A spa sector survey comparing markets in Doha, the Dead Sea and Beirut shows Doha to yield the highest revenue across all key metrics, according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers research.

It also revealed the Dead Sea market differed from Doha and Beirut for its lack of local, affluent population, and 91 per cent of spa bookings being made by hotel guests. In Doha and Beirut this figure is 20 per cent and 36 per cent respectively.

The report also attributed the Dead Sea's less affluent population for a lack of revenue in fitness memberships, whereas in Doha this accounted for 57 per cent of revenue and in Beirut 54 per cent of revenue.

The average treatment revenue per available treatment room was highest in Doha at US$256 (193.65 euro, £157.55) compared with US$115 (86.99 euro, £70.77) in the Dead Sea and $US101 (76.40 euro, £62.16) in Beirut.

The report stated retail remained an under capitalised revenue stream in all three markets, accounting for eight per cent of revenue in the Dead Sea, five per cent in Doha and three per cent in Beirut.