Credit: SHA Wellness

An in-depth analysis showed Mexico and the UAE were best suited to the needs of the business – demand for our services is also strong in these regions
– Alejandro Bataller

Spanish wellness brand SHA Wellness will open its Latin American flagship in January in Costa Mujeres, a secluded beach destination just north of Cancun.

Joining SHA’s Alicante flagship, SHA Mexico’s opening will mark the first phase of SHA’s global expansion plans with an additional Abu Dhabi forest destination set to debut 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.

“Between the relics of ancient wisdom and the advancements of modern medicine, Mexico is a natural paradise that is ideal for our offering.

“We’ve explored multiple potential international locations, assessing climate, environment and access to clinical resources. However, an in-depth analysis showed Mexico and the UAE were best suited to the needs of the business.

“Demand for our services in these regions is also strong.”

Design

With seven hectares of native nature and 500m of white sandy beach, SHA Mexico will be a paradisiacal location for guests to achieve their health goals.

“There’ll be 100 treatment rooms and 100 oceanfront suites and 35 wellness residences which we’ve encountered a high demand for – all were sold very quickly to several different international buyers,” Bataller said.

“Its architecture, which replicates the structure of a DNA strand, is being led by Mexican studio Sordo Madaleno with an organic and contemporary design ethos that will use renewable and locally sourced materials.”

Interior designer, Alejandro Escudero, was also involved in realising the space which will blend the indoors with the outdoors with an organic, sustainable and contemporary feel and feature tropical gardens curated by Maat Handasa.

The property will stay true to the brand’s principles of sustainability, employing natural construction materials and renewable energy sources to minimise environmental impact.

The concept SHA Mexico’s guests will choose between four personalised health programmes (which will mimic those at SHA’s Alicante flagship and range from four to 21 days).

They will be led by renowned specialists in four areas: Rebalance & Reenergize, Detox & Optimal Weight, Well-Ageing & Prevention and Leader’s Performance.

Each programme will be curated to meet the guest’s needs through nine disciplines: healthy nutrition, preventive and well-ageing, holistic medicine, cognitive stimulation, advanced preventive diagnostics, wellbeing and inner balance, physical performance and healthy living academy.

Wellness offering

SHA Mexico’s wellness clinic will be 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 will offer 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 will include an infinity pool, beach club, a games room and a movie theatre, as well as art exhibitions, a library, meeting rooms and a chef’s studio that will play host to Healthy Living workshops.

DiningThe culinary offering will follow SHA’s nutrition philosophy which is based on a healthy, energetic, seasonal, mainly alkaline and balanced diet, inspired by ancient principles and adapted to modern life.

The property will open with a signature restaurant, SHAmadi, followed by a second dining option, Earthy, which will launch in March 2024.

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.”

For more details about the upcoming Mexico and Emirates projects, check out Spa Business' exclusive interview with SHA.

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FEATURE: Interview – Alejandro Bataller