First decide where you want to train
Women in Abu Dhabi train in all three settings. The right one depends on what you need to feel at ease, and it can change with your goals or your stage of life.
- A mixed floor suits women who are comfortable training alongside men and want the widest choice of equipment and classes.
- A women-only section inside a mixed club suits women who want privacy while training but also want a full club around them, with the mixed floor as an option on some days.
- A women-only club suits women who want privacy from the front door onwards and accept that the venue may be smaller.
RPM has the first two under one roof: a Mixed section for men and women, and the women-only Ladies section, with its own strength and cardio equipment and the Pilates studio.
What a good gym for women gets right
What makes a gym good for women in Abu Dhabi?
A good gym for women is one where you can arrive, train, change and leave without feeling exposed or rushed. In practice that means a setting that matches your privacy needs, staff who take concerns seriously, female coaches if you want one, clean and private changing areas, and a timetable that works around school runs, office hours and Ramadan. The equipment has to suit your training as well, but it should not be the only thing you check.
| If this matters to you | Look for | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Not being watched | Training areas that cannot be seen from corridors, the lobby or outside | Look in from every side on a visit |
| Training in what you are comfortable in | No objection to modest activewear, long sleeves or sports hijabs | Ask whether there is a dress code, and what it covers |
| A female coach | Female coaches working at your hours, in the space you will use | Ask for names and the days they work |
| Being taken seriously | A clear way to raise a complaint, and staff who act on it | Ask what happens when someone behaves badly on the floor |
| Getting ready afterwards | Private changing, lockers, mirrors and hairdryers | See the women's changing area on the tour |
| Training around family | Childcare, or hours that fit school runs | Ask, and get any childcare offer in writing |
The trip in and out, especially after dark
If you plan to train in the evening, visit once after dark at your hour. Gym photos never show the car park at night.
- Is the car park lit and staffed, and how far do you walk from your car to the entrance?
- Do you pass through a busy public area, a quiet basement or a mall corridor to reach the gym?
- Is reception staffed until closing, and would someone notice if you left late?
- Is there a drop-off point if a driver or family member brings you?
At RPM, there is free on-site parking at AD HUB Sports Complex, and a lift takes you up to Level 4. Ask the team to show you the route into the Ladies section when you visit. RPM opens early and closes late, with shorter Friday hours:
| Days | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday to Thursday | 06:00–23:00 |
| Friday | 09:00–22:00 |
Hours can change, for example during Ramadan. Confirm with the team before a late or early visit.
Inside: being seen, being filmed, being helped
Privacy is more than walls. Ask what the house rules say about phones and filming on the floor, and whether staff enforce them. Ask who can enter the women's area, maintenance staff for example, and when. Notice how staff respond to your questions while you are there: a gym that ignores a visitor rarely does better for a member.
Cleanliness counts too, particularly in the women's changing area and toilets at the busiest hour. To compare women-only options in detail, from the route in to the windows, use the ladies gym comparison.
More than a weights room
Many women want a mix of training across the week, so check what runs in the space you would use, and when.
- Pilates. At RPM the studio is inside the Ladies section, and reformer classes run there. Pilates at RPM covers what to ask before booking.
- Combat and self-defence. RPM's roster lists Imen Hasnaoui as the combat and self-defence coach in the Ladies section.
- Conditioning. Asma Jamousi Zadeh coaches HYROX-style conditioning in the Ladies section. RPM is independent and is not an official HYROX partner.
- Group classes. They run in both sections, and the timetable changes, so ask what is on at your hours.
- Recovery and getting ready. The recovery suite has a Finnish sauna, an aroma steam room and an ice bath, and the grooming hub has a vanity area with hairdryers and products. Ask which tiers include each.
If you would rather train one to one, female personal trainers at RPM explains how coaching is booked in the Ladies section.
Children, school runs and the working week
- Childcare. Provision varies from club to club. Ask RPM's team directly, and do not plan around childcare at any gym until the details are confirmed in writing.
- School-run hours. If you will train after the morning drop-off, visit at that time and see how busy the women's area is.
- Daughters. Youth fitness at RPM is coach-supervised, and sessions are arranged and approved by a parent or guardian. Ask which ages each session accepts, and see youth fitness at RPM.
- Ramadan and summer. Ask whether the women's area keeps the same hours as the rest of the club during Ramadan, and how busy it gets in the summer months.
Questions, answered.
Is a mixed gym a poor choice for women?
Not at all. Many women train in mixed gyms and like the wider choice. It comes down to your comfort and privacy needs, and a club with both kinds of section lets you choose day by day if your tier covers both.
Can I wear a hijab or modest clothing to train?
Modest activewear is common in Abu Dhabi gyms. Ask whether a gym has a dress code, and choose sportswear that will not catch on machines.
Can I see the women's changing area before joining?
Yes. Ask for it on the tour, ideally with a female member of staff. At RPM, book the free guided tour and ask to see the Ladies section, the route into it and the changing area you would use.
Do I need a female personal trainer?
Only if you would prefer one. Some women train better with a female coach, and others do not mind either way. At RPM, female coaches on the roster work in the Ladies section.