A posting has an end date, so start there
Al Safarat is the district on the main island known as the diplomatic area. This page is for the people who live there because of work: staff on postings, their partners and children, and colleagues in town for shorter visits. It says nothing about any mission or employer. RPM has one club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal, and the route box rates the drive from Al Safarat a short cross-island trip.
Most people choose a gym as if they will stay for ever. On a posting you know roughly when you will leave, and that changes what is worth paying for and setting up. For the general checks on any gym trip, read RPM's one club, weighed against the length of a posting.
Short visits, first months, full postings
| Where you are in the stay | What you need from a gym | How to approach RPM |
|---|---|---|
| An official visit of days or a few weeks | Somewhere to keep training without a contract | Ask whether a day pass or weekly pass is available for your dates, and what it includes |
| The first months, while housing, school places and a car are sorted | A routine that survives an unsettled diary | Two fixed sessions a week, and a decision on membership once the household has settled |
| A posting of a year or more | A proper programme, and perhaps a coach | A tier that fits your week, with the questions about home leave asked before you join |
| The last months before departure | Fitness that survives packing and farewells | Shorter sessions, and a check on notice terms well before your leaving date |
Passes come and go, so the team confirms whether one is on offer and what it costs and includes. Three tiers exist, Floor, Engine and Atelier, and what each includes is confirmed on enquiry. The guide for new Abu Dhabi residents covers the wider first-months decisions.
One partner at work, one setting up home
On many postings one adult starts work on day one while the other spends the first months finding a school, a doctor and a routine. The gym can serve both, at different hours:
- The working partner: an early session before the office, or a stop after work, with keypad lockers for the work bag. Check with the team about showers and towels.
- The partner at home in the day: mid-morning visits while the children are at school, when the roads are often calmer than at rush hour.
- A woman who prefers to train among women: the Ladies section has its own strength and cardio equipment and the Pilates studio, with female coaches on the roster.
- Teenagers: coach-supervised youth fitness, arranged and approved by a parent or guardian. Ages vary by session, so ask before you book.
Group classes run in both sections, and a regular class is one way to meet people outside work in a new city. The timetable changes, so ask the team for the current one.
Home leave, summer and the local calendar
- The weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Fridays bring midday prayers and shorter club hours, so a Friday session suits the morning or early evening.
- From May to September the heat moves most training indoors, and outdoor runs shift to early mornings or wait for the cooler months.
- Ramadan changes working hours and club hours. Check the adjusted times, and if you fast, consider training after iftar.
- Home leave and summer travel can take several weeks. Ask the team what your membership allows while you are away, before you sign rather than after.
| 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.
Across the island from Al Safarat
The mapped route from the district finishes on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (Airport Road) into AD HUB, which has free on-site parking and a lift to Level 4. The figures start from one point in Al Safarat, so time the trip from your own door at the hour you would train.
Book the free guided tour once you have a rough weekly pattern, and bring your partner if you would both train. If you want coaching in a particular language, ask the team who on the roster can work in it, since that is not published.
Questions, answered.
Is there an RPM club in Al Safarat?
No. RPM's single club is on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal. From Al Safarat it is a short cross-island trip, and the route box shows the mapped estimates.
I am in Abu Dhabi for a few weeks on official business. Can I train without joining?
Ask whether a weekly pass or a day pass is available for your dates. Passes are time-sensitive, so the team confirms whether one is on offer, the price and what it covers.
What happens to a membership during home leave?
Ask before you join. Membership terms are confirmed on enquiry, and the answer may decide which option suits a posting with long spells away.
Several colleagues want to train. Is there a route through our employer?
Your employer can ask RPM directly. Corporate arrangements are tailored to each organisation and confirmed on enquiry, and none should be assumed to exist already.
We arrive before our car is shipped. Is RPM still practical?
Only if you can arrange the trip both ways, because the route box assumes driving. Many people start with a pass once the car arrives, rather than joining in the first unsettled weeks.