Name the goal before you name the coach
Wanting a female coach narrows the field, and that makes the goal more important, not less. A gym with several male coaches and one woman may still suit you if she coaches what you want. A gym with four women may not, if none of them covers it.
Write one sentence before you contact anyone: what you want to be able to do in three months. Then use the table below to find the roster role that fits. RPM's female personal trainer page explains how sessions with its female coaches are arranged.
Which roster role to ask for, goal by goal
Roster roles are the labels a gym gives each coach. They are a starting point, so ask each coach about her background directly.
| Your goal | Roster role to ask for | At RPM, ask about | A first question for her |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning to lift from scratch | Strength and conditioning | Coach Maria, Ladies section | Which movements would you teach me first? |
| Getting measurably stronger | Strength and conditioning | Coach Maria, Ladies section | How will you add load and record it? |
| Training for a HYROX-style race | HYROX or conditioning | Asma Jamousi Zadeh, Ladies section | How would you plan the weeks before race day? |
| Reformer Pilates and core control | Pilates | Giana Suleiman Daqnoush, Ladies section studio | Which apparatus would we use, and why? |
| Aerobic fitness in a group | Aerobic or group classes | Giana Suleiman Daqnoush, Ladies section | Which group sessions do you lead? |
| Fitness boxing or learning to defend yourself | Combat and self-defence | Imen Hasnaoui, Ladies section | Is this boxing, defence skills or both, and is there any sparring? |
| Coming back after a long break | Strength and conditioning | Coach Maria, Ladies section | How would my first month differ from my old training? |
| A physique or bodybuilding goal | Physique or bodybuilding | No female coach holds this role on the roster | See the next section |
RPM is an independent gym, not an official HYROX partner or venue. If you are returning after illness, injury or a pregnancy, get clearance from your doctor or midwife first and share what they advised with your coach.
When your goal sits outside the women-only roster
Sometimes no woman on the roster covers your goal. At RPM, the physique and bodybuilding roles belong to coaches in the Mixed section. You still have options.
- Build a strength base with a female strength coach first. Most physique goals start with the same lifts.
- Ask a specialist coach for a written programme and follow it alone in the women-only space, with a review every few weeks.
- Train with the specialist in the Mixed section, if you are comfortable there and your tier covers it.
The trade-offs between a female coach in a women-only section and a trainer on a mixed floor are set out in female coach or mixed-floor trainer.
Reading a roster when the profiles are short
Most gym rosters give a name, a photo, a role and the section a coach works in. That tells you a lot, and it leaves out a lot.
| A profile tells you | A profile rarely tells you |
|---|---|
| Her main area, such as strength or Pilates | How she coaches: calm and steady, or loud and fast |
| Which section she works in | Which hours she has open |
| Whether she leads group sessions | Which languages she coaches in |
| Roughly who she usually trains | Whether her qualifications are current |
Ask about the right-hand column directly. To check a trainer's registration yourself, see how to check a personal trainer is registered in the UAE.
A first conversation that shows fit
Ten minutes with a coach before you book tells you more than any profile. Listen for how she answers, not only what she says.
- Does she ask about your goal, your history and any health matters before suggesting a plan?
- Can she describe what your first four weeks would look like?
- How does she keep in touch between sessions, and how quickly does she reply?
- How would your plan change in Ramadan, or in the summer months when travel and sleep shift?
- What happens if she is away, and who covers?
Good signs are specific answers and questions back to you. Be wary of a coach who promises results by a date, or who sells a package before asking what you want.
Where to look for female coaches in Abu Dhabi
Where can I find a gym with female coaches in Abu Dhabi?
Look at three kinds of place: women-only gyms and studios, mixed clubs with a women-only section, and mixed gyms that list female coaches on their roster. Read each gym's coach page for names, roles and the section each coach works in, then ask which of them have slots at your hours. A long list of coaches matters less than one woman who covers your goal.
RPM's female coaches, by roster role
- Coach Maria, strength and conditioning coach in the Ladies section.
- Asma Jamousi Zadeh, who coaches HYROX-style conditioning in the Ladies section.
- Giana Suleiman Daqnoush, Pilates and aerobic coach in the Ladies section studio.
- Imen Hasnaoui, combat and self-defence coach in the Ladies section.
The Ladies section is for women only, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal. Every profile is on RPM's coaches page. Personal training prices are not published, so ask for current packages, and confirm which tier covers the Ladies section. Engine adds coached programming and Atelier is built around one-to-one coaching, with inclusions confirmed on enquiry. Tell the team your goal, and ask which coach has slots at your hours.
Questions, answered.
Can I switch to another female coach later?
Usually, yes. Ask how a change works within a package, and expect a short reassessment with the new coach.
Do female coaches only work in women-only areas?
It depends on the gym. At RPM the female coaches on the roster work in the Ladies section, so ask the team if you want coaching in the Mixed section.
Can two friends share sessions with one female coach?
Many coaches offer shared sessions. Ask about terms, and check that both of you have similar goals.
Is a female coach better for women?
Not by default. She is the right choice when your comfort depends on it, as long as she also covers your goal.