.com.64 February 2025 timeoutdubai.com Onda by Alici Feeling the pinch? What you need is a brilliant meal out, but without forking out very much at all. The Dhs50 lunchtime deals at Time Out Market Dubai are available Monday to Friday, from noon to 3pm and give you the chance to try delicious dishes from home-grown food concepts for less. Lunchtime diners will also get a choice of either sparkling or still water. It’s time to escape the office. À LA GRECQUE What: Chicken souvlaki. Expect juicy chicken skewers wrapped in a house-made pita, accompanied by fresh tomato, crisp red onions and creamy tzatziki. Greek street food at its best. O Dhs50. BB SOCIAL DINING What: Chicken pho. Slurp down 12-hour slow-cooked Vietnamese chicken pho packed with stretchy rice noodles, bok choy, carrots, red chilli and mushrooms. It’s a real winter warmer. O Dhs50. BOON COFFEE What: Ham and cheese toastie. If you’re a bit peckish, try the ham and cheese toastie, made with Emmental cheese and airy sourdough bread. A perfect comfort dish. O Dhs50. CAFÉ ISAN THAI What: Pad Thai noodles. The pad Thai at Café Isan is a bestseller for good reason. It absolutely slaps. A perfect blend of savoury, sweet and tangy. O Dhs50. FUSION CEVICHE What: Tuna Nikkei ceviche. Comprising tuna cubes, Nikkei leche de tigre, spring onion, avocado, crispy wonton, plus black and white sesame seeds, this is your chance to get a pretty pricey dish (normally Dhs80) for less (at just Dhs50). O Dhs80. LANA LUSA What: Lana Lusa salad. Vegetarians will enjoy this one. The Portuguese spot’s lunch deal features a healthy salad with mixed greens, baby tomatoes, radishes and cucumber. O Dhs50. Market DHS50 DISHES Get more for less From sandos to salads and pizza to pho, Yousra Zaki explores Time Out Market Dubai’s bargain lunch deals LIBAN BY ALLO BEIRUT What: Shish tawouk platter. After Lebanese street food? Tuck into a chicken shish tawouk platter served with fries, pickles and tangy toum sauce for just Dhs50. O Dhs50. LITTLE JUN’S What: Jundog. Indulge in the ultimate gourmet hotdog experience with the Jundog and you’ll get an Angus beef sausage, topped with a savoury nikiri glaze and a silky truffle aioli. O Dhs50. LONG TENG What: Beef hot and sour soup noodles. This authentic Chinese restaurant serves up a Sichuan-style slow-cooked Angus beef rib soup that’s perfectly spicy every weekday during lunchtime. O Dhs50. Mattartimeoutdubai.com February 2025 65 Al Fanar DON’T MISS! VISIT WITH THE GANG Fancy a day out with the fam? Time Out Market Dubai is the ideal place to head with the whole gang when you fancy a bite to eat. Not only are there plenty of kid-friendly dishes available every day of the week – from pizza to pasta, ice cream, brownies and more – visit on a Sunday and you’ll get family entertainment, too. There’s a roaming magician, juggler, face painting, balloon bending and more. Plus, there’s popcorn and candy floss for the little sugar monsters. There’s different entertainment every week so you can come back time and again without a single cry of ‘I’m bored’. O Open Mon-Thu noon-midnight, Fri noon-1am, Sat 10am-1am, Sun 10am-midnight. Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, timeoutmarket.com/dubai. MASTI What: Sofrito pav bhaji. Try the special sofrito pav bhaji – spicy mixed vegetables, served alongside soft butter buns. O Dhs50. MATTAR What: Chicken wings. Sink your teeth into ten crispy, sauce-laden chicken wings. What a lunch break. O Dhs50. ONDA BY ALICI What: Gnocchi with tomato sauce and burrata. Get your hands on pillowy soft gnocchi smothered in tomato sauce that’s topped with creamy burrata. Comforting and moreish. O Dhs50. PITFIRE PIZZA What: Pepperoni primo. The pepperoni primo is the star of the lunch menu at Pitfire. Cheese, tomato, pepperoni – you know the drill. And all for Dhs50. O Dhs50. PICKL What: Chicken sando. Famed throughout the city for its crunchy, crispy and spicy coating housing juicy tender chicken. Winner, winner, chicken... lunch? O Dhs50. REIF What: Spicy Angus beef yakisoba. Add a punchy touch to your lunch with Reif’s spicy Angus beef yakisoba. Don’t miss out. O Dhs50. SLAB COCINA What: Cocina bowl. For something packed with nutrients, then go for the Cocina bowl to power up your day. O Dhs50 .66 February 2025 timeoutdubai.com Dhs150 SOMETIMES YOU TRY a dish so incredible, so bursting with flavour, it hits you like a shot of adrenaline. Authentic to the bones, the enchilada de pollo at Maya by Chef Richard Sandoval does just that. It’s savoury, spicy and tangy with a bright zesty flavour that will stop you in your tracks. The dish seems quite simple – shredded chicken wrapped in tortillas and baked in a delicious sauce. HYPE DISH DISSECTION What goes into the Dubai plates filling up your feed But making it can be as complex as finding a parking spot in Dubai Mall on a weekend. It starts off with a laundry list of herbs and spices like dry chillies, onion, garlic, oregano, cinnamon, cumin and black pepper to name a few. Then, there are all of those sauces like adobo, mole, black bean and cruda. Not to mention the shredded chicken and corn tortillas... There’s clearly a lot to this. Maya’s chef de cuisine, Guillermo Edmundo Vidales Favela (AKA el jefe) says: “This is a traditional dish for me as a Mexican, it’s my comfort food, it reminds me of home and at Maya it’s as authentic as it gets.” Yes, chef. O Open Mon-Fri 7pm-midnight, Sat 1.30pm-4.30pm, 7pm-midnight, Sun 1pm-4pm, 7pm-midnight. Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai Marina, maya-dubai.com (04 316 5550). THE TORTILLAS “For our enchiladas, we always use corn tortillas as they’re more robust than flour and absorb the sauce while staying intact. They’re hand- pressed and made with heirloom corn.” THE ASSEMBLY “We fry the tortillas first, then add the sauce, followed by roasted chicken thighs. We then roll it up and put all three enchiladas in the charcoal oven to get a smoky flavour.” THE TOPPINGS “The dish is plated with raw tomatillo sauce, herbs, chilli, cream and cotija cheese before it’s garnished with red onion slices, cherry tomatoes, avocado and coriander.” THE MOLE SAUCE “We use an adobo sauce as the base of our mole. It’s super complicated to make as it features a mix of herbs, dried chillies, dried fruits, nuts and a lot of patience.” Enchilada de pollo at Maya by Chef Richard SandovalNext >