Thai massage is a clothed treatment of assisted stretches and rhythmic palm pressure; at Olive Spa in Fujairah you wear loose clothing we provide, from AED 120 for 60 minutes.
Key takeaways
- No oil in traditional Thai; Thai oil massage is the softer alternative
- Best for stiffness and for guests who prefer to stay dressed
- 90 minutes gives time for the full stretching sequence
How we work: Loose, clean clothing is provided for traditional Thai, and every stretch is done slowly within your comfort range.
Further reading: Nuad Thai, traditional Thai massage (UNESCO, inscribed 2019)
What is Thai massage?
The short answer: Traditional Thai massage is a long-established massage practice from Thailand. Instead of gliding oil strokes, the therapist uses:
- Palms and thumbs to apply steady, rhythmic pressure along the body
- Assisted stretches that gently move your arms, legs, hips and back through comfortable ranges
- Body weight, leaning in slowly rather than pushing with force
- A steady rhythm, flowing from one area to the next
It is done fully clothed, without oil, traditionally on a padded mat. You do not need to be flexible. Your therapist reads how your body responds and never pushes a stretch beyond what feels good.
Duration and price
| Treatment | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Thai massage | 60 minutes | From AED 120 |
| Traditional Thai massage | 90 minutes | AED 180 |
| Traditional Thai massage | 120 minutes | Ask us when you book |
| Thai oil massage | 60 minutes | From AED 120 |
What does Thai massage feel like?
The short answer: A typical traditional Thai session feels something like this:
It starts at the feet. Rhythmic palm pressure up the legs, slow and grounding.
Then the legs and hips. Gentle stretches open the hips and the backs of the legs. You may feel a long, pleasant pull, never a sharp one.
Then the back. Lying on your front or side, the therapist works along the muscles beside the spine with palms and thumbs.
Then arms, shoulders and neck. More rhythmic pressure and a few supported stretches for the upper body.
Finally, a seated stretch for the upper back and shoulders, and a quiet finish.
You stay relaxed throughout. Your only job is to breathe out as each stretch begins and let your therapist take the weight.
Traditional Thai or Thai oil massage?
The short answer: Both are on our menu because they suit different moods.
| Compared on | Traditional Thai massage | Thai oil massage |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Loose clothing provided | Undressed under a sheet |
| Oil | None | Warm oil |
| Stretching | Yes, assisted | Little or none |
| Pressure | Medium, rhythmic, palm and thumb | Medium, rhythmic, flowing |
| Feels | Active, energising, “taller” | Relaxing, softer, smoother |
| Choose it if | You feel stiff or prefer to stay clothed | You like Thai rhythm but want to relax deeply |
If you are torn, ask us. You can try traditional Thai first and Thai oil next time, or the other way round.
More about Thai oil massage
Thai oil massage borrows the rhythm of traditional Thai, the palm presses and the steady, rolling pace, and brings it onto the skin with warm oil. Most of the stretching is left out, so you can lie still and sink into the table. The pressure sits in the medium range, a little firmer than a typical relaxing massage, and the therapist often uses forearms and palms in long, sweeping movements along the back and legs.
It sits between gentle and firm: the Thai rhythm and palm pressure, with fewer and softer stretches, and warm oil instead of clothing. It is also a gentle way to try Thai techniques for the first time if you are not yet sure about being stretched.
Your Thai massage, step by step
- Book. Choose traditional Thai or Thai oil, 60, 90 or 120 minutes. Mention any injuries or limits on movement.
- Plan to be here 10 to 15 minutes before your slot. Thai sessions take place on the 1st Floor of V Hotel Fujairah, Al Fassel Rd. Have some water and complete a short form.
- Consultation. Your therapist asks about flexibility, problem areas and anything to avoid.
- Change. Into the loose clothing provided (or under a sheet for Thai oil).
- Your massage. Rhythmic pressure and stretches, from feet to shoulders, at your pace.
- Rest. Sit or lie quietly for a moment before standing up, then enjoy a warm drink.
Is Thai massage right for you?
The short answer: Thai massage suits you if you feel stiff rather than knotted, and you would like to stay dressed.
- Good fit: your hips, hamstrings or back feel tight after sitting, driving or hiking.
- Good fit: you prefer not to undress, or you do not like the feeling of oil.
- Good fit: you enjoy being moved and stretched more than lying still.
- Choose Thai oil massage instead if you want the Thai rhythm with softer stretches and warm oil.
- Tell us first if you are pregnant, have joint or back problems, or have had recent surgery.
Who usually chooses this treatment?
- Guests who prefer to stay clothed for personal or cultural reasons.
- Desk-bound professionals whose hips, hamstrings and lower back feel tight.
- Active people who enjoy stretching on rest days.
- Travellers stiff after a long flight or drive to Fujairah.
- Anyone who finds lying still for an hour difficult and prefers a more active treatment.
Please tell us before booking if you are pregnant, have osteoporosis, recent injuries, joint replacements, back problems or high blood pressure. We may adapt the stretches, recommend Thai oil massage instead, or suggest checking with your doctor first.
Stiff, knotted or tired? Tell us how you feel and we will help you choose.
Does your body feel a little stuck?
The short answer: Wondering whether a massage could feel more like gentle yoga, except someone else does all the work? That is the simplest way to describe Thai massage.
Perhaps you sit for most of the day, and by the evening your hips, hamstrings and lower back feel as if they have set in place. Perhaps you prefer not to undress for a massage. Or perhaps you like the idea of a treatment that moves you, rather than one where you lie still for an hour.
This treatment is all of that. It is rhythmic, active and grounding, and you may leave feeling taller. At Olive Spa, inside V Hotel Fujairah, we offer it in two forms: the traditional, clothed version with stretching, and a softer Thai oil massage.
What to wear and what we provide
You do not need to bring anything. For traditional Thai, we provide loose cotton clothing to change into in private. Please remove jewellery and avoid a heavy meal for an hour or two before your session, because some stretches involve gentle pressure across the abdomen and hips.
For Thai oil massage, you undress to your comfort level under a sheet, with disposable underwear provided.
Four common worries about Thai massage
“I’m not flexible enough.” You do not need to be. This style starts where your body is today. Your therapist moves you only as far as feels comfortable, and the stretches get gentler, not harder, if you are stiff.
“Will I be bent into strange positions?” Some stretches look unusual from the outside, but they are slow, supported and explained. Nothing happens suddenly, and you can ask your therapist to skip any stretch you do not like.
“Is it going to be painful?” Some pressure points feel strong, the way a good stretch does. Pain is never the goal. Say “lighter” or “less” and it changes straight away.
“Do I have to talk or help?” No. Your therapist guides every movement. The only thing you might be asked to do is breathe out as a stretch begins, which helps your muscles relax into it.
After your session
- Stand up slowly and take a few easy breaths.
- Sip water through the rest of the day.
- Go for a gentle walk if you like, and enjoy moving more freely.
- Save intense exercise for the next day.
A short history of Thai massage
Traditional Thai massage, known in Thailand as Nuad Thai, has been practised for centuries and is still taught in temples and schools across the country. Its roots draw on Thai, Indian and Chinese traditions, and its rhythm reflects that mix: pressure along the body’s lines, slow stretching, and a meditative pace. In 2019 UNESCO added Nuad Thai to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising it as a living tradition rather than a spa treatment.
You do not need to know any of this to enjoy it. But it helps explain why a good session feels so deliberate. Every movement follows on from the last, and the therapist works with their whole body, not just their hands.
Why book Thai massage at Olive Spa?
- Both versions on one menu. Traditional Thai and Thai oil, so you can choose by mood.
- Clothing provided and a private room to change in.
- Stretches within your comfort, adjusted for your flexibility and any injuries.
- A calm setting inside V Hotel Fujairah, easy to reach from across the emirate.
- Honest guidance if another treatment on the spa menu would suit you better.
Thai massage in Fujairah: finding us
Olive Spa is on the 1st Floor of V Hotel Fujairah, which makes it an easy stop whether you live in the city, are driving in from Dibba, Kalba or Khor Fakkan, or are staying at the hotel for a beach weekend. It is a good choice at the end of a long drive along the East Coast, when the hips and lower back feel it most. For the map, parking and how to find the spa once you are inside the hotel, see Contact and directions.
Coming with a partner or friend? Two people can have it together in our couples suite. See couples massage.
Helpful guides
At a glance
- Pressure
- Medium, rhythmic
- Oil
- None (Thai oil version available)
- Clothing
- Loose clothing provided
- Length
- 60, 90 or 120 minutes
- Price
- AED 120 upward for 60 min; AED 180 for 90
- Best for
- Stiffness, staying clothed
Book your Thai massage in Fujairah
If your body feels like it needs to move again, let us help it along, gently. Choose traditional Thai or Thai oil, and we will do the rest.
To arrange your Thai session, call us on +971 54 594 0701 or +971 50 271 8276, message us on WhatsApp, or send a request through the booking form. Have a question about flexibility, clothing or which version to choose? Ask us before you book.