The questions to send before you visit a gym

A visitor usually gets one window to train, such as a spare morning between meetings. If you find out at reception that passes are not sold today, or that the area you wanted is closed to you, the window is gone, along with the taxi fare. Ask first, by WhatsApp or email, so the replies arrive in writing and you can show them at the desk.

The questions below work for any gym in Abu Dhabi. If RPM Gym is one of your options, its day pass page shows what the team confirms for a visit there. Passes come and go, so availability, price, inclusions and the section a pass covers are confirmed for your date, every time.

Everything else depends on this answer, and it is the one most likely to have changed since an old review or blog post was written. Ask about your exact dates, not the general policy.

• Do you sell single visits or short passes to people who are not members, on these dates?
• Is Friday included? Many gyms keep shorter Friday hours, and some limit visitors at busy times.
• Does a pass start on the day I first use it, or on a fixed date?
• Is there a cap on visitors at peak hours, such as weekday evenings?

Be wary of "just come in and we will sort it out" with no price or detail. It may work, but it leaves you nothing to show if the person on shift says otherwise.

Gyms usually register a visitor before the first set, and the ID rules differ between clubs. Residents carry an Emirates ID. A tourist or business visitor often has only a passport, and may prefer to leave it locked in the hotel room.

• Which ID do you accept: passport, driving licence, or a photo of either on my phone?
• Do you keep a copy, or only look at it?
• Is there a registration or health form, and can I fill it in online the night before?
• If I bring a teenager, what age rules apply, and does a parent need to sign?

Many Abu Dhabi clubs split their space between a mixed floor and a women-only area, and a pass may cover one or both. Classes and recovery rooms are often priced separately, even when the website photos feature them.

RPM has a Mixed section, where men and women train, and a separate women-only Ladies section with its own strength and cardio equipment and the Pilates studio. Its recovery suite has a Finnish sauna, an aroma steam room and an ice bath. Ask the team which section a pass covers and whether the recovery suite is included. If you are pregnant or have a heart condition, check with your doctor before using heat or cold rooms.

Arriving from a meeting or a hotel means you carry more than a member would, and rules a member learns on day one can catch you out at the door.

• What kind of lockers do you have, and do I need my own padlock? Will a laptop bag fit?
• Are towels provided, or should I bring one? Ask about showers too if you are going on somewhere afterwards.
• Do I need clean indoor trainers, separate from the pair I walked in with?
• Is there a dress rule? Many gyms in the UAE expect modest training wear, and rules can differ between a mixed floor and a women-only area.
• What is the policy on filming? Never photograph other people in a gym in the UAE, and ask before filming your own sets.

RPM has keypad lockers in the changing area and a grooming hub with hairdryers and products. Ask the team whether towels are provided.

• Do I need to book a slot, and how far ahead? Ask about the day you want, not a typical day.
• How do I pay: card at reception, a payment link in advance, or cash?
• Can I get an itemised receipt with the gym's name on it, for a work expense claim?
• What happens if a meeting moves or a flight is delayed: refund, new date or nothing?

Weighing two or three gyms? Line up their replies with the day pass comparison guide.

Paste these lines into WhatsApp, fill in the brackets and send them to each gym on your list a day or two before you plan to train.

• Hello, I am visiting Abu Dhabi from [date] to [date] and would like to train on [day], in the [morning or evening].
• Do you sell visits to non-members on that day, and what is the price?
• Which section would I use, and does the visit include classes or the recovery rooms?
• Which ID should I bring, and is there a form I can complete beforehand?
• Do I need my own padlock or towel, and are there kit rules?
• Should I book a slot, and how can I pay?

When the replies come back, check the building and entrance before you leave, using how to verify a gym's location. RPM is one club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal, with free on-site parking and a lift to Level 4. Check your planned hour against the opening hours below.