We can no longer ignore the realities and costs of extreme heat and climate-induced storms and wildfires, which scientists are warning will only become more frequent and severe. Aren’t the last two months in Europe (which is warming more than twice as fast as the global average) enough fresh evidence? June’s heatwave may have caused more than 20,000 deaths in Europe and the wildfires raging in France and Spain alone have forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate, destroyed scores of homes and forced vacationers to flee. Most countries simply aren’t prepared. But adapting to extreme heat will become a huge consideration for policymakers and investors, with a massive reallocation of capital and new capital formation in infrastructure. Climate habitability will also become a burning issue for the wellness tourism and real estate sectors, where temperate locations will command a major premium.
GWI's Build Well to Live Well: Case Studies, Volume 2details important wellness real estate projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE—two of the world's fastest-growing markets, defined by vast projects and unusually powerful commitments to sustainability, community wellbeing and local heritage. We spotlight one case study each month to inspire others to build projects of all kinds, for all people.
An innovative new master-planned, mixed-use, car-free community prioritizing sustainability and healthy lifestyles.
The Sustainable City Yas Island (TSCYI) is a 98-acre (396,600 sq. m.) master-planned community located in north Yas Island, about 22 miles northeast of downtown Abu Dhabi. As the first "Sustainable City" community developed in Abu Dhabi, TSCYI promises to support a new way of life for its 3,500 residents by delivering a living environment that is health-enhancing and sustainable. As a collaboration between Aldar Properties and Diamond Developers, TSCYI is modeled on The Sustainable City Dubai, which opened in 2015 as the first operational net-zero city development in the Middle East. TSCYI's people-first, car-free design is unique for the region, offering a holistic, scalable and replicable approach to improving both human and planetary health.
The Sustainable City Yas Island features several innovative wellness approaches:
A human-centric community that values car-free mobility, inclusiveness and diversity.
A holistic and system-wide approach to creating a sustainable and healthy community.
Climate-adaptive design that delivers comfort and sustainability goals.
A successful and replicable model for health and sustainable development.
GWI’s website (www.wellnessevidence.com) is the only resource dedicated to the medical evidence for wellness approaches.
Contrast hydrotherapy has been added as a new modality at the site—timely, as nothing has been bigger than saunas and cold plunges.
Single Dose of Psilocybin Caused Positive Anatomical Brain Changes a Month Later
A new study from University of California, San Francisco and Imperial College A 2026 study from University of California, San Francisco and Imperial College London researchers (on 28 healthy participants who had never taken psilocybin) found that a single high dose of the mushroom caused anatomical and functional changes in brain structure still visible a month later––which the researchers called “remarkable.” Special scans indicated thatsome brain nerve tracts had become denser and more robust after the drug was taken. While preliminary findings, the scientists noted the opposite changes were seen in aging and dementia.Those taking the single dose also showed greatercognitive flexibility, psychological insight, and overall wellbeing a month later. These long-term anatomical brain changes may explain the positive effects that psilocybin has been shown to have on anxiety, depression and addiction.
84% of global consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, up from last year. Wellness now ranks alongside family relationships—and ahead of everything else tested, whether career success or religion/spirituality.
Source:Preview, McKinsey’s Future of Wellness 2026 report
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