Dubai has a majority of the region's world class spas

The recognition - awarded by the internationally prestigious Leading Hotels of the World group - comes just ahead of Dubai's Wellness and Spas Trade Fair, the premier event for the health and wellness industry in the region.

Ms. Susan M. Amin, Exhibitions Manager Wellness & Spa Middle East, Messe Frankfurt, believes that the acknowledgment reflects Dubai's status as one of the first choice destinations for travellers who are seeking a healthy break or a relaxing period of rest and rejuvenation. "Dubai's spa facilities have been found to be among the best in the world," she says.

"Out of the four destinations across the whole of the Middle East listed as being of a world class standard, three were found in Dubai. We are anticipating that the city's spas will become a yearly fixture on the list, as the emirate already has one of the highest concentrations of spas per capita across the globe and is heavily promoting itself as a leading spot for wellness," she says.

"Hotels in Dubai offering such first rate amenities are increasing by 17% per year and by 2015, it is highly likely that there will be more than 200 establishments in Dubai containing world class facilities, making the city the top spa destination in the world,"

Ms. Amin adds.

The three Dubai spa resorts that so impressed the judges compiling the directory were the Residence and Spa at the One and Only Royal Mirage, the Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa and the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa.

The fourth resort in the region that made it onto the list was the La Residence des Cascades in Soma Bay, Egypt. In total, 94 spas worldwide were rated as being leading resorts, with the majority being located in Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

The Leading Spas directory is the first global assessment programme to evaluate luxury spas. In order to qualify, a hotel must fulfill a number of strict criteria. They must be a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, undergo an anonymous inspection of all aspects of the spa facilities and submit to an annual re-appraisal.

Once appointed and listed within the publication, the directory provides details of the spas' facilities, exercise regimes and treatments offered, as well as general property information. Included are tips on spa etiquette and a glossary of spa terms to familiarise guests with various treatments and philosophies.

"Spa-goers these days are demanding much more information about the amenities on offer before they commit their precious time", says Susan Amin. "This directory is a reflection of that trend. Customers are now a lot choosier about the facilities and treatments that they want from a spa. Gone are the days when a simple sauna or steam room would suffice.

The range of treatments they can now select includes hot stone massages, crystal healing therapies, Moroccan mud baths and Yoga sessions", she says. "The annual Wellness and Spas Middle East exhibition will be featuring all these latest trends and developments for the spa industry and has certainly helped cement Dubai as one of the world's top spa destinations."

The International Trade Fair for the Professional Spa and Wellness Industry will run from 20-22 May, 2007 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Together with Beautyworld Middle East, last year's event attracted 748 exhibitors and 8225 visitors and was deemed an overwhelming success, with 98% of visitors polled saying that they will revisit the exhibition this year. Ms Amin believes that this year's event will be the best yet. "We are aiming to showcase Dubai as the premier destination for anybody seeking a recuperating break," she concluded.