As far as 2025 home trends go, at-home wellness has seen a sharp uptick in popularity.
Outlining the year’s biggest interior design updates, Pallavi Dean, founder of UAE's Roar Design, shared on Instagram: “Our clients are bringing infrared saunas, plunge pools and ice baths into their homes, and you can do this from DIY to ultra luxury".
With an array of options on the market, from portable baths you can move around the house or garden to customised built-in baths, when investing in an ice bath for your home, there are a few things to consider, including cost, maintenance and effective plumbing.
And if you're new to cold water therapy completely, it's also worth looking into both the benefits and risks before investing.
History of cold water as a healing practice
Partaking in ice baths and cold water immersion for health reasons is nothing new. In the Edwin Smith Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian document dating back to 1600BC, a number of medical procedures and theories are outlined, including the use of cold applications for skin irritation.
Cold plunges were also popular in ancient Greece. Meanwhile in Europe, the prevalence of spa towns, particularly in England and Germany, stem from a belief in the healing powers of cold water as outlined in the 1722 book, The history of cold bathing, both ancient and modern by John Floyer and Edward Banyard.
Ice baths were formerly the preserve of athletes and sports physiotherapists. British marathon runner Paula Radcliffe attributed winning the 10,000 metre event at the 2002 European championships to her use of ice baths, telling reporters: “It takes the inflammation down in my legs and although it's cold at the time, it makes you feel so much better half an hour later".
It would be a decade later before they entered the mainstream, largely thanks to the increasing popularity and viral videos by Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof.
“The ice bucket challenge for ALS in 2014 definitely started the ball rolling, but what really catapulted them into the public consciousness was Covid,” says Nick Blair, 36, the chief ice officer of Dubai's ice bath company, Kula Recovery. “With everyone stuck at home there was a real focus on mental health as people searched for different ways to feel better. There was also the emergence of Wim Hof, who’d been doing ice baths for many years and popularised them on social media.”
Ice bath health benefits and drawbacks
Gym-goers will be familiar with the cold plunge pool into which it’s recommended to jump following a session in the sauna or steam room. Alternating between hot and cold temperatures helps stimulate blood flow and improve circulation with benefits for cardiovascular health.
“Ice baths can reduce muscle soreness and cramps, even for non-athletes engaged in daily physical activities,” says physiotherapist Suhana Abdul Kalam Laila at Aster Speciality Clinic for Orthopaedics and Physiotherapy, Al Qusais. “They support improved recovery from minor physical strain, promoting a sense of overall well-being. Plus, enhanced circulation and reduced inflammation may contribute to a boosted immune system.”
As well as reducing muscle soreness and aiding other physical ailments, ice baths can also have an effect on mental health.
“They can bring enhanced mood and stress resilience as cold exposure triggers a release of endorphins and norepinephrine, which are mood-boosting chemicals,” says Dr Khalid Shukri, anti-aging and regenerative medicine physician at Wellth. “They may also help manage anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms and increased mental toughness as regularly enduring cold discomfort can improve resilience and tolerance for stress.”
Caution must also be taken with ice baths, particularly for those suffering from heart or cardiovascular issues which might be exacerbated by the initial shock of the cold.
“Regular use might reduce muscle adaptation, which could hinder strength development over time,” says Laila. “Improper use can increase the risk of nerve and skin damage and the relief provided by ice baths is temporary and does not address the root causes of muscle or joint issues.”
Practicalities of an at-home ice bath
“Firstly, you need to think about how to fill it up and empty it out,” says Blair. “There are entry level plastic tubs that you fill with ice cubes, as well as tubs with chillers that are connected to the water mains and which you can operate via a smartphone app. These can run around Dh11,000.”
Those looking for the cheaper option, which you fill with ice, need to keep a supply of ice at home and plan their baths ahead.
“You need a 5kg bag of ice for a bath, and people don’t tend to have that ready for if they want to have one in the morning before work," says Blair.
Ice baths with a chiller are more expensive, but allow users to set a timer so the water is cooled before they get in. For customised ice baths, the sky’s the limit.
“Our baths are built in the UAE in Ajman and Sharjah,” says Blair. “They’re made from Canadian wood and stainless steel and can be a 250kg structure. We recently put one on the roof of a villa on The Palm using a crane. Permanent ones can be customised to suit all sizes and decor.”
The water for an ice bath is filtered and chilled in the same way as for a swimming pool. A chiller is a stand-alone unit that cools the water before feeding it back into the tub.
“When it comes to changing the water, it’s personal preference,” says Blair. “If you get into the bath straight after a workout, the water will get dirtier quicker due to body sweat and dirt.
"For those who get in after a shower, the water can last longer. You should judge on how water looks, but changing once a month if you have a chiller with a filter is recommended.”
Ice baths need a drainage point, whether in the bathroom or in the garden where water can be used to hydrate plants. There are also pumps available to direct water into the sink.
‘I enjoy better sleep and a sharper mind and focus’
Airline pilot Tariq Abusalem, 34, who lives in Dubai, shares why he invested in an ice bath for his home.
“Initially, I began my journey by having cold showers, then I started paying to have ice baths at various locations,” says the married father-of-two. “However, since drop-in cost were high, I decided to invest in an ice bath.”
Choosing a movable as opposed to a built-in option, Abusalem cites lower costs, convenience and hygiene as his main reasons for investing in his own ice bath.
“Depending on my training cycle, if I’m undergoing heavy training then use it every day,” he says. “However, in off-season, it’s more like once every week or two week.
“From using it, I’ve experienced less post-training soreness and I have more energy, especially if I take one in the morning. I enjoy better sleep and a sharper mind and focus.”
His advice for newcomers? “Know your tolerance and start gradually. Consult your physician beforehand, especially if you have heart issues, and clean the tub regularly and invest in filters.”
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Semi-final fixtures
Portugal v Chile, 7pm, today
Germany v Mexico, 7pm, tomorrow
Scoreline
Arsenal 0 Manchester City 3
- Agüero 18'
- Kompany 58'
- Silva 65'
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
TV:
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Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
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MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
SCORES
Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
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Brighton 1
Gross (50' pen)
Tottenham 1
Kane (48)
Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
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Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90 1')
Manchester City 3 (Gundogan 18', Foden 21', De Bruyne 34')
Man of the match: Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)
