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Vishen Lakhiani, the Malaysian CEO and founder of Mindvalley, a personal growth and online learning platform, and an author of bestselling self-help books, has been based in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, since 2020. Although the 49-year-old starts his day with meditation and vegetable juice, as an entrepreneur, the level of wellness that he aims to achieve is not within easy reach. “Simply going to the gym requires an hour round trip,” he says. Recognising the importance of wellness in his life, Lakhiani is relocating to Eywa, a groundbreaking wellness community scheduled for completion next summer, in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Mindvalley has partnered with the developer and will also have a company presence there. “I’ve always believed that certain spaces influence how I feel and perform. Some places make me incredibly productive and inspired, while others just don’t resonate energetically.” At Eywa, everything is integrated – “from the gym and recovery facilities to restaurants and relaxation areas”. “It will make it easy to be healthy,” Lakhiani says. “You don’t have to schedule well-being – it’s built right into your lifestyle.” In contrast to Dubai’s glass-and-steel skyscrapers, Eywa bears more than a passing resemblance to the lush, floating mountains in James Cameron’s film Avatar. The building’s name, too, is that of the Mother Nature-like deity in the movie. UAE-based developer R.Evolution’s building design has top scores in environmental and health certifications. Special filters maintain indoor air quality and non-toxic materials are being used throughout. A built-in crystal pyramid featuring nearly 4,000 semi-precious stones saturates the building with positive energy. It is the city’s first residential building compliant with Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of architecture. Private pools and waterfalls foster a relaxing atmosphere. A spa includes a cold plunge pool, hammam and sauna, and Ayurveda suites for holistic treatments. Residents can enjoy freshly picked herbs and salad vegetables from the on-site hydroponic micro farms. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mindvalley (@mindvalley) Wellness real estate is having a moment. According to the Global Wellness Institute, it is the fastest-growing segment of the wellness industry and expanded 18 per cent annually from US$225 billion in 2019 to US$438 billion in 2023. It will also be the fastest-growing future market: by 2028, it is expected to approach the trillion-dollar mark, growing to US$913 billion. The wellness residence movement is global, and much of the action is in the Middle East. SHA Wellness is soon to open an island outpost between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with 86 villas and 51 flats, while in Saudi Arabia, Amaala is set to open with 13 residences encircling a Longevity Plaza run by Clinique La Prairie. Aldar Properties, the largest developer in Dubai’s neighbouring emirate of Abu Dhabi, is building a residential island dedicated to wellness and longevity – Fahid Island. It is already Fitwel-certified, a world first for an island. The Fitwel third-party real estate certification system is committed to building health and well-being, and was developed by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the US General Services Administration. It takes into account qualities such as access to nutritious food and physical activity facilities, indoor air and lighting quality, thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, and the ability to foster a sense of community and well-being. “People use wellness as a buzzword,” says Talal Al Dhiyebi, Aldar’s group chief executive officer. “For us, wellness is when you manage millions of people’s lives every day and you look at the impact sport has on people’s health; when you see how you can design a community to encourage people to walk everywhere, for neighbours to mingle, for kids to be active and cycle to school along a shaded path. “It’s not a product or a brand, it’s actually the basics of people’s lives.” Fahid Island, surrounded by mangroves and turquoise seas, neighbours Yas Island – home of Abu Dhabi’s Formula One circuit. It is currently sand dunes and a six-lane arterial highway, which connects Yas with the buzzing Saadiyat Cultural District. Al Dhiyebi’s vision is that, by the first quarter of 2029, residents will begin moving into their homes on Fahid, where 6,000 units for sale start from US$750,000. It will also be home to an outpost of the UK-based King’s College School Wimbledon. A third of the island will comprise green spaces, with 15km (9.3 miles) of footpaths and a clubhouse with fitness facilities, wellness cafes and pools. About 72 per cent of Aldar buyers are from overseas, with many from Hong Kong and mainland China. Al Dhiyebi says the number of properties sold ahead of completion to buyers from there has doubled year on year. In May, Aldar sold a 71-unit residential building at its Mamsha Gardens development on Saadiyat Island, another wellness and culture community, to the Hong Kong-based private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners, its first investment in the UAE. While still only sand dunes, Fahid Island has already built a reputation as a fitness Mecca and is set to host the GKA Kite World Tour – which will bring the Hydrofoil Big Air and Freestyle Kite world cups to the island – later this month and in November, respectively. In Phuket in Thailand, Tri Vananda is another residential community under construction that emphasises functional and integrative medicine, nutrition, cognitive health, and mindfulness. Partnering with Swiss health diagnostics and medical clinic Clinique La Prairie, set to open on site next year, Tri Vananda will feature 70 pool villas across 230 acres, with 85 per cent of the land preserved as forest and lakes. Residents will have priority access to a Longevity Master Assessment, which checks more than 300 health markers for a holistic view of their health and how well they are ageing. Clinique La Prairie is also collaborating on a global longevity wellness project called The Estate, founded by hospitality veteran Sam Nazarian and motivational speaker and entrepreneur Tony Robbins, that combines luxury hotels and residences with advanced preventive medicine and longevity centres. The Estate plans to open 15 hotels and residences and 10 urban longevity centres by 2030, with the first scheduled to launch in 2026 in the Caribbean, the UK and Italy. Back in Dubai, Eywa’s 20 storeys are taking shape, with thousands of energy-giving crystals being embedded into the structure. Lakhiani, who is a fan of biohackers such as Ben Greenfield and Dave Asprey, says he cannot wait to move in to accelerate his longevity journey. “Sure, I track my health and sleep data and work with longevity doctors. But true well-being is about the energy of the space you live in.” Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. 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