SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
– Alejandro Bataller
Spanish wellness brand, SHA Wellness Clinic, will open its first international outpost in Mexico today (26 January), in the first phase of its global expansion plans.
Building on the success of its flagship clinic in Spain, the global rollout plan has been developed to reflect the consumer demand to place health and wellbeing at the forefront of all areas of life – business and personal.
SHA Mexico is located in the state of Quintana Roo, in the eastern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula. A further opening is set for the Emirates in 2025*.
The two upcoming properties are part of AB Wellness, one of three divisions which fall under the newly launched holding group AB Living – a global development firm founded by Alfredo Bataller Parietti in 2022. The two other divisions are AB Properties, focused on residential real estate and AB Hospitality, which aims to develop hotel projects with leading global brands.
“We feel we’ve reached our maximum potential at SHA Spain, so we’re making our offer more accessible to a global market,” said SHA vice president Alejandro Bataller in an exclusive interview with Spa Business.
The property and design
SHA Mexico embodies the brand’s commitment to health and wellbeing rising above the Mayan jungle as a striking building inspired by the human genome.
Designed by Mexican architectural firm, Sordo Madaleno, with interiors by Alejandro Escudero, the property blends the indoors with the outdoors with an organic, sustainable and contemporary feel.
Thoughtfully selected natural materials – including Mexican ceramics, wicker, autochthonous textiles and marble – in combination with the use of renewable energies, have been chosen to minimise environmental impact.
Lush tropical gardens have been curated by Maat Handasa, who designed the landscape to respect the local species. With its own stretch of white sand beach, SHA Mexico sits across from the largest coral reef in the northern hemisphere, a marine ecosystem of protected species.
The complex is made up of 35 residences and 100 oceanfront rooms and suites, each with private balconies.
Wellness facilities
Complete with 100 treatment rooms, SHA Mexico’s wellness clinic is home to medical consultation rooms offering either ocean or mangrove vistas, mind and body rooms, a spa, a fitness studio, yoga and meditation sanctuaries and a hydrotherapy circuit.
An Athletics Club offers fitness programmes guided by a team of specialists, in addition to outdoor and indoor training areas, four movement studios, high-tech fitness equipment, guided walking meditation routes and tennis and paddle courts.
Other amenities include two restaurants, an infinity pool, a beach club, a games room and a movie theatre, as well as a library, meeting rooms and a chef’s studio that will play host to Healthy Living workshops.
"I'm thrilled to witness the realisation of our vision as SHA Wellness opens its doors in Mexico, marking a new chapter in integrative health and wellbeing,” said Bataller.
“Our commitment to transformative health experiences and unparalleled hospitality is now extended to the heart of Mexico, inviting individuals to embark on a journey of self-discovery and optimal health.
“This is not just an inauguration; it's a celebration of a harmonious blend of nature, science and luxury, creating a sanctuary where balance is not just achieved but embraced.”
*SHA Emirates
Opening in 2025, SHA Emirates will be located in the new AlJurf coastal development halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai (just over 30 minutes from each city).
The 12.5-hectare site will be set amidst hundreds of thousands of planted trees that form a verdant forest in the middle of the desert, so guests will always be immersed in nature.
“It’s not what many would think of when they consider a wellness clinic in the Emirates, but that’s exactly what we wanted to achieve,” explained Bataller.
“It’s being created by local developer IMKAN, with an investment of AED600 million (US$163.4 million, €146.8 million, £124.5 million), and will include 110 treatment rooms, 120 suites and a large real estate component with 150 residences.
“Our dream is to create the world’s sixth Blue Zone – places which are recognised as having the highest concentration of centenarians. We envisage a tranquil wellness island, surrounded by nature, that will be an escape from busy city life. It will be a real first for the region and attract travellers from around the world.”
SHA Wellness Clinic Alejandro Bataller AB Wellness AB Living Maat Handasa Sordo Madaleno Alejandro EscuderoSHA Mexico to debut in January 2024 with genome-inspired design by Sordo Madaleno
SHA Wellness launches sexual health clinic at Alicante flagship
AB Living Group and Marriott extend collaboration with three extra projects in Mexico
SHA Wellness founder launches global real estate development firm, AB Living Group
FEATURE: Interview – Alejandro Bataller
AI firm Midjourney enters wellness with spa, fitness and body scanning concept
Hot spring wellness community Ameyalli sells residences and breaks ground on resort and spa
OMA completes New Museum transformation with landmark expansion and Oberon restaurant
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance, hospitality and public programming. The latest addition, Oberon, extends the visitor experience beyond the gallery, reflecting a growing trend for museums to become all-day destinations.
The New Museum in New York has entered a new chapter with the completion of a major
David Rockwell creates immersive magic destination, The Hand and The Eye
Montana Heritage Center by Cushing Terrell opens after US$107 million investment
Universal launches new theme park model with Kids Resort
'Minor wellness hotels' recorded the strongest growth across top KPIs in 2025, finds RLA Global
Great Barrier Reef attraction set for AU$180 million reinvention
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has architecture by Leach Rhodes Walker and interiors by Bergman Design House.
Marriott International partners with Fitwel for wellness solutions across its residential portfolio
Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort to unveil new spa in February 2027
Places Leisure is working with Roberts Limbrick to build £60m wellness flagship in Basingstoke
Hoshino Resorts opens Kai Kusatsu as it expands the Kai onsen ryokan brand
Qiddiya and Populous share details of Saudi Arabia’s National Tennis Centre
Disney confirms US$30 billion investment programme as it highlights its economic impact
Until combines multiple disciplines at new Canary Wharf club
Sea Lanes opens following a partnership between The Eden Project and Canary Wharf Group
Bas Smets brings water and wilderness to Vitra
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Luxury resort coming to Hunter Valley will have longevity spa
'Data chocolate', dreams made real and artworks shaped by visitors’ emotions: Refik Anadol’s AI art museum launches in Los Angeles
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Palazzo di Varignana launches family wellbeing and longevity retreat in Emilia Romagna
Anasa Wellness and Spa debuts at Patmos Aktis as it joins Marriott
Design-led Koru Health Club combines high-performance training with recovery
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
































