A steam room relaxes you, a body scrub exfoliates, and a Moroccan bath combines steam, black soap, a kessa scrub and a rinse with a therapist guiding you throughout.
How we work: A therapist guides you through every step of the Moroccan bath in a private hammam room.
Further reading: Hammam (Wikipedia)
All three appear on spa menus across the UAE, and the names are often used loosely. Here is what actually happens in each, and which one to choose.
At a glance
| Compared on | Steam room | Body scrub | Moroccan bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat and steam | Yes | No | Yes |
| Soap | No | No | Traditional black soap |
| Exfoliation | No | Yes, granular product | Yes, kessa glove, full body |
| Done by a therapist | No | Yes | Yes |
| Rinse | Your own shower | Your own shower | Warm water poured over you |
| Typical time | 10–20 minutes | 30–45 minutes | 45–60 minutes |
| Skin afterwards | Warm, relaxed | Smooth | Very smooth, deeply cleansed |
Key takeaways
- A steam room warms and relaxes you; you use it on your own and nothing is applied to your skin.
- A body scrub exfoliates with a scrub product applied by a therapist, leaving skin smooth.
- A Moroccan bath combines steam, olive-oil black soap, a kessa-glove scrub and a warm rinse, guided by a therapist from start to finish.
- At Olive Spa the Moroccan bath takes about an hour (AED 120), or about two hours with a massage afterwards (AED 240).
- Avoid it on sunburnt, freshly waxed or irritated skin, and check with your doctor first if you are pregnant or have a heart or blood pressure condition.
Side by side: what each one does for you
| Steam room | Body scrub | Moroccan bath | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Warmth and relaxation | Smoother skin | Deep cleansing and smoother skin |
| Someone helps you? | No, you use it alone | Yes, a therapist | Yes, a therapist throughout |
| Products used | None | A scrub (salt, sugar or similar) | Black soap and a kessa glove |
| How your skin feels after | Warm and slightly softer | Smooth | Very smooth and noticeably clean |
| Best combined with | A massage afterwards | A moisturiser or massage | A relaxing oil massage |
The steam room
A steam room is a warm, humid room you sit in on your own. It warms the body, opens the pores and feels relaxing, but on its own it does not exfoliate. It is often a step within other treatments rather than a treatment in itself.
The body scrub
A body scrub uses a granular product, such as salt, sugar or ground seeds, rubbed over the skin by a therapist, then rinsed off in the shower. It leaves skin smooth and is gentler than a Moroccan bath. It does not usually include steam.
The Moroccan bath
The Moroccan bath is a ritual that has been part of daily life in Morocco for centuries:
- Steam warms the body and softens the skin.
- Black soap (savon noir), made with olive oil, is spread over the body.
- A kessa glove, a coarse mitt, is used to scrub the whole body firmly.
- Warm water is poured over you to rinse everything away.
Most people are surprised by how much dead skin comes away, even if they exfoliate at home. The result is skin that feels noticeably softer, and a warm, heavy kind of relaxation. It can be followed by an oil massage, which freshly exfoliated skin absorbs beautifully.
Which should you choose?
- Just want to warm up and relax? A steam room.
- Want smoother skin with a gentle touch? A body scrub.
- Want the deepest cleanse and a ritual to remember? A Moroccan bath.
Our Moroccan bath, step by step
Knowing exactly what happens makes a first hammam far less daunting. At Olive Spa, inside V Hotel Fujairah, the ritual runs like this:
- Change. You change into disposable underwear and a robe. Your clothes and phone stay in a locker.
- First, the heat. You sit or lie on the warm stone of our private hammam room for several minutes while the steam opens your pores and softens the outer layer of skin.
- Black soap. Your therapist spreads black soap, made with olive oil, over your body and leaves it to work for a few minutes.
- Rinse. Warm water rinses the soap away.
- The kessa scrub. Using a textured kessa glove, your therapist scrubs in firm, long strokes. You will see rolls of dead skin come away. It looks dramatic, but it is exactly what is supposed to happen.
- Final rinse and rest. A last warm rinse, a towel, and time to cool down with water or herbal tea.
The bath takes about an hour and costs AED 120. You can follow it with a relaxing oil massage; together they take about two hours and cost AED 240. See the Moroccan bath page for the full details.
Who should wait, or check first
Heat and exfoliation are gentle for most people, but not right for everyone at every moment. Please wait, or check with your doctor first, if:
- You have sunburn or very sensitive skin after a day on the beach. Wait until your skin has fully calmed down.
- You have waxed, shaved or had a laser treatment in the last day or two.
- You are pregnant, have a heart condition or high or low blood pressure, as heat affects circulation.
- You have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis that is active, or any open cuts.
- You feel unwell, feverish or dehydrated.
If you are unsure, tell us when you book. A shorter steam, gentler scrub or a different treatment may suit you better on the day.
What to wear, and hammam etiquette
Bring nothing special. We provide disposable underwear, towels, a robe and slippers. Remove jewellery and contact lenses if you can, as steam and soap can make both uncomfortable. Your therapist is used to every body type, and keeps you as covered as possible while still being able to scrub properly. If you would like more coverage, or a lighter scrub, just say so.
A few skin tips
- Avoid waxing or shaving for 24 to 48 hours before a Moroccan bath.
- Wait if you are sunburnt, peeling or have irritated skin.
- Moisturise for a few days afterwards and avoid strong sun for 24 hours.
- If you are pregnant or feel unwell in heat, tell us before booking.
Ours is a private hammam room, not a shared one. Ask about combining it with a massage, or book online.
Looking after your skin afterwards
Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to sun and heat for a day or so, which matters on the UAE’s East Coast. After a Moroccan bath:
- Moisturise the same day. An oil massage afterwards does this for you.
- Use sunscreen and avoid long hours on the beach the next day.
- Skip perfumed lotions, self-tan and waxing for a day or two.
- Drink plenty of water; steam and heat are dehydrating.
Once every three to four weeks is usually enough to keep skin feeling smooth.
Five tips for your first hammam
- Drink a glass of water before you go in.
- Tell your therapist if the scrub feels too strong; it should feel vigorous, never painful.
- Do not worry about the skin that comes away. It is normal and shows the scrub is working.
- Give yourself time afterwards to cool down before you dress.
- Book it early in the day or the evening before a beach day, not straight after one.
