From the crystal blue shores of the Maldives to the hotspots of the United Arab Emirates, wellness islands are bringing together two lucrative industries: health and real estate. 

These islands, which are spaces dedicated to improving the well-being of guests and residents, are a rapidly developing offshoot of the wellness travel phenomenon. But instead of being just a spot for a tropical getaway, many wellness islands are welcoming permanent residents. 

Since the pandemic, the wellness industry has expanded tremendously. Add real estate into the mix, and a fusion of the two has grown exponentially. According to the Financial Times, the Global Wellness Institute says that wellness real estate development grew globally from $225 billion in 2019 to $438 billion last year. It estimates the sector could be worth $913 billion by the end of 2028. 

“It’s up maybe 35 percent,” Singapore-based Neil Jacobs, whose company has almost two dozen wellness property developments either open or in the pipeline worldwide, told the FT. “because the demand for wellness-driven real estate is so much greater. The perception is that maybe this is no longer so woo-woo.”

With this significant growth, here’s a look at a few wellness islands that are revolutionizing the way we care for ourselves.

AlJurf: The World’s “First Healthy Living Island”

Located halfway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi along the Sahel Al Emarat Coast, commonly referred to as the “Emirates Riviera,” AlJurf has earned the nickname of “the world’s first healthy living island.” 

Centered around a hotel, clinic, and spa from SHA Wellness, as well as the first SHA Wellness-branded residences, the property features  86 villas and 49 apartments, each “designed around the health and well-being of residents with everything from eco-friendly paint to an excess of natural light and materials, to solar power.”

Set to open in 2026, AlJurf will provide hotel guests and residents with on-call access to the SHA Clinic and SHA Spa’s team of doctors, practitioners, and experts, according to Inside Hook. But it also emphasizes the importance of fostering community. The entire island will be interconnected via a bike path, and there’s a beach club and community gathering places for regular group events. Only accessible to residents and guests, AlJurf understands the lengths people will go to to find peace of mind and body.

The Well is Miami’s New Address for Health

A 66-residence, eight-story condominium on Miami’s Bay Harbor Islands, The Well is wisely aligning itself with a 360-degree holistic approach. Boasting a tagline that reads “Your health has a new address. Welcome to Wellness,” the property is actively seeking to demonstrate how it improves the lives of its residents.

“We’re going to survey everyone before they move in, and then six months later again,” The Well’s chief creative officer and co-founder Kane Sarhan told the Financial Times. “We think that will prove that we can make you healthier by living at The Well.” 

Every individual residence is built with wellness in mind, from shower heads infused with lymphatic drainage and infra-red panels for saunas to custom air purification systems and balconies infused with ocean mist. The property will house Miami’s first caldarium, a room with a hot plunge bath used in a Roman bath complex. Potential residents and tenants are already lining up. Football legend Tom Brady, who is known for his avid dedication to health and wellness, has already leased 8,500 square feet in the property for his firm TEB Capital Management, according to Bloomberg.

Set to open later this year, the concept has been so well-received thus far that they’re already planning a second one in Miami’s Coconut Grove to debut in 2028. There are several more in development in Europe and Mexico.

Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy: The Four Pillars of Joali Being

The first wellness island of its kind in the Maldives, Joali Being is located on the secluded island of Bodufushi in Raa Atoll, surrounded by crystalline lagoons, pristine beaches, and lush coconut palms. Reachable by seaplane, the destination focuses on four pillars: “Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy.” While the swanky, 68-villa resort opened in 2018, its evolution into permanent residences is a new development. As you’d expect, calling Joali Being home will cost you a pretty penny. Ownership of one of the 8 homes starts with a one-bedroom pool residence whose price tag is $5 million.  

A great demonstration of how design and wellness are intertwined, Joali Being features biophilic design principles with rounded structures, soft edges, thatched roofing, and a purposeful use of natural materials like wood and bamboo, according to Robb Report.

When the pandemic hit, many people came to recognize how much their environment affected their wellbeing. As the residential real estate industry continues to boom several years later, people are actively searching to inhabit a place that keeps them well. 

“Wellness real estate is by far the fastest growing wellness sector in the United States in the past few years,” said Ophelia Yeung, a senior research fellow with the Global Wellness Institute, Forbes reported.  

While a property that emphasizes wellness doesn’t have to be an island tucked away in the middle of an ocean, there’s no way to deny that environments, whether vacation destinations or permanent residences, are injecting a significant emphasis on wellness into each space. 

As wellness islands grow and expand across the world, it’s clear that an already booming industry will likely become even more popular in the next few years. With a post-pandemic emphasis on wellness, now is the time for businesses to step into the exciting fusion of wellness and real estate.