When it comes to the fitness industry, Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. It seems that everyone is becoming more health conscious. For a lot of people the most difficult part is getting started or choosing the right place to workout. We’ve come up with the coolest gyms in the city for you, so you can focus on putting the real ‘work’ in…
Warehouse Gym, Jumeirah Park
Designed with functional and strength training in mind, Warehouse Gym in the suburb of Jumeirah Park has a huge selection of machinery. True to its name, this place prides itself on making sure that as many different machines are available (which makes doing circuits a lot easier).
As you enter the first floor gym you’re faced with a functional track and all the necessities for calisthenic practices. Think dip-bars, monkey bars, hoops and stretching sticks. To the left there are more than 20 cardio machines where you can warm up or train on bicycles, treadmills, ellipticals and stair masters. The rest of the gym is stacked with two of everything, including multiple benches and Eleiko Weight Racks.
This gym also has a steam room and sauna as well as a pool area so people can sit back and relax after a session. Although there’s no in-house cafe, they do sell My Protein supplements for a post-workout refuel.
A Warehouse Gym membership is also handy to have as it gives you access to all of its facilities across Dubai – including its outdoor gym in JBR if you want to get some sun while you train. Think Muscle Beach… but Dubai.
Seven Gym, Al Quoz
This space screams ‘athlete’ from the moment you open the door and see the Adidas store, Crossfit section, TechnoGym equipment and the macro calculated meals in its in-house cafe.
The gym is laid out on two floors with the ground floor being a huge area for functional training on artificial grass, there is also cross fit volt for people who take their training serious. It is not all exclusively for hardcores, more casual gym goers can head upstairs to get on with strength and cardio training as there is a wide variety of machines. Be prepared to share though, as there are one or two of each but you are ensured to be using clean equipment as cleaning the onsite staff are meticulous during all operating hours.
The gym also provides a boxing area as well as a Martial Arts Dojo where you can train yourself, have a PT session or enroll to participate in one of the many classes held everyday. After a hard day’s training enter the cafe for quick, healthy meals including sushi (which is ready in the fridge), order a protein smoothies or order cooked healthy meals or salads.
Barry’s, Dubai Marina
For the hard-working set who want to be in-and-out of the gym with minimal analysis and efficient results a Barry’s class is the way to go.
Enter the studio on the first floor of Trident Residences where you can have a quick shot of espresso at the Fuel Bar before you head in ‘the red room’ for a 50-minute session of high intensity training. This includes interval runs as well as strength training on a bench where you can burn around 600-1000 calories per session.
If running isn’t really your bag, you always have the option to strength classes by choosing a DF spot in the room or book into a LIFT Class. After class you can order your post workout protein smoothie or indulge in a Porridge or Acai Bowl where all the calorie’s have been counted for you just ask the fueler.
1Rebel
The reputation that 1Rebel has built in its homebase of London has matured to a level where it is ripe for export. Hence, 1Rebel Dubai opened up in the plush surroundings of DIFC’s ICD Brookfield Place.
Bringing over the ‘part fitness studio, part nightclub’ vibe of its UK counterpart, the ethos is built around two signature high-intensity workouts: Reshape and Ride. The brand is synonymous with pairing fast-paced workouts with LED strobe lights and epic playlists, so you can be assured of a full body workout in a fun-filled environment.
Reshape will offer a mix of treadmill and weights, while Ride is 1Rebel’s twist on a spin class. The DIFC studio will also be home to the brand’s first and only open gym floor, where you’ll be able to lead your own workout using TechnoGym equipment, free-weights and the strength zone.
J Club, Mina A’Salam
The J Club (previously known as Talise), is a TechnoGym focussed gym with both an indoor and outdoor section as well as a cafe, tennis, squash and paddle court as well as a never ending list of activities which operate within the Jumeirah group.
The indoor section has multiples of every techno gym machine seemingly ever made, which all overlook the indoor lap swimming pool. The club has also incorporated a functional track, boxing bag and group class studio.
The outdoor section includes a sledge, monkey bars, a TRX section, rock climbing and
more functional equipment like tyres. This section is almost like a playground for any fitness
fanatic which often hosts Zumba classes as well as the beach yoga which runs on the private beach of the premises. J Club also has one of the nicest in-house cafe’s with daily specials (salads, main meals and soups), as well as protein shakes, Acai Bowls and smaller snacks at the ready.