About this hotel
General information
Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som occupies Qatar’s northernmost tip near Al Ruwais, where the desert runs down to the Persian Gulf. Saltwater lagoons, gardens of medicinal plants and mangroves surround the low buildings, and the resort’s whole approach draws on Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine, a lineage traced back to Ibn Sina’s Canon of Medicine. It is split into two separate halves: Zulal Serenity for adults only and Zulal Discovery for families.
Zulal runs like a wellness clinic: rooms are never sold on their own, and every stay is a wellness package with full board and treatments. Each package includes a consultation with a personal advisor, one treatment a day, scheduled group activities and use of the hydrothermal areas. Programmes rest on six disciplines — physiotherapy, nutrition, holistic therapies, fitness, spa and aesthetics — with dedicated retreats for stress recovery, detox, fitness, weight management and time together as a couple. The team includes doctors, nutritionists, physiotherapists and traditional medicine practitioners. Phones and cameras stay out of the public areas, so quiet is part of the design.
Location
The resort sits on the Persian Gulf shore near Al Ruwais, at the northern end of the Qatar peninsula. Central Doha is about 110 km away (roughly 73 minutes by car) and Hamad International Airport 138 km (about 88 minutes). Limousine transfers from the airport, a fast-track airport service and private helicopter charters from Doha can be arranged on request.
Spa
The wellness centre has separate men’s and women’s sides, each with its own hydrothermal suite: a circuit of hydrotherapy pools with underwater and overhead jets, a steam room, sauna, Himalayan salt room, arctic cave, an experience shower with changing light and sound, and a marble hammam. Beyond the treatment rooms there is a treatment suite overlooking the Serenity Lagoon, a Watsu pool, a salon and relaxation lounges. The menu pairs Arabic traditions — tadleek massages, the Qatari hamiz, a hammam ritual and the signature Spirit of Zulal — with Ayurveda, reflexology, reiki and acupuncture. Every programme begins at the House of Wellness and Healing, the Apothecary blends herbal remedies, and the Huzan Aesthetics Centre plus Gyrotonic and Neurac studios add aesthetics and physiotherapy.
Sports & leisure
- A shared gym, separate ladies’ and men’s gyms, a fitness assessment room with body composition analysis and a private training studio
- Studios for group classes, Pilates (including reformer) and Gyrotonic, and a yoga studio overlooking the Serenity Lagoon
- A daily schedule of yoga (also in the water and under the full moon), tai chi, meditation, breathwork, Thai boxing, TRX, circuit and aqua training, and outdoor boot camps
- Padel, badminton, table tennis and pool volleyball
- Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards off the resort’s beach
- Island walks and a marine eco trail, mangrove planting at the Mangrove Deck, stargazing, cooking classes and wellness talks
- The House of Wisdom library and the Zulal Souq boutique of local crafts and wellness products
For children
Children under 16 stay only at Zulal Discovery; 16- and 17-year-olds may stay at Serenity and use its spa with a parent. The Discovery Oasis family centre opens daily and is divided into themed studios by age: Hedgehog for toddlers up to 3, Fox for 4–8, Falcon for 9–12 and Oryx for teenagers of 13–16. Days bring craft workshops (clay, embroidery, origami, candle making), sensory play, children’s yoga, active games, cooking classes and mocktail making. Mornings are usually left for the adults’ treatments, and in the afternoon families come together for shared sessions, from kayaking and padel to walks among the mangroves. Each family is paired with a family mentor and a wellness advisor.
Restaurants & bars
Meals are part of every package; menus are built on local produce and tailored after a nutrition consultation for guests on selected retreats.
- Al Sidr — adults-only restaurant with pan-Asian and global dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Aizoon — family restaurant with Mediterranean cooking and Arabic touches
- Acacia Dining — fine-dining dinners reinterpreting international and Arabian flavours with roots in Qatari culinary heritage
- Casuarina Café — lagoon-side café for light bites, herbal infusions and a high tea inspired by traditional Arabic medicine
- Tea House — inside the House of Wisdom, where a tea sommelier pours from more than 200 blends
- Circle of Trust — seasonal open-air dinners around the fire with live cooking
- In-room dining
Swimming
Saltwater lagoons and temperature-controlled pools run through the grounds. Serenity Deluxe Island King rooms have their own ladder straight into the lagoon, and most Serenity rooms and suites have a plunge pool on the terrace. The Qataf Suites open onto gardens with direct beach access, and kayaks and paddleboards set off from the beach in front of the resort.
Rooms
Rooms and suites are divided between the adults-only Zulal Serenity and the family-focused Zulal Discovery, with a cool palette, clean lines and views of sand, sea, mangroves or lagoon. The largest — the two-bedroom Shinan and three-bedroom Qataf Suites, each with its own pool and sauna — exist on both sides.
Zulal mattress and pillow menu, pyjamas and bathrobes, premium bathroom amenities, a wellness minibar refreshed daily, a tea station with herbal blends, a safe, Wi-Fi and daily laundry of three pieces of sports attire per guest.
Serenity Deluxe Garden Twin
A twin room with a sitting area and dressing room, close to the restaurants and central facilities. The terrace looks over gardens or mangroves.
Serenity Deluxe Garden King
A king room for couples or solo guests, with a sitting area and dressing room near the restaurants. The terrace looks over gardens or mangroves.
Serenity Garden Suite
An airy king suite with a living area, sofa and dining table, and a dressing room with walk-in wardrobe. A private terrace with seating opens onto its own small garden.
Serenity Deluxe Island King
A king room on an island in the middle of the lagoon, with contemporary interiors and Arabian details. The terrace has a plunge pool and a private ladder into the lagoon; the bathroom has indoor and outdoor showers.
Serenity Deluxe Lagoon King
A king room in a quiet corner by the lagoon. A terrace with a plunge pool and water views, and a bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers.
Serenity Deluxe Beach King
A beachfront king room. A terrace with a plunge pool and open views of the Persian Gulf, and a bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers.
Serenity One Bedroom Suite
A king bedroom with separate living and dining space and a walk-in wardrobe. The wide terrace is screened from view by planting.
Serenity Sea View Suite
A king suite with a living area with sofa and dining table, a dressing area and a bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers. The terrace, with a plunge pool and loungers, looks through the trees to the Persian Gulf.
Discovery Deluxe Mangrove King
A king room with a sitting area and views over the mangroves to the Gulf. The terrace lies close to the Mangrove Deck and the beach.
Discovery Deluxe Mangrove Twin
A twin room for families or friends, with a sitting area and views over the mangroves to the Gulf. The terrace lies close to the Mangrove Deck and the beach.
Discovery Deluxe Garden Twin
A twin room with a small sitting area. Its shaded terrace looks over the resort’s gardens.
Discovery Deluxe Garden King
A king room with a small sitting area and a terrace facing the gardens, close to the restaurants and family facilities.
Discovery Garden Suite
A cosy family suite with a king bed and sitting area in the bedroom, a dressing space and en-suite bathroom. A private balcony for quiet evenings.
Discovery One Bedroom Suite
A family suite with a king bedroom, separate living and dining area and walk-in wardrobe. The wide terrace, screened by planting, is a safe place for children to play.
Shinan Suite
A secluded two-bedroom suite, each bedroom with its own bathroom and dressing area, around a living and dining room. A private pool under a shaded veranda, a personal sauna and indoor and outdoor showers. It can be booked on either side of the resort, the adults-only Zulal Serenity or the family Zulal Discovery.
Qataf Suite
A three-bedroom residence (king and twin bedrooms), the third with its own entrance, plus living and dining rooms and a walk-in dressing room. A garden with direct beach access, an infinity pool and plunge pool, a Gulf-facing terrace, a private sauna and a hydrotherapy area in the master bathroom. It can be booked on either side of the resort, the adults-only Zulal Serenity or the family Zulal Discovery.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.