The Brief
‹›
Department 12 / 14
Wellness

Longevity money moves to the Gulf, while wellness-tech funding and science claims draw scrutiny

Dubai approved a Longevity Authority strategy targeting Dh35 billion over a decade, and Miraval's first international resort is open on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. Meanwhile Oura's IPO delay and a skeptical look at longevity science suggest clients may ask harder questions about program claims.

Photograph — Wellness library
01Destination

Dubai backs longevity with a Dh35 billion strategy

Dubai has approved a Longevity Authority strategy that targets more than Dh35 billion (about $9.5 billion) in economic value over the next decade. A government-backed plan of this kind points to new medical-wellness and longevity clinic capacity, hotel partnerships and inbound demand in the Gulf.

For advisors, nothing is bookable yet. The sources describe a strategy and a revenue goal, not specific openings or programs. Advisors with longevity-minded clients should watch for supplier announcements and program launches in the emirate, and start asking established longevity operators whether they plan Gulf partnerships.

Sources 1825
02Destination

Miraval opens its first international resort on the Red Sea

Miraval The Red Sea opened in May 2026 on Shura Island, Saudi Arabia, and is the brand's first resort outside its home market. It has 180 keys and a 40,000-square-foot Life in Balance Spa, plus three signature treatments exclusive to the property.

This adds a named-brand destination-spa option in the Red Sea for clients who want a mindfulness-led program. The source is a Robb Report partner piece, so it is sponsored content. Confirm rates, program structure and commission terms with the supplier before pitching.

Sources 6
03Data point

MMGY: boomers outspend Gen Z by four to one

MMGY's fall survey puts expected US leisure travel spend at $5,655 per traveler. The generational gap is wide: boomers plan to spend $8,796 a year on travel against $2,195 for Gen Z.

Two other findings matter for wellness sales. 35% of travelers are shifting to off-peak travel, which supports off-peak retreat pricing and packages. And 51% now use AI for trip planning, which could change how clients find advisors. The spend figures favor focusing wellness pitches on older, higher-income clients.

Sources 9
04News

Oura delays its IPO as longevity claims face scrutiny

Oura has postponed its US listing, joining other IPO hopefuls that have delayed amid market jitters. The delay signals a tougher funding climate for wellness tech, and it may slow wearable partnerships with resorts and longevity programs.

A separate piece published alongside it argues that the longevity boom is getting ahead of the science. Advisors selling longevity programs should expect clients to ask harder questions about what the evidence supports. Ask suppliers which outcomes they measure and which claims are backed by data.

Sources 232218

Sources — Wellness Department

  1. 1
    U.S. hotel results for week ending 26 September
  2. 2
    Latin America Business Travel Spending Forecast to Reach $67.7 Billion USD in 2026 as Growth Accelerates Amid Ongoing Economic Pressures
  3. 3
    AHLA Congratulates Keith Sonderling on Confirmation as Secretary of U.S. Department of Labor
  4. 4
    Leonardo Hotels acquires three hotels in Munich, Hanover and Braunschweig
  5. 5
    Power Up Your Workspace with Mockett’s PCS148
  6. 6
    Miraval Resorts & Spas Takes Its Pioneering Mindfulness Approach Abroad - Robb Report
  7. 7
    Can AI Really Make Your Hotel Paid Ads Perform Better?
  8. 8
    Forget Me Not
  9. 9
    The American Vacation Is Proving Surprisingly Resilient
  10. 10
    Navigating The 2026 Hospitality CISO Landscape
  11. 11
    High Season Hotel Strategy: How to Protect Profitability as Demand Peaks
  12. 12
    Lowen Hospitality Cuts Monthly Close Time by Over 30% and Achieves Near Real-Time P&L with HIA ERP
  13. 13
    The on-trip experience: what guests remember – and how AI is helping hotels deliver it
  14. 14
    Milan Market Spotlight - YE July 2026
  15. 15
    91% of Hotel Chains Use AI but Only 28% Have a Strategy, Choice Hotels Acquires Harvest Hosts for $130M, Is Your Agency Selling You AI Pixie Dust?
  16. 16
    Avalora's VAIA is First AI Assistant to Complete HTNG Express PMS Integration
  17. 17
    Tony Nicastro on the Future of Hotel Fitness and Wellness
  18. 18
    Dubai’s longevity goal: $9.5B in next decade | The sauna surge | Oura delays IPO
  19. 19
    Powering Women’s Health: Optimization & Innovation with Garmin 
  20. 20
    Juniper Lattes? Pine Sodas? Food Is Taking Us Back to the Forest.
  21. 21
    Tiny Health Raises $33M to Scale Microbiome Intelligence Across the Lifespan
  22. 22
    The longevity boom is getting ahead of the science
  23. 23
    Oura becomes latest US IPO hopeful to delay listing as market jitters deepen
  24. 24
    The hot spot: World Sauna Congress convenes in Oslo as global interest skyrockets
  25. 25
    Dubai’s longevity strategy to bring in over Dh35 billion in next decade

A modest day: two Gulf destination stories, one useful demand survey and a cautionary note on longevity hype. Most of it points to what to watch rather than what to book. — The Desk

— The Wellness Desk