I arrived at what appeared to be an exclusive residential villa, its facade standing elegantly against Abu Dhabi’s skyline. A private driver delivered me directly to the entrance, a thoughtful touch that immediately signalled the level of care to come. This is Kintsugi Space, and from the moment I stepped through the oak door into a rush of cool air, it became clear I had entered something exceptional.

The atmosphere struck me first: unlike any spa I’d visited before, this seven-floor sanctuary maintains an almost sacred quiet. Soft-spoken women in flowing robes welcomed me with lemon-infused water and a plush robe. There are no men permitted on the premises, this is a strictly female-only environment, from the practitioners to the guests.

Founded in November 2023, Kintsugi Space brings together the vision of award-winning spa creative Patrizia Bortolin and an all-female team of international wellness experts. The philosophy draws from the traditional Japanese art of Kintsugi, mending ceramics with liquid gold to create something more beautiful than the original. Applied to wellness, this concept encourages guests to view their imperfections not as flaws but as sources of transformation. I would come to understand this philosophy intimately over the next two days.

Surrendering to Stillness

Before my journey could begin, I had to surrender my mobile phone. It was locked away in a pouch, out of reach, out of mind. I felt a flutter of anticipation at first. I’m perpetually connected, always checking, always responding. But within an hour, that familiar pull had dissipated entirely. The detachment proved necessary, even liberating. Without the constant digital noise, I could finally hear myself think. My senses sharpened. Every sound, every scent, every sensation became magnified. I realised how much of life I’d been missing whilst staring at a screen.

The Seven-Floor Sanctuary

The townhouse itself functions as a vertical wellness journey. The lower levels house traditional hydrotherapy facilities: varying scented hammam experiences, a Japanese onsen bath, an infrared sauna incorporating salt therapy, and a black obsidian sauna designed to activate the limbic system. A small pool and Japanese-styled gardens provide contemplative spaces between treatments.

Higher floors reveal the quantum technology that distinguishes this sanctuary from conventional spas. The Koepe machine, used by NASA for astronaut rehabilitation, shakes out muscular tension with remarkable precision. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber reboots cellular processes at the deepest level, whilst the body-sculpting Slim Pod targets areas that exercise alone cannot seem to shift. These advanced treatments sit alongside a plasma generator machine offering various frequencies, creating an intriguing marriage of science and holistic care.

The library occupies a quiet corner, stocked with titles like ‘Healing is the New High’ and ‘All You Need is Rest’. I found myself drawn to the Happiness Room, a small but perfectly conceived space featuring musical instruments and affirmation cards. Throughout the building, artwork from regional female artists creates visual harmony, including Lauren Baker’s impressive 25-metre installation ‘Letter to the Universe’, golden sound waves of chakra frequencies painted over the course of a year following meditation.

I spent time simply sitting next to a gigantic amethyst crystal in the garden, feeling peacefully present in a way I hadn’t experienced in years. When was the last time I’d sat anywhere without purpose, without agenda?

Day One: Opening

My first day began with wellness ambassador Anastasia introducing me to the space, explaining the philosophy and guiding me through what to expect. Her warmth immediately put me at ease, and I felt myself beginning to relax into the experience.

Wellness Lunch

Lunch was my first encounter with Kintsugi’s plant-based cuisine, prepared by an all-female culinary team trained under Emanuele Giorgione, former head chef at Italy’s Palace Merano. The food felt like an extension of the treatments themselves. I was encouraged to eat slowly, gratefully, acknowledging the 20-minute gap between eating and feeling full. No rushing. No guilt. Just nourishment.

Quantum Assessment

Every journey at Kintsugi Space begins with a Quantum Assessment, delivered by a naturopathic doctor. My consultation with Dr Keerthana explored everything from energy levels to emotional patterns. She began with Su Jok, an ancient treatment system involving a grooved metal roller worked across my hands and fingers. Each tender point, she explained, corresponded to areas requiring attention elsewhere in my body.

The accuracy proved remarkable. Within minutes, she had identified certain patterns I’d long attributed to genetics or poor luck. But what followed was not merely a physical diagnosis. It was an exploration of how mental tension manifests physically, how the body keeps score of unprocessed emotions. The assessment used sound frequencies, examining how my body responded to different wavelengths. High-pitched soundwaves permeated my eardrums in a darkened room, and when Dr Keerthana removed my headphones after 15 minutes, I needed several seconds for my eyes to readjust.

I was fascinated by how she’d identified certain characteristics through a roller and a frequency listening session. Was I visiting a wellness spa or a therapy session? Both, I eventually realised. And that was precisely the point.

Greek Hammam

Following my assessment, I experienced the Greek Hammam, a scented, nurturing ritual that refreshed me from head to toe. The warmth penetrated deeply, loosening muscles I hadn’t realised were clenched. I felt myself softening, opening. This head-to-toe experience combined renewal with deep relaxation, preparing my body for the journey ahead.

Japanese Facial (Kassaji)

The Kassaji facial employed volcanic stone for intensive lifting and drainage massage. This was no gentle pampering session. The therapist worked with precision and strength, her movements deliberate and focused. My face felt sculpted afterwards, lifted, as though years of tension had been physically pulled away. The complete and intensive treatment went far beyond typical facials, addressing facial structure and energy flow in equal measure.

Day Two: Transformation

I arrived on the second morning feeling open and ready. The previous day had begun the process of unlocking what I’d been holding. Today would go deeper still.

Water Massage

Lying on a warmed waterbed, I experienced what can only be described as returning to the womb. The gentle, rhythmic pressure of the water beneath me, the practitioner’s hands above, created a sensation of total suspension. I felt safe in a way I couldn’t quite articulate. Tears came, not from sadness but from release. This gentle and intimate session helped reset my mind, soothe my heart, and recreate a better relationship with myself. The session was designed to do exactly that, and I understood then what genuine self-care truly meant.

Quantum Supertuning

Quantum Supertuning combined scalar waves, sound, and light to detect imbalances. The technology would seem futuristic were it not delivered with such warmth. The practitioners here understand that machines without humanity are just metal and wires. They hold the space with genuine care. The treatment identified areas requiring attention with impressive precision, guiding the treatments that would follow.

Matri Consultation

The Matri consultation provided a bridge between the morning’s diagnostic work and the afternoon’s intensive treatments. This focused discussion helped tailor the remaining therapies to my specific needs, ensuring every element of my experience addressed my unique patterns and requirements.

Kintsugi Hormone Balance Massage

This massage used long flowing movements, sacrum rolls, and warm poultices. Traditional techniques refined for modern needs, it addressed the hormonal disruptions that so many women carry silently. I felt the heat of the poultices seeping into my lower back, my abdomen, areas that hold so much feminine energy. The therapist’s hands moved with intuition, finding the exact spots that needed attention. Gentle spinal rocking completed the experience, leaving me feeling balanced in ways both physical and energetic.

Wellness Lunch and Reading Time

The midday break provided essential integration time. I enjoyed another thoughtfully prepared meal, this time savouring the Green Lasagne, spinach pasta layered with lentils that satisfied in a way that transcended nutrition. The reading time that followed allowed me to simply be, to process the morning’s work without rushing into the afternoon. I found myself in the library, quietly absorbing the peace. I didn’t feel the need to jump on my phone, I could just let it go.

Kintsugi Hormone Balance

The full Kintsugi Hormone Balance treatment spanned two hours, combining traditional and modern approaches. Light therapy, laser acupuncture, five-kosha reflexology, and Kintsugi’s bespoke adaptogenic products worked in concert. I couldn’t have explained the science if asked, but I felt the shifts. Subtle at first, then undeniable. My body felt aligned in a way it hadn’t for years. This signature therapy brought together everything the retreat offers, merging ancient wisdom with contemporary technology in service of genuine healing.

Sound and Quartz Massage

My final treatment was Sound and Quartz Massage, a sound healing session on a bed made of tiny, heated quartz crystals. The vibrations worked through my body, resonating at frequencies I could feel but not quite hear. I lay there, completely still, feeling the reverberations move through bone and tissue. The experience transcended explanation. Science can measure hertz and decibels, but it cannot quantify the sensation of feeling your cells reorganise themselves. This closing treatment felt like a benediction, sealing everything I’d experienced into my body’s memory.

The Anastasia Achilleos Experience

Celebrity facialist Anastasia Achilleos warrants particular mention, though her work extended far beyond what any single treatment could capture. Her reputation precedes her, she has worked with Kate Moss and Demi Moore, but calling her a facialist barely captures what she offers. Her presence throughout my journey, from the initial welcome to her guidance between treatments, created a thread of continuity and care.

Her signature 90-minute method takes place on a warmed waterbed, which she describes as “returning to the womb.” Her approach addresses the whole person through deep cranial-sacral holds, fascia work from face to feet, and light therapy. She works intuitively, attuned to emotional blocks as much as physical tension. So calming and nurturing were her movements that I found myself hovering at the edge of sleep. She warned me this would happen. I managed to stay conscious long enough to hear her whisper: “Whatever it is, it doesn’t serve you. Let it go.”

That simple sentence stayed with me. It stays with me still. How much do we carry that doesn’t serve us? How much can we release when given permission?

Wellness Leadership

Patrizia Bortolin serves as Creative Director, bringing decades of spa design expertise and a background spanning mindfulness, psychosomatic naturopathy, and transformational coaching. Her warmth humanises the advanced technology, creating an environment that feels nurturing rather than clinical. She understands that healing requires both science and soul.

Dr Divya Sudheesh, General Director and certified Chief Happiness Officer, oversees wellness programmes. Her Ayurvedic background informs the retreat’s integrative approach, bridging ancient healing with contemporary understanding. The international team includes specialists in everything from Yoga Nidra to trauma-informed therapy, all selected for their expertise and compassionate approach.

Environmental Considerations

Sustainability underpins operations here. Electronics are actively discouraged within the sanctuary, maintaining an atmosphere of contemplation. The retreat sources locally where possible, employs all-female teams, and maintains practices that minimise environmental impact. Recent recognition includes awards for Best Female Spa, Best Luxury Spa, and Best Wellness Retreat in the Middle East.

Final Reflections

I departed feeling genuinely altered rather than simply relaxed. My body felt like it had been remoulded, stretched, kneaded, and pressed back into proper alignment. But the physical changes were secondary to the mental shifts. The gentle contemplation, there is little to do here but reflect, becomes liberating surprisingly quickly. The therapists guide this process with remarkable skill, making introspection feel natural and welcoming.

The unification of quantum technology with vibrational energy work creates something genuinely groundbreaking. This isn’t a spa where you get a massage and leave feeling pampered. This is a place where real transformation occurs, where ancient wisdom meets cutting-edge science, where the body’s capacity for self-healing is activated through careful, intentional intervention.

Two full days here is essential. A single treatment cannot achieve what this layered, cumulative approach delivers. Each session builds upon the last, creating a symphony of healing that reaches crescendo slowly, beautifully.

Kintsugi Space succeeds because it offers what Abu Dhabi’s luxury landscape has largely overlooked: genuine sanctuary. Where other venues facilitate socialising and networking, this pink townhouse provides permission to simply be. The gold that repairs our cracks, I discovered, comes not from the treatments themselves but from the space to recognise where healing is needed.

I left with renewed clarity, facing forward with fresh positivity. My phone remained in my bag for the drive back to the hotel. I wasn’t ready to reconnect with the outside world just yet. I wanted to hold onto this feeling a little longer, this sense of being whole, of being enough, of being beautifully, imperfectly human.

As Patrizia says: “It’s a satisfying love affair. Be in love with everything.” For two days in Abu Dhabi, I learned how.