The crossing is the cost, so know what it buys
Al Reem Island is an island, reached from the main island by bridge, so every session at RPM, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal, means two crossings: off Reem on the way in and back onto it on the way home. The route box above rates it a short cross-island trip, workable as a weekday habit once you know what you are crossing for. The wider checks for any gym you drive to are on sizing up a gym trip from your own front door.
If your building has a residents' gym, list the sessions you skip or cut short because that room cannot host them. An empty list means stay on the island. If it holds heavy lifting, a coach, training away from men, or heat and cold after a hard session, RPM deserves a trial.
Evenings: when to leave Reem and when to come back
Office traffic in Abu Dhabi tends to flow onto the main island in the morning and off it in the evening. Driving from Reem to Al Manhal after work often runs against the heavier flow, while the drive home can meet the outbound queue if you finish at the wrong moment.
| Your evening | Leave Reem | Head back | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home first, then train | After dinner, as the office rush fades | Later in the evening, on calmer roads | Starting so late that the session gets squeezed |
| Straight from a main-island office | You are already off Reem, so drive straight to AD HUB | Once the outbound rush has thinned | Pack your kit in the morning |
| Weekend morning | Before late-morning traffic builds | Before family plans fill the day | Both crossings count on a day off |
| Friday | Morning, or after the midday prayers | Early evening | The club's shorter Friday hours |
| Ramadan | Once you have the adjusted hours | Away from the hour before iftar | Times that change for the month |
| 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.
A late drive back to Reem only helps if the whole session fits before closing, and Fridays close earlier than the rest of the week.
What 'best' means when you live on Reem
Which gym is best for people living on Reem Island?
No single gym is right for every resident, and RPM does not claim to be. The right gym is one you can reach at your training hour that has what you came for. RPM is a strong candidate if your days already take you onto the main island, or if you want the Ladies section, coaching or the recovery suite. If you mostly train from home on Reem, a gym on the island will probably serve you better.
Score each option on these points, in this order:
- Crossings: how many bridge crossings it adds to a normal week. A gym in your own building adds none.
- Your hour: whether it is open, and reachable without a crawl, when you actually train.
- The floor: the equipment you use now, and room to progress to heavier work.
- People: a coach when you want one, and space for women only if anyone at home needs it.
- Afterwards: lockers, somewhere to get ready, and a sauna or ice bath if those matter to you.
For the general case, set out without RPM in the middle of it, read a gym in the centre or on your island.
Two Reem residents, two different answers
| Works in an office on the main island | Works from home on Reem | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the week happens | Off the island on workdays | Mostly on Reem |
| How RPM fits | A stop after work, before the drive home | A separate round trip for every visit |
| Extra crossings per session | None on workdays | Two |
| Likely outcome | RPM as the main gym, a few evenings a week | A gym on Reem for routine work, RPM for coaching or the Ladies section |
Most residents sit between these two. Count the crossings each plan adds in a typical week, then choose the plan with the fewest that still includes the thing you train for.
The mapped route, and a bag for weeknights
The mapped route from Al Reem Island uses Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street (Salam Street) and Hazza' Bin Zayed The First Street (Defence Road), and ends on Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street into AD HUB. There is free on-site parking, then a lift to Level 4. Drive it once at your own hour before you commit.
- Your training kit and a water bottle, packed the night before if you are coming straight from the office.
- A change of clothes if dinner comes before home. The grooming hub has hairdryers and products, and the changing area has keypad lockers.
- A question for the team about towels, so you know whether to bring your own.
Book the free guided tour for the evening you would normally train, and drive both directions at that hour. It is a walk-through with the team, not a workout.
Questions, answered.
Does RPM have a club on Al Reem Island?
No. RPM is one club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal on the main island. The route box above shows the mapped trip from Reem.
Is there a women-only option worth crossing the bridge for?
The Ladies section is a separate section for women only, with its own strength and cardio equipment and the Pilates studio, and female coaches on the roster work there. Confirm that the membership tier covers it.
I live on Reem but work on the main island. Before work or after?
After work usually suits better. You are already off the island, and the session lets evening traffic ease before you cross home. A morning session means crossing at the morning peak, so test it first.
Which day should I pick for a first visit from Reem?
Pick the kind of day you will train on. A weekend morning is the easiest drive, but if you will train on weeknights, visit on one, so the trip you test is the trip you will repeat.