Leila Haddad
Senior Wellness Editor
8 years experience
About Leila
Dubai-based wellness journalist with eight years covering MENA spa and beauty. Trained spa therapist; speaks Arabic, French and English. Writes Spalist's hammam, couples and ladies-only spa guides.
Areas of expertise
- Moroccan hammam tradition
- Luxury spa standards
- Therapist certification
- Treatment review
Leila's editorial principles
What to look for, room by room
Leila's guides explain what separates a good spa from a forgettable one — the treatment rooms, the changing facilities, the reception flow — so readers know what to check when they arrive. Listing facts in her guides come from each venue's public Google Business profile.
Hotel-spa scepticism
Leila's MENA-spa beat covers most international hotel brands. Her published critique generally skews toward the independents — the rationale being that hotel spas often optimise around the resort guest experience rather than walk-in repeat customers. She makes that bias explicit in every hotel-spa write-up.
Treatment training
Trained as a spa therapist herself. That technical background informs the depth of detail in her treatment write-ups — particularly hammam, deep tissue and traditional Moroccan rituals.
Recent guides by Leila
- Seasonal
Ramadan Spa Hours in the UAE: What's Open, What's Adjusted (2026)
Most UAE spas stay open during Ramadan with shifted hours — typically opening later and running through the night. Here's what to expect and how to plan.
Updated 2026-05-29 · 6 min read
- Newcomer
Your First UAE Spa Visit: Etiquette, Tipping, Booking & What to Expect
A no-fluff guide to your first UAE spa: how to book, what to wear, how much to tip, how the gender rules work, and what to actually do once you're there.
Updated 2026-05-29 · 8 min read
How we work
Leilaresearches and writes Spalist's guidance in their area of expertise. Listing details on Spalist come from each venue's public Google Business profile, rankings use a published formula, and Featured placements are paid and clearly labelled — payment never buys a better rank or favourable coverage. Editorial integrity is also subject to our published editorial standards and review policy.