A stadium on Al Thana Street, and the players who live and work around it
Al Nahyan Stadium is a stadium in Abu Dhabi, mapped on Al Thana Street, and the route box above measures from it. This page is not about the matches staged there. It is for people around the stadium who play themselves: five-a-side with colleagues, a weekend league, a company team, or a kickabout that has turned into a weekly fixture.
RPM has one club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal, and by road it is close to the stadium. That makes a gym session easy to reach on the days between games. For the general checks, see how RPM's one club fits a footballer's match week.
What weekly football leaves untrained
Playing once or twice a week keeps you match-fit up to a point, but the game itself rarely builds the strength that sprints and sharp turns ask for. Coaches who work with amateur players tend to start here.
| What the game asks | What coaches commonly add | Where at RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinting flat out after a long jog | Hamstring strength work, done slowly and under control | Benches, cable towers and the training floor |
| Changing direction and stretching for the ball | Groin and inner-thigh strength work | Cable towers and the functional area |
| Landing, cutting and shielding the ball on one leg | Split squats, step-ups and single-leg balance | Dumbbells, kettlebells and step boxes |
| Repeated sprints late in a game | Short intervals with rest, built up over weeks | The turf lane with the sled, and the spin bikes |
| Holding off an opponent | Upper-body and trunk strength | The squat rack, benches and plate-loaded machines |
General training information only. If you are carrying a strain or a knock, see a doctor or physiotherapist before you add gym work.
Most of the sprint and change-of-direction work happens in the functional area, where the turf lane gives you room to push the sled.
Three rules for the days between matches
- Nothing heavy for the legs the day before you play. Upper body, or rest.
- The day after a match is for walking, easy cycling or mobility, not for lifting.
- Put the main session in the middle of the gap. One game a week leaves room for two sessions, and two games leave room for one.
A worked example: you play five-a-side on Monday night and a league game on Saturday. Wednesday carries the one strength session, and Thursday stays easy. When the league takes a week off, add a second session on that Saturday morning.
A coach can write the sessions so they flex with your fixtures. Personal training at RPM is planned around your goal and your week, so bring the fixture list to the first session.
Late kick-offs, summer pitches and fasting months
- From May to September, many amateur games move to late evening. Train earlier in the day or on another day, so you are not lifting and playing hard in the same evening.
- Drink more than feels necessary on a summer match day. Never use the gym to sweat off weight before a game.
- If you fast in Ramadan and keep playing, make gym sessions short and moderate, and ask a coach to rework the week. Anyone with a medical condition should ask their doctor about exercise while fasting.
- If your team plays on Fridays, remember the club keeps shorter Friday hours, and plan the week around them.
Feeling dizzy, sick or confused while playing in the heat is a reason to stop and get medical help, not to push on.
Training as a team, and the short drive over
Teammates can train side by side in the Mixed section, or join a group class together. Class times change, so check what is on at your hour. Women who play can train in the Ladies section, which is reserved for women and has its own strength and cardio equipment.
A company team can ask about corporate arrangements, which RPM sets up organisation by organisation and confirms on enquiry.
The mapped route from the stadium is short, and the route box shows the figures. On arrival, park in AD HUB's free on-site parking and take the lift 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.
Book the free guided tour at the hour you would really train, on a day with no game. A member of the team walks you round, and you will not be asked to work out.
Questions, answered.
Is RPM connected to Al Nahyan Stadium?
No. RPM runs one independent club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal. It is close to the stadium by road, and the route box shows the mapped trip.
Can I lift on the same day as a match?
It is better not to. If that is the only day you have, keep it to light upper-body work early in the day, well before kick-off.
My hamstrings feel tight after every game. What should I do?
Tightness that lingers, or any pain, is a question for a physiotherapist. If you are cleared, a coach can add controlled hamstring strength work and build it up over several weeks.
Is the recovery suite worth using after a game?
Some players like it, but it does not replace a good night's sleep or an easy day. The recovery suite pairs a Finnish sauna and an aroma steam room with an ice bath. Pregnancy or a heart condition means asking your doctor before heat or cold, and the team can tell you which tiers include the suite.
Do I need a coach, or can I follow a plan on my own?
Either works. The Floor tier covers the training floor for your own plan, Engine adds coached programming, and Atelier is built around one-to-one coaching. The team confirms inclusions and prices when you ask.