Two readers, one district
Al Zahiyah, also known as the Tourist Club Area, is a district on Abu Dhabi island. This page is written for two kinds of reader there: people who live in the district, and people whose working day is in it, including anyone on hotel or office shifts that do not follow a nine-to-five. Both start with the same question, covered on how to judge whether RPM fits your trip: is the gym worth the crossing at the hour you can actually train?
| If you live in Al Zahiyah | If you work in Al Zahiyah | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the trip starts | Home, usually in the evening or at weekends | Work, before or after a shift |
| What decides it | Whether a local gym already covers your training | Whether your shift pattern leaves a regular window |
| A sensible first step | A free guided tour on a weekday evening | A tour on a day off, then a trial visit if a pass is available |
| The likely rhythm | Two or three fixed sessions a week | Sessions that move with the rota |
Fitting training around a hotel or office rota
Shift work breaks the usual advice about training before or after the office. Find your pattern below, then check the window against the opening hours.
| Your pattern | Window that tends to work | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Early shift, finishing in the afternoon | Straight after work, before the evening rush builds | Eat something first if the shift ran through lunch |
| Late shift, starting in the afternoon | Late morning, before you head in | Leave enough time to change and get to work |
| Night shift | After waking, well before the next shift | Keep the session moderate when sleep has been short |
| Split shift with a long break | The middle break, if it is long enough to cross and come back | Count both directions of the trip, not just one |
| Office hours | Evening, or early morning before work | Friday prayers and the shorter Friday hours |
| Rotating rota | Whichever window repeats most weeks | Book coached sessions once the rota is published |
| 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.
RPM opens early and closes late, with shorter Friday hours, and Ramadan can change the times. Confirm with the team before you rely on a slot at either end of the day.
What makes the crossing worth it
A gym inside a hotel or an apartment block is usually built for light use: some cardio, a dumbbell rack, perhaps a cable station. If that covers your training, stay local. The trip into Al Manhal pays off when you want something those rooms rarely have.
- A full strength floor: a squat rack with colour bumper plates, plate-loaded machines, cable towers, benches and dumbbells.
- A functional area with a turf lane and sled, kettlebells, battle ropes and heavy bags, used for fitness boxing and HYROX-style training. RPM is independent, not an official HYROX partner or venue.
- Coaching, from personal training with RPM's coaches to the coached programming in the Engine tier.
- The Ladies section, for women only, with its own equipment and the Pilates studio.
- The recovery suite: Finnish sauna, aroma steam room and ice bath. Ask which tiers include it, and check with your doctor first if you are pregnant or have a heart condition.
Getting across, and getting ready for work afterwards
The mapped route from Al Zahiyah runs along Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street (Salam Street), then the final stretch on Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street into AD HUB. It is a short cross-island trip on paper, and the route box above gives the figures. Around shift changeovers and the office rush, expect it to take longer.
Parking at AD HUB is free and on site, with a lift to Level 4. If you are going straight on to a shift, the grooming hub has a vanity area with hairdryers and products, and the changing area has keypad lockers. Ask about showers and towels before you build them into your routine.
Short contracts and first visits
If you are in Abu Dhabi on a short contract or between postings, a full membership may not be the right first step. Ask whether a weekly pass or a day pass is available at the moment. Both are time-sensitive, so availability, price and inclusions are confirmed by the team.
For everyone else, the free guided tour is the better start. It is a walk-through with the team, not a workout, so bring your rota or your weekly plan and ask which tier matches it. Prices are not published online and are shared on enquiry.
Questions, answered.
Does RPM have a club in the Tourist Club Area?
No. RPM is a single club on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal. From Al Zahiyah it is a cross-island trip, with the mapped estimates in the route box at the top of this page.
I work nights. Can I train after my shift?
That depends on when the shift ends and on the opening hours shown above. If you finish before the club opens, a session after you wake up is usually easier to keep.
My hotel or building already has a gym. Is RPM worth it on top?
Only for what that gym lacks. Light cardio and dumbbells are fine downstairs. A rack, a coach, the Ladies section or the recovery suite are reasons to make the trip.
Can my employer arrange memberships for staff?
RPM tailors corporate arrangements to each organisation, and the details are confirmed on enquiry.
A pass or a membership: which suits a shift worker?
If your rota gives you regular weekly sessions, compare the membership tiers. If you are only in Abu Dhabi for a short spell, ask whether a pass is available. Passes change, so confirm with the team.