What a dedicated way in does solve
For some women the moment of arrival is the hardest part. Walking through a mixed reception or past a mixed training floor means being seen before you have changed, and that matters for women who cover in public and uncover to train. An entrance used only by women takes that moment away.
- You avoid passing men in reception or on the mixed floor.
- You can arrive at busy hours without crossing a crowded area.
- Relatives dropping you off know exactly where to leave you.
RPM's private ladies section page sets out what RPM confirms about its women-only section and what it asks you to check in person.
What it leaves unsolved
A women's door fixes one point on the route. It does nothing about the others, and a gym that advertises one can still fall short on these.
- A shared car park, lift or lobby, where you may still meet men from the rest of the building
- Glass walls, windows or mirrors that let the women-only floor be seen from outside
- Doors left open for air or deliveries
- Male staff entering for cleaning or repairs without warning
- A changing room outside the section, so you cross a shared space after changing
- The way out after an evening session, which may differ from the way in
Walk the route stage by stage
| Stage | What to look at | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Car park and lift | Who else uses them, and how busy they are at your hour | Is there a quieter time to arrive? |
| Reception | Whether you check in alongside men | Can women check in without going through the mixed area? |
| Corridors | Shared spaces between reception and the section | Who else walks this way? |
| The section door | Whether it stays closed, and who can open it | Is the door staffed or controlled? |
| Inside the section | Sightlines from the door, the windows and any glass | Can anyone outside see in? |
| Changing room | Where it sits in relation to the section | Do I pass a shared area after changing? |
| Leaving | The route out after dark | Is the way out the same in the evening? |
Walk it at the hour you would train. A route that is empty mid-morning can be busy at the end of the working day.
Sightlines, windows and screens
Ask to stand where men would stand, in the mixed area, the corridor or the lift lobby, and look back towards the section. That tells you more than any description. Look for frosted glass, blinds, screens or a layout that keeps the training floor out of view, and check whether mirrors reflect it towards a door or window.
Look at studios too. A Pilates studio inside a women-only section is only as private as its door and windows, so check how it is closed off while classes are running.
Who works inside, and the house rules
Privacy also depends on people. A women-only section staffed by women, with clear rules on who may enter and when, can matter as much as the layout.
- Are the coaches and staff in the section women?
- When do male staff or contractors enter, and how are members told beforehand?
- What are the rules on phones, photos and filming in the section?
- Who do you speak to if something makes you uncomfortable?
At RPM, female coaches on the roster work in the Ladies section, including Coach Maria (strength and conditioning), Giana Suleiman Daqnoush (Pilates and aerobic) and Imen Hasnaoui (combat and self-defence). Put the rest of these questions to the team directly.
Choosing a gym when the entrance matters to you
How do I choose a gym with a ladies-only entrance in Abu Dhabi?
Decide first whether the entrance is a must-have or a stand-in for what you really want, which is usually not being seen on the way to the floor. Ask each gym to describe its route for women, then walk it yourself, because descriptions and photos can leave out the shared lift or the glass wall. Check that the women's way in is open at all the hours the section is, and that it leads to the changing room as well as the floor. If no gym on your list has one, choose the gym whose whole route feels most private to you.
For the wider decision, the ladies gym comparison sheet sets privacy alongside equipment and coaches, and whether a private ladies gym is worth it covers the value question.
Asking RPM to show you the route
RPM confirms that its Ladies section is for women only and that men train in the Mixed section. It asks visitors to message the team for directions to the section, so use the tour as your chance to see the route for yourself. There is free on-site parking at AD HUB Sports Complex, and a lift takes you to Level 4. From there, ask the team to walk you along the way into the Ladies section and to the changing area you would use.
Book a free guided tour, ask for a women's tour of the Ladies section, and choose the hour you would normally train. If you would like a friend or relative with you, say so when you book, and use the stage-by-stage table above as your list.
Questions, answered.
Does the changing room matter more than the entrance?
For many women it does, because the changing room is where you uncover. Check where it sits, who can see its door and whether you pass a shared space between changing and training.
What if a man needs to enter the section for repairs?
Ask about the gym's policy. A well-run women-only section schedules work for quiet times where it can and tells members before a man comes in.
Where can my husband wait while I train?
Ask on the tour. At RPM, men train in the Mixed section and cannot enter the Ladies section, so ask where a relative can wait or meet you afterwards.
Can I see the route before I join?
Yes. Book a free guided tour and ask to be shown the way into the Ladies section and the changing area. A tour is a walk-through, not a workout.
Does the time of day change how private the route feels?
Often. Lifts, corridors and car parks are busier at commuting hours, so walk the route at the time you would arrive.