A road into the city, joined at many points
The Al Ain Road, the E22, carries traffic into Abu Dhabi from Al Ain and from mainland districts along the way. People join it at very different points, so two drivers on the same road can have commutes that look nothing alike. This page is for anyone who drives it to work, and it starts from where your working day ends.
RPM is one club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal, on the island. The route box rates the trip from the road a mainland commute. For the general checks, read where RPM sits for drivers coming in on the Al Ain Road.
Four kinds of Al Ain Road commuter
| You drive in from | Your office is | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| A mainland district along the road | On the island | A fit on two fixed days, with the session before the drive back out |
| Al Ain itself, every day | On the island | A long day already. One coached session a week at most, with your main training in Al Ain |
| Anywhere along the road | On the mainland | Train by home or by the office. RPM sits off your route |
| Al Ain at weekends, an Abu Dhabi base on weekdays | On the island | A fit on weeknights from your Abu Dhabi base |
If your week mixes island and mainland days, plan only around the island ones.
The first and last rows are where RPM makes sense, because the island is already where your day ends. The guide for people commuting through central Abu Dhabi explains why a gym on the route beats one you have to detour for.
What the stop gives, and what it costs
Stopping before the drive back out is a trade. Write both columns down for your own week before you sign up.
| The stop gives you | The stop costs you | How to shrink the cost |
|---|---|---|
| A session done before you reach home | A later arrival home | Fix the stop days with your household in advance |
| A drive out that may be calmer once the evening rush eases | More of the drive in the dark | Keep sessions moderate so you stay alert |
| Coaching or a women-only floor you may not have at home | Fuel and fatigue on a long road | Eat before you leave the club and carry water |
| One membership on the island for weekday training | Nothing at weekends, if home is far out | Keep a local option for Saturdays and Sundays |
Test the drive out on your own evenings. Traffic varies with the day, the season and Ramadan timings.
For women who prefer a women-only floor, the Ladies section has its own strength and cardio kit plus the Pilates studio. Men use the Mixed section. The tier decides which sections you can use, so confirm it.
Weeknights for people who go home to Al Ain at the weekend
Some people stay in Abu Dhabi through the working week and drive back to family in Al Ain for the weekend. For them, the Al Ain Road is a weekly trip, not a daily one, and the weeknights are open.
- Train on two or three weeknights from your Abu Dhabi base, when nobody at home is waiting for you.
- Skip the session on the evening you drive back to Al Ain. A long drive straight after a hard session is a poor combination.
- Keep weekend training in Al Ain light, or rest. The weekday sessions carry the programme.
- If you want a coach to hold the plan together, personal training at RPM is planned around your goal and schedule, weekly drives included.
Al Ain Road into Al Manhal, and where the figures start
Because the Al Ain Road is long, the route box measures from the point of the road nearest RPM, in Zayed City. Add your own stretch from where you join it. From there the mapped route follows the Al Ain Road and then Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (Airport Road) into Al Manhal.
At the far end of the drive, AD HUB offers free on-site parking and the lift up to Level 4.
| 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.
Late closing suits a stop after work, and Friday hours are shorter. Book the free guided tour on a working day, at the hour you would stop, and drive out afterwards to see how the evening road feels.
Questions, answered.
Is there an RPM in Al Ain or on the mainland?
No. RPM has one club, on Abu Dhabi island, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal. The mapped estimates from the road are in the route box.
I drive in from Al Ain every day. Is RPM realistic?
For most people, only as an occasional coached session. A daily drive that long leaves little room in the evening, so a gym in Al Ain will usually be the one you keep.
Would a morning session before work be better?
It can be, if you can leave early enough without cutting your sleep short. On a long commute, sleep matters more than the session, so try the morning plan for a week before committing.
What if I feel too tired to drive home after training?
Rest and eat at the club before you leave. If tiredness keeps coming back, make sessions lighter or move them to days you are not driving far afterwards.
Can a few colleagues who share the drive train together?
Yes. Men and women can train side by side in the Mixed section, or women can head to the Ladies section. Agree the stop days in advance so nobody waits in the car park. Arrangements through an employer are set up organisation by organisation.