The park for running, a club for the loaded work
Khalifa Park is a park in Abu Dhabi, and the route box above measures from it as mapped. This page is for people who live around the park and the Ministries Complex area and already run or walk there, and who want to add strength training without giving up the outdoor sessions.
RPM is one club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal, and from Khalifa Park it is a short cross-island trip. Before you weigh it, read how RPM's one club looks to a runner from across the island. The honest summary: a park gives you distance and fresh air, while barbells, a coach and a recovery suite are what make the crossing worth it.
What stays outdoors, and what moves to the gym
| Session | Where it fits | What it uses at RPM, if anything |
|---|---|---|
| Easy runs | The park, through the cooler months | Nothing |
| The weekly long run | The park, starting early | Nothing |
| Intervals and tempo runs | The park, or a treadmill on the hottest days | Treadmills on the cardio floor |
| Heavier leg strength | Indoors | The plate-loaded leg press and the squat rack with bumper plates |
| Back, shoulders and trunk | Indoors | Cable towers, the pulldown machine and dumbbells |
| Pushing and stepping drills | Indoors | Sled pushes on the turf lane and step-ups onto boxes |
This is general training information. If running hurts, or you are returning from an injury, see a physiotherapist or doctor before adding new work.
Learning the lifts goes faster with someone watching. A few sessions of personal training are enough for a coach to set your loads and fit them around your running days, and you can carry on alone after that.
A runner's week with two crossings
| Day | In the park | At RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Long run, early | Nothing |
| Sunday | Rest, or a walk | Nothing |
| Monday | Nothing | Strength, with the heavier leg work |
| Tuesday | Easy run | Nothing |
| Wednesday | Intervals, or the treadmill if it is hot | Nothing |
| Thursday | Nothing | Lighter strength: upper body, trunk and the sled |
| Friday | Easy run or rest | Nothing, as club hours are shorter |
Two principles shape this example. The heavier leg session sits well away from the long run, and both gym days are ones you can attach to a day in central Abu Dhabi. Swap the days around your own job, but keep that spacing.
| 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.
When the park gets too hot to run in
From May to September, outdoor running in Abu Dhabi shrinks to the hours around sunrise and after sunset. You can keep the park for those, and bring the rest indoors.
- Run the easy sessions at first light, and move hard intervals to a treadmill.
- Use the cardio floor, with treadmills, cross-trainers, an upright bike and spin bikes, on days the evening stays hot.
- Carry water on every outdoor run, however short.
- If you feel dizzy or unwell in the heat, stop, get into shade and drink, and seek medical help if it does not pass.
- Expect slower outdoor times in summer and judge progress on the indoor sessions instead.
Salam Street, the ministries and the women in the house
The mapped route follows Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street (Salam Street) and then Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street into AD HUB, where there is free on-site parking and a lift up to Level 4. Because it crosses the island, attach the trip to something you are already doing in town.
If you also work around the Ministries Complex, training plans for government staff look at fitting sessions into an official working day. Women in the household who would rather train among women can use the Ladies section, which has its own strength and cardio equipment and the Pilates studio.
Questions, answered.
Is RPM inside Khalifa Park?
No. You will find RPM in one place only, Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal. From Khalifa Park it is a short cross-island trip, and the mapped estimates are in the route box above.
Should I lift before or after a run on the same day?
Many runners keep hard runs and heavy leg work on different days. If you have to combine them, put the session that matters most first, and ask a coach to check the plan.
Do I need a coach to start lifting as a runner?
It is not required, but a coach can teach the main lifts and set sensible loads in a few sessions. Bring your running plan so the gym days fit around it.
Can I train on treadmills at RPM in summer instead of the park?
Yes. The cardio floor has treadmills, cross-trainers, an upright bike and spin bikes, and the Ladies section has cardio equipment of its own.
Is the recovery suite worth it after a long run?
That depends on you. The suite has a Finnish sauna, an aroma steam room and an ice bath, and which tiers include it is confirmed on enquiry. After a hot run, extra heat may not appeal, and anyone pregnant or with a heart condition should ask a doctor before using heat or cold.